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UK Households Urged Not to Pour Baileys, Mulled Wine or Coffee Down Sinks This Christmas

Plumbing specialists warn that fatty leftovers solidify in pipes, risking expensive holiday callouts.

Overview

  • Plumber Mike Flook of MyBuilder.com says gravy, cooking oil, meat fat and cream liqueurs count as FOGs that cool and harden on pipe walls.
  • Kitchen specialist Liv Reid of Prestige Granite cautions that spiced festive drinks leave a sticky, gloopy residue inside drains.
  • If fatty liquids are tipped away by mistake, experts advise running hot water for several minutes and adding soap rather than using chemical unblockers.
  • Coffee grounds can absorb grease and clump in U-bends, so leftovers should go in the bin or be repurposed in soil instead of washed down the sink.
  • Improper disposal increases the risk of costly blockages during the holidays and contributes to sewer fatbergs, with DIY fixes often making damage worse.