Most kitchen drain clogs trace back to a handful of repeat offenders. Knowing what to avoid saves both the clog and the repair bill.

Why grease is the worst offender

Grease goes down as a liquid but cools and hardens inside the pipe, gradually narrowing it until something else catches on the buildup and blocks the line completely. It's the single most common cause of kitchen clogs we see.

Do

  • Pour cooled grease into a sealed container and throw it in the trash
  • Use a drain strainer to catch food particles before they go down
  • Run cold water before, during, and after using the disposal
  • Cut larger scraps into smaller pieces before they go into the disposal

Don't

  • Don't pour grease, oil, or fat down any drain, even with hot water running
  • Don't put fibrous foods like celery or onion skins down the disposal
  • Don't dispose of coffee grounds or eggshells in large amounts
  • Don't run the disposal with hot water — it softens grease and lets it coat the pipes
  • Don't put bones, fruit pits, or anything hard down the disposal

Quick tip: If you're not sure whether something belongs down the disposal, the trash is almost always the safer call.