How to Prevent Grease Clogs in Your Kitchen Sink

A grease clog in the kitchen sink usually starts innocently. You cook, rinse a pan, and hot water goes down the drain—until it doesn’t.

That’s because grease doesn’t behave the way water does. When oils or fats go down the drain, they’re liquid. But as they cool, they solidify and stick to the inside of your pipes. Over time, that sticky residue traps food particles and soap, slowly narrowing the drain until you have a project on your hands.

The good news? You can prevent kitchen sink grease clogs by taking a few simple steps. Here’s what to do.

Signs Your Sink Is Clogged With Grease

A grease clog doesn’t usually make a dramatic entrance. It starts with subtle signs like:

• Water draining slowly after washing dishes
• Gurgling sounds from the drain
• Foul odors coming from the sink
• Water backing up when you run the garbage disposal
• Recurring clogs that show up again after “quick fixes”

If your sink is clogged with grease, plunging or rinsing with hot water may help briefly. Unfortunately, it rarely addresses the underlying buildup, which means it may require a professional drain cleaning.

Easy Clog Prevention Tips

Preventing your sink from getting clogged with grease comes down to one habit change: keep grease out of the drain entirely.

Here’s what actually works:

• Let the grease cool, then pour it into the trash or a sealed container
• Use a paper towel to wipe away grease before rinsing cookware
• Catch food particles with sink strainers so they don’t get absorbed by grease that’s already lingering in your pipes
• Schedule regular drain inspections with a pro

What to Do If Your Sink Is Already Clogged With Grease

Before calling a plumber, there are a couple of safe, inexpensive things you can do to unclog a grease clog in the kitchen sink.

Step 1: Skip the Chemical Drain Cleaners

First, resist the temptation to use caustic drain cleaners. They rarely work. Worse, they can damage pipe seals and older plumbing. They can also make the situation worse if a plumber has to work on the drain later.

Step 2: Check the P-Trap

The P-trap under your sink is one of the most common places where grease collects. Luckily, it’s often the easiest fix.

• Place a bucket under the trap
• Unscrew it by hand or with pliers
• Remove any grease, food debris, or buildup
• Clean, reattach the trap, and test the drain

Step 3: Try a Simple Hand Snake

If the drain is still slow, a basic hand auger (drain snake) can help break up grease buildup just beyond the trap.

• Feed the snake into the drain opening
• Rotate slowly to loosen or retrieve buildup
• Withdraw, clean, and repeat once or twice
• Next, reattach the P-trap and run hot water to confirm the drain is fully clear

If the sink drains well and stays that way, put up your feet and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

If the clog returns, drains run slowly, or multiple fixtures back up at once, chances are the grease buildup is deeper in the line. At this point, professional drain cleaning is usually the safest way to remove it.

Don’t Let a Slow Drain Drain Your Patience

Some clogs are simple. Others just aren’t worth wrestling with. If grease keeps slowing your sink down, Stephens Plumbing can take care of it quickly, cleanly, and without turning a small problem into a bigger one. Give us a call!