Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG), the residue left over from cooking meats such as bacon that hardens after it cools, can cause problems when poured down the drain and clog pipes in your home.

Did you know FOG can also clog the sewer pipes under the streets that take the wastewater from your house to the treatment plant? If that happens, the wastewater can back up and come to the surface and pollute the environment.

You can avoid unnecessary expense and damage to the sewer system by following a few simple rules.

How to Clean Dishes to Protect Your Pipes

1. Before washing, and after grease has cooled, pour or scrape grease into a sturdy closed-lid container, like a coffee can.
2. Pre-wash dishware in cold water. Avoid using the garbage disposal and hot water. The garbage disposal does not destroy grease, it only makes is smaller. If you have accumulated grease in your pipes, putting food scrapes down the drain can clog your pipes faster.
3. Don’t pour oil or grease down the drain. If grease does go down the drain, follow it with cold water.
4. Dispose of grease at Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center: 11234 Plano Rd, Dallas TX (214) 553-1765.

Thursday, August 27th, 2009 | Home & Garden, Recycling |