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Holiday Spirits and Plumbing Nightmares: Don’t Pour Your Baileys Down the Drain!
With Christmas cheer just around the corner, many of us are stocking up on festive treats, from decadent chocolates to luxurious sips. And a perennial holiday favorite?
Baileys, the creamy Irish liqueur beloved for its chocolate and whiskey fusion. But here’s a holiday warning you didn’t see coming: that half-finished bottle of Baileys could spell disaster for your home’s plumbing.
While it might seem harmless to simply tip leftover Baileys down the kitchen drain, plumbing professionals are issuing an urgent pre-holiday alert: don’t do it! What looks like an easy way to dispose of excess liqueur could actually lead to significant-and costly-blockages, especially during a time when plumbers are stretched thin.
Mike Flook, a plumbing expert from MyBuilder.com, revealed that many household clogs originate from liquids homeowners mistakenly believe are drain-safe. “While it may seem that liquids like creamy drinks could be washed down the sink, the reality is that they can cause serious issues, especially if it’s a repeated action,” Flook cautioned. “The result can be that, depending on the product and where you tipped it, you could face blocked toilets or sinks.”
The culprit? Baileys and similar cream liqueurs fall into the notorious “FOG” category: fats, oils, and greases.
These delicious, creamy drinks have a high fat content that, when poured down the drain, sticks to pipes and solidifies. This sticky residue can build up, leading to stubborn blockages in your home’s plumbing and contributing to larger “fatbergs” in city sewers.
Think of it like leftover turkey fat-another common holiday FOG offender. While half the population admits to pouring FOG down the drain, Flook stresses that this practice is a recipe for disaster. Once cooled, these fats solidify, creating serious plumbing headaches.
Plumbers’ Top Tips to Keep Your Drains Flowing This Holiday Season:
To prevent a holiday plumbing emergency, follow these expert recommendations:
- Run Hot Water Immediately: After rinsing anything with fats or greases, let hot water run for several minutes.
The heat helps keep FOGs in liquid form until they’re safely out of your pipes and into the sewer system.
2.
Avoid Cold Water: Cold water will quickly solidify FOGs, almost guaranteeing a blockage.
3.
Use Dish Soap: A squirt of dish soap with hot water can gently help break down and remove greasy residues without harming your pipes.
4.
Steer Clear of Chemical Drain Cleaners: These often prove ineffective against FOG blockages and can even damage your plumbing system.
5.
Keep a Plunger Handy: A plunger is a gentle yet effective tool for dislodging many common clogs, making it a valuable item to have in your home.
So, this holiday season, enjoy your Baileys responsibly-and when it’s time to dispose of any leftovers, remember to keep it out of your sink. Your pipes (and your wallet) will thank you!