Thanksgiving dinner means a lot of cooking, dishes, guests, and several hands trying to clean up at once. The last thing you need is a kitchen sink that won’t drain while everyone’s still at the table. Our team at Performance Plumbing helps St. Louis homeowners deal with clogged drains and garbage disposal problems, no matter the time of year. Here’s how a little care during holiday meal prep can save you from a messy backup afterward.
Keep Grease and Cooking Fat Out of Kitchen Drains
As a general rule, keep food scraps and foreign objects out of your sink, but be especially careful with turkey drippings, bacon grease, butter, and cooking oil. They may be liquid when warm, but when they cool, they can get sticky and cling to the inside of your pipes. Over time, that buildup catches other debris and narrows the drain.
Using hot water and dish soap won’t reliably wash grease all the way through your plumbing, either. Instead, let grease cool in a container, then throw it in the trash. You can also wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.
Holiday Food Scraps That Can Clog a Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal can handle small amounts of suitable food waste, but it’s not designed to take in everything left over from Thanksgiving dinner. Keep these things out of your garbage disposal:
- Potato peels and large amounts of starch: They can collect in the drain and contribute to a stubborn clog.
- Celery, corn husks, and other fibrous scraps: Fibers can tangle around disposal components.
- Turkey bones and hard pits: They can jam or damage the disposal.
- Coffee grounds and eggshells: They can build up in drain lines instead of washing away cleanly.
Scrape off your plates into the trash or compost bin before putting your dishes in the sink. Keeping out a small scrap bowl on the counter can make cleanup easier when several people are helping.
Best Practices for Using Your Garbage Disposal During Holiday Cleanup
Run cold water before switching on the disposal and keep it running while you feed in small amounts of food. Make sure to let the water flow briefly afterward to carry away the scraps. Don’t pack the chamber full or force food down with utensils. If the disposal hums without grinding, turn it off. It could be jammed, especially if someone feeds it too much at once. If you do have a jam, never reach inside with your hand, even if the switch is off.
Kitchen Drain and Garbage Disposal Service in St. Louis, MO
Watch for ongoing slow drainage, gurgling, odors, or water backing up when the dishwasher empties. If your kitchen sink keeps backing up or your disposal isn’t working the way it should, we can help. Our team can find the source of the problem and help get your kitchen ready for the next round of holiday cooking.
Schedule your drain and garbage disposal service in St. Louis with Performance Plumbing today before the holidays arrive.