Nearly everyone has heard horror stories about pouring grease down the drain, but grease in the pipes isn't only from bacon fat and meat drippings. There are a host of foods that contain enough fats to cause issues with your plumbing.  Add in the other no-nos for your pipes and you have a list worth memorizing. Follow these tips for avoiding clogged pipes in your kitchen sink.

Grease By Any Other Name Still Clogs the Same

You probably recognize grease as solid clumps of white fat usually from cooked meats. But there are many sources of hidden grease or fats in foods you may not think of as a risk to the health of your pipes. Avoid pouring these foods down the drain, too.

• Gravy: Fat is what gives gravy its flavor and smooth texture. Once it cools it can begin to harden and cause major clogs in your pipes. Toss leftover gravy into the trash and scrap the sides of the bowl before washing the container in your sink. Even though many dish detergents contain grease busters, they are designed to wash away traces of grease, not tackle the greasy food itself.
• Cheese Sauces: Just because you can rinse leftover cheese sauces down the drain doesn't mean you should. The sauce may contain enough fat to clog your pipes or leave behind a layer of fat that will continue to build up over time.
• Pasta Sauces: Many pasta sauces are high in fat from cooked meats like ground beef and sausage. Get in the habit of cleaning the bowl thoroughly and disposing of leftover sauce in the trash before washing the container in the sink. While pasta sauce probably won't clog your pipes right away, it may contribute to the buildup of grease and fats in the pipes.
• Creamed Sauces or Creamed Soups: Like cheese sauces and pasta sauces, creamed soups and sauces may be high in hidden fats. Never pour leftover sauces or soups down the drain.

To avoid getting grease and fats in your pipes, pour bacon fat or pan drippings into an old can or jar and let it solidify. Dispose of the grease in the trash. Wipe down cooking pans with paper towels to remove surface fats before washing them to further reduce the amount of fats and grease that goes down your drain.

Beyond Grease: Foods to Avoid

There are several other common food items that can easily find their way to your kitchen sink and cause water backup in the pipes from a serious clog, Beware of these:

• Coffee Grounds: Resist the temptation to rinse coffee grounds down the sink, as they can combine with fats and create a serious clog. Use a paper towel to remove all coffee grounds from the basket before washing it in the sink.
• Eggshells: Like coffee grounds, eggshells can combine with grease and other food particles to form a clog in your pipes.
• Flour: It may be tempting to wash doughy bowls out in the sink, but don't do it until you have scraped all traces of dough in the trash. Likewise, brush excess flour on breadboards or cooking surfaces into the trash before washing them. Flour and water makes a sticky mass that can quickly clog your drain.

If you need help to unclog your clogged drains, Amanda Plumbing Sewer & Drain is here to help you. Contact us today for quick and professional service you can count on.