Parts of the UK are facing heavy rain this weekend, while the south heads for heatwave conditions. Experts say there is one simple washing up liquid trick to unblock blocked outdoor drains connected to the kitchen sink.
Weather forecast: North wet, south hot
Following several predominantly dry weeks, areas now receiving rainfall, such as northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, could encounter difficulties with their homes. The contrasting conditions have already seen parts of northern England drenched with rainfall on Saturday, 4 July, while the south is expected to experience heatwave conditions once more from Sunday through Monday and for much of the following week.
The Met Office stated that today's forecast is "cloudy in the north with rain, drier in the south" which has largely proved accurate thus far. On Saturday evening, conditions will shift to "cloud and patchy rain across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England", and "largely dry elsewhere, with clear spells and perhaps the odd light showers", the forecaster added. Sunday will bring "further rain" to the North, and heading into Monday, yet more rainfall will arrive across "northwestern parts", the Met Office adds.
Why to pour washing up liquid down your drain
When conditions turn particularly wet, especially when substantial rainfall occurs within a brief period, one element of your home that gets put to the test - and doesn't always hold up - is your drainage system. During such weather, drains alongside your property can rapidly become blocked with leaves, twigs and general debris, while food waste disposed of via kitchen drains can also obstruct outdoor drainage, including fat, grease and even rice and fragments of food residue.
However, there is one swift and straightforward method to get a blocked kitchen drain flowing again if you have the time to address it - and it requires no costly chemicals, just an ordinary bottle of washing up liquid, according to experts, reports the Express. Plumbing and home maintenance company Maintracts states that outdoor drains connected to the kitchen sink - and exclusively these - can be cleared rapidly using simple washing up liquid and hot water.
Crucially, this tip applies only to drains linked to the kitchen sink - avoid pouring it down a drain solely used for rainwater from the roof, as chemical-based washing up liquid is harmful to watercourses and can be fatal to wildlife. For those drains, a natural alternative such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda is far more suitable. For the greatest chance of minimising environmental impact, choose a plant-based washing up liquid that contains no chemical surfactants.
How to unblock drains with washing up liquid
Maintracts advises in its online guidance: "Fat, oil and grease (commonly known as FOG) are among the biggest culprits behind blocked gullies and outside drains. When hot grease is poured down the sink, it may seem harmless. But as it cools in your foul water drain, it hardens and sticks to the pipe walls. Eventually, this sticky mess collects other debris, such as food scraps, soap scum and dirt, creating a solid, immovable blockage. This is especially problematic in outdoor drains, which are more exposed to the elements and can easily become a magnet for garden debris, mud and litter, thereby exacerbating the blockage."
To address this, simply combine washing-up liquid with hot water. They added: "One of the simplest ways to unblock outside drain blockages caused by fat is to pour boiling water mixed with a generous amount of washing-up liquid into the drain. The boiling water helps melt the fat, while the soap breaks it down, making it easier to flush away. Ensure to do this slowly to allow the heat and detergent time to work. Repeat the process several times for optimal results."
