Why Scraping Your Plates Before the Dishwasher Could Save You a Drain Disaster

When it comes to washing dishes, many people assume that their dishwasher can handle anything including leftover food. But did you know that putting food covered dishes straight into your dishwasher can cause serious problems for your drains over time?

At Blockbusters Drain Services, we regularly deal with blocked kitchen drains caused by grease build up and food debris that started in the dishwasher. Here’s why taking a few seconds to scrape your plates can prevent costly drainage issues down the line.

1. Food Waste Builds Up in Your Pipes

Even though your dishwasher might be powerful, it’s not designed to handle chunks of leftover food. Small bits of pasta, rice, and meat often slip through the filters and end up washed down the drain. Over time, this food waste accumulates, causing slow drainage and eventually a blocked kitchen sink or drain.

2. Grease and Fat Harden in Cold Pipes

Cooking oils, butter, and greasy food residue don’t just disappear when you hit “start.” Instead, they can cool and solidify in your kitchen pipes, especially during colder months. This leads to fatbergs, large, sticky clumps of grease that catch other debris and block your drains completely.

3. Simple Habits Prevent Expensive Repairs

Scraping food into the bin or compost before loading the dishwasher is a quick habit that can save you from needing an emergency drain unblocking service. It helps keep your pipes clear, your dishwasher running efficiently, and your home free from foul kitchen odours.

4. Professional Help When You Need It

If you’re already experiencing slow draining sinks and dishwasher odours, it may be time to call in a professional. At Blockbuster Drain Services, we offer fast, reliable kitchen sink drain cleaning and unblocking, high pressure water jetting to clear grease and food build up before it causes serious problems.

Final Tip: A clean plate means clean pipes. Help your dishwasher and your drains by keeping food waste where it belongs: in the bin.

For expert advice or to book a drain unblocking service, contact Blockbuster Drain Services today.