CHRISTMAS shoppers excitedly opening their new bottles of Baileys should be aware of a costly mistake that could put a downer on the festive season.
The Irish cream liqueur is a staple across many households as the nights draw in but with the 1L bottle sometimes being too much for people to finish off, many throw the dregs down the drain.
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Unlike other alcoholic drinks, the cream-based beverage spoils after six months once opened.
But, this common disposal method could be hugely costly, an expert plumber has warned.
According to a plumber from MyBuilder.com, Baileys is one of the most common causes of drain blockages.
Another common drink causing this issue is coffee as the coffee grounds are regularly found to cause blockages.
MyBuilder.com said: “If disposed of down the sink, these products could cause clogging in the pipes, leading to a costly call out, especially if it causes an issue over the Christmas break, when emergency callout charges may apply.”
Plumber Mike Flook detailed that another festive staple is also responsible for common drainage issues.
He said: “While it may seem that liquids like creamy drinks or leftover gravy could be washed down the sink, the reality is that they can cause serious issues, especially if it’s a repeated action.
“The result can be that, depending on the product and where you tipped it, you could face blocked toilets or sinks.
“While this is a pain at any time of the year, at Christmas when plumbers can be hard to come by, it is doubly frustrating and costly.”
Liquids like gravy, turkey fat, and Baileys should never be thrown down the sink due to their category as fat, oil, and grease (FOG).
None of these elements should ever enter our drains as they stick to pipes causing blockages and eventually creating what are known as “fatbergs” in our sewer systems.
According to MyBuilder.com, half of the population admits to pouring FOG down the drain.
“The problem with pouring leftover fat down the drain is it will cool, which can lead to blockages and fatbergs,” the company warned.
It added that “calling out a plumber on Christmas day is not easy…emergency callouts can be four times as expensive as a regular one – and even more at Christmas.”
If you realise that the wrong item has gone down the drain, there are some steps from MyBuilder.com that you can take to help:
- Immediately run the hot water as this helps dissolve any grease and fats keeping them liquid until they are out of your pipes.
- Leave the hot water running for several minutes to be safe.
- Do not pour cold water down the sink as this will cause the fats and oils to solidify in the pipes causing blockages.
- Add dish soap to the hot water going down the drain to help remove the blockages without damaging your pipes.
- Don’t use chemicals as drain unblockers are often ineffective against FOGs, and can cause damage to your pipes in the process.
- Use a plunger instead as this is likely more effective and is gentle.
The warning around Baileys comes after Costco has slashed the price of the 1L bottle to under £10 making it cheaper than Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Asda.
Festive party-goers should also be aware of the dangers of flushing items like make-up wipes, cotton balls and pads down the toilet.
These account for 93 percent of blockages in sewers according to an investigation in 2017.
MyBuilder.com advises all party hosts to ensure a bin is provided to guests and that they know not to flush such items.
