How to clear a greasy kitchen sink drain
Grease cools into a sticky plug. Start with dish soap and hot water — not more grease, and not a harsh chemical dump as your first move. Enzyme cleaner helps after the drain is open.
Stop if
Both basins or the dishwasher are backing up with dirty water, or you smell sewage. That often means a deeper line — call a plumber instead of forcing it.
Safety
Don’t pour frying grease “to clear” a clog — it hardens farther down. Don’t mix chemical cleaners. Very hot water is enough; a rolling boil can stress PVC and splash from a full disposal.
Hot water + dish soap first
- Bail standing water Scoop into a bucket so soap can reach the clog. On a double sink, plug the empty side so plunging pressure goes into the drain.
- Flood with dish soap Squirt a good amount of dish soap into the drain opening. Soap breaks grease into smaller droplets water can carry.
- Pour hot tap water slowly Use a kettle or pot of hot tap water — not a violent boil into a full disposal. Wait 5–10 minutes for grease to soften.
- Plunge, then flush Use a cup (sink) plunger with water covering the cup — 10 to 15 firm strokes. Run hot water again. Follow with another minute of hot water and a little soap if it starts to drain.
Tip
Wipe greasy pans into the trash before washing. A mesh sink strainer stops scraps that seed the next clog.
After it’s flowing — enzyme maintenance
- Don’t expect enzymes to blast a solid plug Enzyme / bio cleaners eat organic film slowly. Use them after soap, heat, and plunging have opened the line.
- Follow the bottle overnight A gallon enzyme cleaner (like Green Gobbler) is for maintenance doses — great after you’ve cleared the grease jam.
- Still slow? Snake soft debris, clean the P-trap, or see the full kitchen sink guide (including disposal jams).