Enzyme cleaners are kind of a weird one for me. I’ve tried them a couple times, mostly because my aunt swears by them and she’s the type who’ll lecture you about “bio-friendly” everything. The first time, I dumped it down the kitchen sink overnight like the bottle said. Next morning, nothing seemed different—no gurgling or slow draining, but also no miracle. Maybe it helps if you use it regularly? I dunno.
What actually made a difference for me was just getting strict about not letting any grease go down at all. Like you, I started collecting it in an old salsa jar under the sink. At first, it felt like a hassle—especially after frying bacon or something messy—but now it’s just part of the routine. Once the jar’s full, I toss it in the trash and start over.
One thing I noticed: even with a strainer and being careful, tiny bits of grease still sneak through when washing pans or plates. That’s where hot water and dish soap come in handy. I always run extra hot water for a minute after cleaning anything greasy, just to help flush out whatever might be clinging to the pipes. Not sure if that’s plumber-approved advice, but so far, no more clogs.
I’m still skeptical about enzyme stuff being a total fix though. Maybe if your pipes are already pretty clean, they help keep things clear? But if there’s already a big greasy clog forming, I doubt they’ll do much on their own. Would love to hear if anyone actually had one of those “it saved my drain” moments with them... because mine have been pretty meh.
Anyway, keeping that jar under the sink is probably the best habit change I’ve made in ages. Way less stress about surprise sink backups now.
I’ve had almost the exact same experience with enzyme cleaners—tried them a couple times because my dad’s obsessed with “natural” solutions and always has a bottle under the sink. Never noticed any big difference, honestly. Maybe they’re more of a maintenance thing, like you said? If there’s a big clog already, I just don’t see how a little liquid is gonna cut through bacon grease that’s been sitting for weeks.
The salsa jar trick is clutch though. I use an old pasta sauce jar, and at first it felt like one more annoying step in cleanup, but now it’s just automatic. It’s wild how much grease you actually collect over a month. Kind of gross to look at, but way better than dealing with a clogged pipe.
I asked the plumber I work with about the hot water/dish soap thing and he said it’s not a bad idea. He did mention that super hot water can sometimes soften up grease enough to push it further down the line, which isn’t always great if your pipes are old or have weird bends. But for most folks, it probably helps more than hurts, especially if you’re already careful about not dumping oil.
Funny thing—one time we got called out to a place where someone had poured boiling water and baking soda down their drain every week for months thinking it was “preventative.” Turns out, all it did was move the clog further down, so when it finally backed up, it was way harder to fix. Kinda made me rethink the whole “flush it with hot water” routine. Still do it sometimes though, just not obsessively.
Honestly, nothing beats just keeping the grease out in the first place. I’m with you—since I started being strict about that, haven’t had a single clog. Makes me wonder how many people could save themselves the headache just by changing that one habit.
I get where you’re coming from about just keeping grease out in the first place, but honestly, I think people underestimate how much gunk still sneaks down even when you’re careful. Even with the jar trick (which, yeah, is a game changer), there’s always some residue left on pans or plates that ends up in the drain. Over time, that stuff builds up—especially if you’ve got older pipes or low-flow fixtures.
I’m not totally sold on enzyme cleaners for big clogs either, but as a maintenance step? They can actually make a difference if you use them regularly before things get bad. The problem is most folks only reach for them when it’s already too late and expect miracles. Same goes for the hot water/dish soap thing—if you’re doing it every once in a while, it helps keep things moving, but it’s not gonna fix a years-old bacon fat plug.
Honestly, I’ve seen way too many “grease-free” kitchens still end up with slow drains because of all the little bits that add up. Prevention’s great, but maintenance matters too... otherwise you’re just rolling the dice and hoping nothing sticks.
You nailed it about the “grease-free” kitchens still getting slow drains. Even with the best habits, you just can’t catch everything—especially if you’re dealing with old galvanized pipes or those weird bends under the sink. I’ve seen people swear by boiling water and dish soap, but like you said, that’s more of a band-aid than a fix for buildup that’s been there for years.
Enzyme cleaners are decent for maintenance, but they’re not magic. If you’re not using them regularly, they won’t do much once things start backing up. Out of curiosity, have you ever tried taking apart the trap under your sink to see what’s actually in there? Sometimes it’s shocking how much gunk collects even when you think you’re being careful. Makes me wonder if regular manual cleaning is worth adding to the routine, or if that’s just overkill for most folks...
Manual cleaning isn’t overkill, especially with older pipes. I’ve pulled out stuff from traps that looked like it belonged in a horror movie. Even tenants who swear they’re careful still end up with buildup. Regular checks save headaches down the line.
