{"id":4870,"date":"2021-02-22T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T16:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/?p=4870"},"modified":"2025-10-03T13:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T17:07:37","slug":"coconut-oil-bad-plumbing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/plumbing-service\/coconut-oil-bad-plumbing\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Coconut Oil Clog Drains?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Drain-Swirl-300x234.png\" alt=\"swirling-drain\" width=\"300\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Drain-Swirl-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Drain-Swirl-768x598.png 768w, https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Drain-Swirl.png 770w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Updated on: October 3rd 2025<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coconut oil has become <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a favorite in many households<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can use it on your hair, on your body, and even to brush your teeth. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it might be great for you, the question comes up: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will coconut oil clog drains<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer is yes. Coconut oil isn\u2019t too easy on your home\u2019s pipes. You can quickly build up a clog in your home if you get too coconut oil happy. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve been letting it wash down the sink and are now noticing issues like slow drainage, a professional inspection from an Orlando drain cleaning service is your best solution.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> We\u2019re here to help you solve any <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plumbing<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that pop up in your home.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Why Coconut Oil Clogs Drains<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okay, so let\u2019s back things up a little and talk about how and why coconut oil clogs your home\u2019s drains. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The science is simple: coconut oil has a melting point of around 76\u00b0F (24\u00b0C). While that may seem warm, the pipes inside your walls and underground are almost always cooler than that temperature. When the warm, liquid oil comes into contact with the cooler pipes, it quickly solidifies and sticks to the sides.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, it doesn\u2019t really get too cold here in Orlando, but it does get cold enough for coconut oil to solidify in your drains and cause issues. If you\u2019ve<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> spent months<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> putting coconut oil down your drain, then you might notice slow-moving drains and backups. This is when you should contact us for professional service.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What to Do With Coconut Oil Instead<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what&#8217;s the correct way to dispose of used coconut oil? It&#8217;s easy!<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scrape it into the trash:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allow the oil to cool and solidify in the pan or container. Then, use a spatula or paper towel to scrape the solid oil directly into your garbage can.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pour it into a disposable container:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For larger amounts of liquid oil, pour it into a non-recyclable container with a lid (such as an old takeout container or jar), let it solidify, and then discard the entire container.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Other Common Reasons Why Drains Get Clogged<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you think you have other problems with your drain? These are some other common issues that might affect your home\u2019s plumbing:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fat, oil, and grease (F.O.G.)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are similar to coconut oil in the sense that they might go down as oil, but they\u2019ll settle into a solid <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">form through a process called saponification, creating dense, soap-like blockages that are very difficult to clear.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wet wipes (these aren\u2019t meant to go down your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">drain, no<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> matter how they\u2019re marketed)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dental floss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cotton swabs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cat litter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mineral build-up<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tree roots<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dirt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realistically, only food waste, soap, and liquids should go down your kitchen sink. Only human waste and toilet paper should go down your toilet. If you\u2019re putting too much outside of this down your drains, then you\u2019re only sabotaging your home\u2019s cleanliness and overall comfort. Now, let\u2019s talk about keeping your home\u2019s drains clean.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to Keep Drains Clean<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s how you can keep your home\u2019s drains clean going forward:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">putting F.O.G. (fat, oil, and grease) down the drain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have drain cleanings regularly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dispose of hard food waste like pits, eggshells, and seeds in the trash, as they can damage the blades in your garbage disposal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid coffee grounds <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(they don&#8217;t dissolve and build up in pipes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re suffering from soap scum, then you need to consider water softening systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">drain screen or hair catcher<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to protect your home\u2019s drain from hair in your shower<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following these tips is the best way to maintain healthy pipes and prevent future clogs. However, sometimes a blockage has already formed deep within your plumbing system due to months of buildup. If you\u2019re dealing with a drain that gurgles, backs up, or empties slower than it used to, it\u2019s time to call in the experts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Have a Stubborn Clog? We Can Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even with the best preventive care, tough clogs can still occur. Whether it\u2019s caused by solidified coconut oil or another underlying issue, the licensed plumbers at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. have the professional tools and expertise to diagnose and clear the blockage safely and effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t live with the frustration of a slow or backed-up drain. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/contact\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to schedule your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/home-service\/drain-and-sewer\/drain-cleaning\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">professional drain cleaning service<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and get your plumbing flowing smoothly again.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let&#8217;s talk about how coconut oil affects your home&#8217;s plumbing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[176],"tags":[382,363,46,80],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4870"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4870"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5188,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4870\/revisions\/5188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}