Saving energy in the kitchen

Cleaning your grease trap can be a daunting task. Grease traps are usually filled with masses of oily water and heavy fats, with a smell to match. However, it isn't a complex task, and should be relatively easy if you follow the next 7 steps.

Some Things You May Want To Have

• Some gloves, a facial mask and some clothing you don't mind getting dirty
• A putty knife, a large scoop, a pry bar and a screw driver if necessary
• A container as large as your grease trap, maybe with a bin bag inside if you don't want to get it dirty
• Some kitty litter, if you'd like to partially mask the smell and absorb the liquids

Lid Removal

With all of your apparatus nearby, carefully remove any screws or bolts.

Slowly take the lid off the grease trap using your pry bar. Be careful when doing so, as people sometimes break the gaskets and seals of their grease trap when rushing the process.

There may be other loose components besides the lid, such as a metal barrier. Be sure to remove these, as it will make the cleaning process a lot easier.

Put the lid and other loose components to the side, and take a mental note of where all of the screws and bolts came from. You may want to draw a diagram of where everything went, just in case.

Oily Water Removal

Scoop out all oily, standing water from your grease trap. This will make grease removal easier.

Be careful not to spill any, as oily water can be dangerous and messy.

Grease Removal

First, scoop out all loose grease and put it into your container.

When you can no longer scoop the loose grease, begin scraping it off the sides of your grease trap with your putty-knife. It will be easier if you scrape it into a pile in your grease trap, before scooping the then loose grease.

Grease Trap Cleaning

Put some detergent on a steel scourer and scrub all of the remaining stuck grease loose. Don't forget to also clean the lid and other loose components of the grease trap.

Rinse everything with water and a cloth, making sure to remove all detergent. Then scoop the rinsing water into your container, and soak up all remaining water with your cloth before squeezing it into your container.

Also, clean and rinse all gaskets, seals and screws. This is very important if you'd like to keep them functioning for as long as possible.

Close Your Grease Trap

Using your diagram or memory, carefully place all components of the grease trap into their original place. Also, make sure all gaskets seal properly.

Responsibly Dispose Of Waste

Don't pour the oily water and grease down the drain. Put it in a grease bin or a normal bin, as recommended by your local waste authorities.

Fill Out Your Grease Trap Cleaning Report

If you have a grease trap cleaning report, don't forget to fill it out. If you don't have one, it may help to get one. Cleaning reports help keep maintaining your grease trap simple and easy.

If you don't feel up to tackling the grease trap on your own, contact a company like No Fuss Liquid Waste to get this messy job taken care of.