Grease Trap Cleaning
Tips On Grease Trap Cleaning
While grease trap cleaning may not be the most glamorous kitchen task, it is certainly one of the most important. The common kitchen grease trap is important for collecting and storing unwanted leftover foods and grease. These storage containers however, can become problematic if they are not properly maintained. Large amounts of food waste or food wastes that are left over long periods of time can create odor problems. These foods also release acids as they rot. These acids can diminish the materials that make up the trap itself. Properly maintaining a grease trap is important for keeping a kitchen clean and odor free, and will ensure the long usable life of the cooking equipment.
Grease trap cleaning can be a messy business. Preparing your intended work area before beginning the cleaning process will help ensure that messes will be easy to clean up. It will also provide you with easier methods for cleaning and transporting waste. A large and sturdy trash can is the first tool that you will need. It is best to line the trash can with several thicknesses of garbage bags to prevent tearing and ripping of the bags during transport. Bo one wants to spill grease on themselves! An absorbent material such as kitty litter can also be added to the garbage can. This will help soak up some of the liquids so that you can remove the bags for disposal easier.
When starting the process of grease trap cleaning, take note of how the trap appears before you dismantle it so that you can put it back together properly when the task is complete. Take off the trap cover with your hand or by using the required tools. If you are unsure about how to properly clean the grease trap, you should consult the manual. To remove the grease and foodstuffs from the trap you can use a vacuum device that sucks it up or you can dip it out using a cup. Be sure to remove all of the contents inside of the trap.
The next step is to use a metal or plastic scraper to clean the interior walls of the trap. Again a cup may come in handy to collect scraped up piles. Continue scraping and removing debris until the trap is as clean as possible, making sure to clean all of the screens and baffles as well. This is a good time to inspect the interior of the trap to make sure it is in good working order. While it may be tempting to do so, avoiding trying to clean the interior of the trap with any substance. This includes hot water or detergents. Do not add any type of degreasers.
By properly scraping the entire inside of the trap and making sure that all lines and screens are clean, you will make sure that water will flow properly through the trap. Reassemble the trap and replace the lid in the opposite manner that you removed them. Double check all screws and check the gasket. The gasket may require a new piece of rubber to work properly. Avoid using any type of tube silicone.
Once you are finished cleaning and reassembling the grease trap, it is always a good idea to tightly knot the garbage bags. Try not to place too much weight into each bag, but evenly space the grease into enough bags to avoid ripping the bags. Always dispose of grease trap waste properly. This means a solid waste receptacle or appropriate transfer station. Remember that dumping grease trap waste into the environment or into storm drains is illegal and may warrant a heavy fine.