Doing this with your Baileys could “wreak havoc” in your home.
Baileys is a staple in many homes during the Christmas season. However, experts warn if you have an open bottle lingering after the holiday festivities, it’s best to finish it sooner rather than later.
Unlike other spirits that can last for ages once opened, Baileys has a shelf life of just six months from when you first pop the top. That means you’ve got until June to enjoy what’s left before it’s time to bin it.
But here’s a crucial tip: if you’re already over the creamy Irish concoction and thinking about disposing of it, don’t pour it down the sink. Standard practice might be to tip leftover drinks away to recycle the bottle, but Baileys could cause chaos with your plumbing.
According to tradesmen at MyBuilder.com, this tipple can “wreak havoc” on pipes and lead to serious blockages. They caution: “Cream liqueur drinks, such as the popular Christmas favourite, Baileys, can be a problem for your plumbing at Christmas. While it may be delicious to drink, it doesn’t keep for long and often ends up down the sink.
“However, this sort of beverage should never be disposed of in this way. Cream liqueurs have a large fat content and as such fall into the category of FOG (Fats, Oils, and Greases). FOG should never go down the sink, as it sticks to pipes and can cause blockages. It’s also responsible for ‘fatbergs’ in our sewers.”
It isn’t just Baileys you have to watch out for this Christmas. If you’ve polished off your turkey and have some fat to get rid of, that is also classed as FOG, so it should not be poured down the sink. Experts said the issue with pouring these types of liquid down the drain is that when cool, they can harden and create a blockage in the pipes under your sink.
Meanwhile, if you need to dispose of old Baileys and want to know the safest way to do it, another expert previously recommended disposing of FOG liquids by sealing them in a container and popping them in your general waste bin. In the case of hot fat such as turkey fat, you will need to let it cool before disposing of it.
If you’re wondering about whether to pop Baileys into the fridge, one TikTok user shared his say on it – and apparently it could last longer than you think. The account holder, known as Big Bear, revealed: “You do not need to refrigerate Baileys if it’s open.” But it’s still worth finishing off quick over the festivities.