To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Warning issued to anyone with leftover Baileys from Christmas

Warning issued to anyone with leftover Baileys from Christmas

Making a common mistake could cost you hundreds of pounds

While there's certainly no leftover Baileys in my household, there may be some people out there with more self control.

The Irish cream liqueur is loved year-round by some drinkers, but for the vast majority, it's a Christmas staple.

There's simply nothing better than sipping on a glass of Baileys with a couple of ice cubes as Love Actually plays in the background.

Or, better still, the iconic Gavin and Stacey finale, which we're sure we'll be watching for years to come.

If you are one of the aforementioned families with some Baileys still knocking about in the bottle, and you're wanting to get rid of it - a stark issue has been issued regarding the method.

The tradespeople at Mybuilder.com advise that Bailey's is classed as 'fats, oils and greases' (FOG) and for that reason, should absolutely never be poured down the sink.

Bailey's is a festive treat (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bailey's is a festive treat (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

They told the Sun: "This popular drink has a short shelf life even when refrigerated, so often ends up down the sink.

"But creamy drinks such as Baileys are classed as a FOG, and can wreak havoc on pipes.

“Most blockages could cost upwards of £250 to fix - and it’s so avoidable."

The guidance is that once opened, Bailey's can last up to two years if stored correctly - below 25C.

And, of course, there's always a Best Before date to peruse.

So, while you're not permitted to pour it down the plughole, there is one way to get rid if you've missed your chance to guzzle the lot.

Like any other FOG item, you should pour it into a secure container, such as tupperware or a jar, and throw it away that way.

Other items to avoid pouring down your sink include other FOGs, such as meat fat, cooking fat and gravy.

Further, custard and pancake batter should be disposed of the secure way to avoid disaster.

Chin chin (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Chin chin (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

As for how you should proceed if you made the mistake and are now having to battle with a blocked drain - try not to panic.

Begin by flushing the drain with boiling water.

Next, as per DBS Drainage, you may be able to rely upon a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to cut through any clogging, rather than having to splurge on expensive chemicals or unblocker products.

Mixing baking soda and vinegar will create a reaction that works to rid any grime or waste inside your pipes.

Letting the concoction sit for a couple of hours - or, if possible overnight - is likely to work wonders when you follow up by flushing the drain once again with boiling water.

Featured Image Credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty stock image

Topics: Christmas, Food and Drink, Home, Advice, Hacks