Dealing with a clogged sink is frustrating and inconvenient. A clogged sink prevents water drainage, leaves dirty water standing, and makes your kitchen or bathroom unusable. Calling a plumber can be expensive and time-consuming. Luckily, there are several methods you can try yourself to unclog a sink before making that call.
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Use a Plunger
A plunger is likely your first tool to attempt to unclog a sink. To use a plunger effectively:
- Fill the clogged sink with enough water to cover the drain opening
- Submerge the plunger several times to dislodge the clog with forceful suction
- Repeat until the clog is removed and water can drain freely
For bathroom sinks, a toilet plunger works well. For kitchen sinks, use a flange or cup plunger to get a tight seal over the drain. Plunging with force is an easy first step to clearing sink clogs.
Try a Chemical Drain Cleaner
Liquid drain cleaners available at hardware stores can help dissolve clogs. Look for cleaners with active ingredients like sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid. To use:
- Remove standing water from the sink
- Pour the drain cleaner directly into the drain
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before running hot water
- Repeat if needed until drain is clear
However, take care with corrosive chemical cleaners and always check the packaging for safe use.
Boil a Pot of Water
Boiling water is a straightforward way to clear debris. To employ this method:
- Boil a full pot of water
- Carefully pour the hot water directly into the clogged drain
- Let it sit for a few minutes before running the tap
The boiling water can help dissolve soap, oils, and food build-up. You may need to repeat a few times. This simple solution of harnessing hot water can effectively open clogged drains.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Combining baking soda and vinegar creates a chemical reaction producing gas that can dislodge clogs. To try:
- Pour 1⁄2 cup baking soda down the drain
- Follow with 1 cup heated white vinegar
- Cover the drain tightly for 5 minutes as soda and vinegar react
- Rinse with hot water
The fizzy reaction generates pressure in the pipe strong enough to dislodge a clog. Baking soda and vinegar offer an easy homemade drain cleaner.
Snake the Drain
A drain snake, also called an auger, uses a cable to physically remove clogs lodged deep in plumbing. To clear a sink drain:
- Remove sink P-trap to access the drainpipe
- Feed the drain snake down the pipe, cranking to advance further
- When you feel resistance, twist and push to drive through the clog
- Retrieve drain snake to pull out debris
- Repeat as needed until water flows freely
It takes some practice, but a drain snake can successfully eliminate stubborn clogs.
Dislodge the Clog Manually
If you can locate a clog visually, try removing it manually with common household items. Potential methods include:
- Use needle-nose pliers or tongs to pull out hair, debris, or small objects lodged in drain openings
- Straighten out a wire coat hanger to unclog sinks from overflow holes
- Secure a wet/dry vacuum hose over or down the drain to vacuum out debris
- Use a zip-it style plastic drain cleaner to grab and extract hair clogs
While not precise methods, sometimes wrestling clogs manually does the trick.
Prevent Clogs with Strainers
Sink drain strainers trap debris before going down the pipes. They are available in a variety of styles. Options:
- A removable mesh screen catches food scraps and leftovers
- A perforated strainer allows liquid to pass while trapping solids
- An open-rim design strainer with small holes prevents debris from entering pipes
Strainers protect drains from future clogs, though they must be cleaned regularly.
Use a Wire Hanger
Unfolding a regular wire coat hanger to make a long flexible tool for fishing debris from sink drains often unclogs sinks. To implement this handy tool:
- Straighten the hanger and then bend one end to create a small hook
- Feed the hanger down the drain and scrape to fish out debris
- Twist the wire around to catch and extract any clogs
- Run hot water afterward to flush waste pipes
Keep a wire hanger under your sink so it’s always available to unclog drains.
Prevent Sink Clogs
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when dealing with clogged sinks. To help avoid clogs:
- Install hair catchers over drains to trap strands before they accumulate
- Avoid pouring fats, oils, or grease down the sink that build up inside pipes
- Use a drain strainer to catch food particles from dishwashing
- Pour a gallon of hot water mixed with 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar down pipes monthly
- Consider safe enzyme drain maintainers available at hardware stores
With some care taken to protect sink drains, you can prevent annoying clogs.
Rent a Power Drain Auger
For persistent clogs a power drain auger rents for DIY use. More powerful than handheld options, they attach to a drill spinning a wire coil to chew through serious clogs. Tips for using:
- Select an auger fitting your pipe size and depth
- Center and straighten the auger before turning on drill
- Feed slowly on speed setting 1 into drain pipe
- Increase drill speed if needed to penetrate clog
- Retrieve auger carefully to prevent damage to pipes
An electric auger is the ultimate DIY solution for really tough sink clogs.
Remove P-Trap Under Sink
The curved pipe fitting under sinks connecting drains is called a P-trap. They routinely catch debris and clog. To take this apart:
- Place a bucket under trap to catch water
- Loosen slip nuts at bend fittings with pliers or wrench
- Disconnect trap sections and dump out collected debris
- Rinse trap thoroughly before reattaching
It’s smelly work, but removing the P-trap grants access for clearing nasty clogs.
How to Fix a Clogged Sink at home with daily stuff
Unclogging Method | Supplies Needed | Step-by-Step Instructions | What Makes It Work |
---|---|---|---|
Plunger | Sink plunger or flanged force-cup plunger | 1. Fill the sink with water to completely cover the drain. 2. Place the plunger over the drain hole to create a tight seal. 3. Plunge vigorously 15-20 times, forcing air into the drain to dislodge the clog. 4. Let sink drain. Repeat if needed. | The forceful pressure from repeated plunging dislodges the clog, allowing water to drain through clear pipes. |
Boiling Water | Small pot, kettle, or microwave-safe container and water | 1. Fill the sink with water to completely cover the drain. 2. Place the plunger over the drain hole to create a tight seal. 3. Plunge vigorously 15-20 times, forcing air into the drain to dislodge the clog. 4. Let sink drain. Repeat if needed. | The boiling water (212°F) melts and washes away grease, soap buildup, hair, food debris that forms common clogs. |
Baking Soda & Vinegar | 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup heated white vinegar | 1. Lower the zip-it tool slowly into a drain as far as possible. 2. Slowly retrieve the tool, allowing bristles to hook onto and capture hair/debris. 3. Remove zip-it and discard debris. Reinsert for more cleaning. | The chemical reaction creates expanding gas bubbles that push through the clog, forcing the blockage free. |
Zip-It Drain Cleaner | Plastic zip-it tool | 1. Pour baking soda down the drain. 2. Pour heated vinegar to activate soda, causing a fizzing chemical reaction. 3. Let mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. 4. Rinse with hot water. | The zip-it’s tiny bristles latch onto hair and gunk stuck on pipe walls, capturing the clog so it can be removed. |
Conclusion
Dealing with a backed-up, clogged sink can certainly help your patience. However, in most cases, there are several DIY methods using common household items that effectively clear sunk drains before needing to call a plumber. With a little trial and error, you can conquer a clogged sink yourself.
FAQ about To Fix a Clogged Sink
My kitchen sink is completely clogged after trying everything to unclog it. What should I do now?
If your kitchen sink is still clogged after trying plunging, drain snakes, commercial drain cleaners, and home remedies, the clog has likely moved past the P-trap deep into the pipes. Try using a hand-powered auger/drain snake first by twisting the cable to cut into and extract the debris. For tougher clogs, rent a high-powered motorized auger that spins at 500 RPM to grind through the blockage. Prevent future clogs with a sink strainer, limiting grease, and using enzyme drain cleaner monthly.
How can I unclog my double kitchen sink that has standing water in both sides?
Start by plunging one sink at a time by submerging the plunger into the standing water to cover the drain and forcefully plunging up and down. Check after several forceful plunges if the water starts draining. Use a drain snake in each drain line if plunging doesn’t work. Finally, you may need to disconnect the P-trap pipes under the sinks to check if debris is trapped there and preventing drainage.
Why is water coming back up my kitchen sink instead of draining properly?
Water flowing back up the sink is caused by the drain pipes being completely blocked so water cannot escape, even under pressure. Start by removing and cleaning out the P-trap connection pipe under the sink. Then use a drain snake to pull out the debris restricting flow down the pipe. If unsuccessful, hire a plumber to diagnose and clear the severe clog in your sink’s pipes.
My kitchen sink has standing water in it and smells nasty. What can unclog a sink full of dirty standing water?
First turn off water supply lines and then use a cup or small bucket to bail out as much water as possible. Mix a solution of very hot water, liquid soap, and baking soda and pour it into the sink to break up remaining debris and oils. Let it sit several minutes then use a plunger followed by a drain snake to force through the clog while the grime is softened. If needed, remove the P-trap under the sink to check for collected debris.