Install hair filters. Remember that your drain pipes will bend at the P trap. Spend some time plunging the drain. It’s a good idea to know how your kitchen sink can get clogged. Test the drain by running warm water down it to see if the water is draining properly. Simply mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. This method can dissolve any of the build up that might be in your pipes. All I do is stick this down in the drain and pull out all the hair. It’s a good idea to know how to use a plumbers snake before you attempt this. Straighten out a wire clothes hanger as much as possible. While some of these are likely obvious, others may not be so evident. Doing so helps the plunger seal around the drain. These drains can become clogged within just a few weeks when dirt, food, hair and soap scum collect as they rinse down the drain. If this doesn’t work move on to the next method. There may be grease, soap and debris build up blocking the pipe. If grease does go down the sink drain, run hot tap water or even boiling water immediately (as long as it’s not PVC pipe) for a length of time so that it doesn’t stick on the side of the pipe or settle in the drain trap. Hair and build up can easily get wrapped around the pop up stopper and cause the bathroom sink to … The velcro should catch all the hair and other things that are clogging the drain. Do not stir the water and caustic soda together with your hands. Place a towel underneath the bucket for any splashing that might happen. The first time you have to unclog a sink it will feel overwhelming, but as you walk through the steps and methods above you will see that it is easier to do than you might think. Wear rubber gloves and eye goggles when using heavy-duty chemicals, especially caustic soda and drain cleaner. It will either break up or the screw will grab it. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 441,777 times. Why do I need to only use cold water with caustic soda? Turn the crank clockwise to feed it into the pipe. If this works you will want to put another half cup of baking soda and half cup of vinegar through to remove any residue you didn’t get. Can you I sodium hydroxide after using vinegar to unclog a drain? Also clean the trap out by scrubbing with the same wire brush. Slide the wire hanger down, hook-side first, into the drain. Cover the hole with a piece of duct tape or stuff it with a damp rag. If I have used caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) twice to clear a kitchen drain and the waste water flow is still very slow, how long should I wait before using something like sulphuric acid? If none of the tips help you unclog your bathroom sink, then it is more than just a simple tangle of hair and soap scum. Measure out a ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar. Here’s how to clean out a blockage in the wall from your sink. Unscrew the connector to the P-trap. This will react with the white vinegar and baking soda getting rid of any clogs in your drain lines. Slide the nuts away from the connections and carefully slip off the trap. Pull out 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) of snake cable. If possible, flush the sink out with at least 4 cups (1 L) of water. Can I use caustic soda to unclog a stainless steel sink? Vinegar is a natural cleaning and disinfecting element that can be used to clean nearly any area of the home, including bathtub and sink drains. 3. Sink drain gather hair, dirt, dust, bacteria and dangerous molds. However, to prevent shower drain clogs from hair using a shower strainer over the drain or install suction cups to block hair strands. Sulfuric acid will melt the plastic washers on kitchen and bathroom sinks. Note: You may be tempted to deal with your clogged drains by using a chemical drain cleaner. Bleach doesnt kill it & having a septic tank I don’t like to use it often. Secondly, wear gloves and use your hands to pick up the stuck leftovers from the sink and dispose of them properly in a dustbin. If the clog is in a bathroom sink, remove the drain stopper. Pour a half cup of salt (I use regular table salt) down the drain. You’ve got this homeowner! Tighten the setscrew. Replace all of the parts (trap arm, p-trap ) and run warm water through it. Clear out the blockage with a bent wire hanger. This mixture will start to fizz immediately and should be promptly poured down the drain. As soon as the fizzing stops, pour another 1/2 cup (125 ml) white distilled vinegar down the drain. A clogged or slow-draining bathroom sink is a common problem in most homes. Plus it is very cheap. Once you have removed the debris make sure to clean the drain snake thoroughly otherwise it may not work for you next time. Store it in a plastic bucket designed for holding a plunger (you can find them in hardware stores or online), and store that near the toilet or in a closet. For the best results, put a strip of duct tape on top of the overflow drain at the top of the sink or bathtub. You can use a funnel to make sure all of the baking soda goes down the drain. Plug up the sink drain as quickly as possible after adding the water to force the reaction down into the pipes rather than up and out. Next unscrew the trap arm and inspect it for any obstructions and remove them. Cleaning out a sink trap removes clogs caused by buildup such as soap or grease or a foreign object such as a toy. If that doesn’t work, move on to the next step. Once a month, flush kitchen drains with salt and boiling water. Pour 1/2 cup (125 ml) baking soda down the sink drain. Ensure you have a tight seal and make sure that you are pushing water through the drain and not air. Clean the snake as you pull it back in as it will likely be covered in gunk. This usually happens right below the drain. Reattach the trap to the rest of the piping. Then, holding the plunger upright, plunge vigorously for 20 seconds or until you feel the pressure give way. Vinegar and Baking Soda. Frequently Asked Questions about how to unclog a sink Boil 1 to 4 quarts (1 to 4 L) of water in a kettle or saucepan. If you do not have a kettle, you can boil the water in a saucepan or electric hot pot. The unit could be broken or jammed. Get a large bucket and place it underneath the pipe this is to catch any water that may not have been flushed out or cleaned up when you emptied out the sink. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Enzymatic cleaners are the least potent and rely on bacterial enzymes to eat away organic blockages. Once you hit a blockage, continue cranking until you feel the tip of the snake cable break through to the other side. Make sure the overflow hole is covered with a wet rag. Place the base of the plunger over the drain, then push-and-pull the handle for about 15 seconds. Make the water as hot and rapid as possible, but if the sink starts to back up, turn the water off. Try a plunger. The problem is almost always caused by hair and gummy soap scum that get caught on the stopper or pivot rod and clogs the drain. Hair: This is one of the most common causes of bathroom drain clog. When mixed properly, baking soda, salt, boiling water and vinegar can unclog the sink within hours. You can buy them at any hardware store or on Amazon. Bleach kills bacteria living in the tank, but the bacteria it kills eats solid waste, thereby preventing the lines from clogging. You could use a wire coat hanger, but for the money and the time it will save you having a plumber’s snake is an essential homeowner tool worth investing in. You will need to do this so that the plunger can get proper suction on the drain. Try using the wire coat hanger method, or/and a plunger. *Warning: Never put your hand down in a garbage disposal as it can result in loss of limb. Inspect the P-trap and remove any obstruction and gunk that may be stuck in it. They take longer to work but they are more gentle on your pipes, and better for the environment as well. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. As always an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure here are the things you can do to maintain your kitchen sink and prevent it. Yes, but it is much better to try mechanical means first, for example; plunger or drain rods/spring, etc. It’s best if you are going to use a cleaner that is biodegradable. Baking soda and white vinegar Unscrew the drain cover and remove the sink stopper. Run the disposal and see if it is running correctly. Pour 1 cup (250 ml) of undiluted bleach directly down the sink drain. Way 2: Clean a clogged bathtub drain with hair. Fill the other side of the sink with 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) of water. By using our site, you agree to our. Personally I like to own it as I can deal with these water issues when they arise quickly. Follow the instructions on the label carefully when you use it. You cannot avoid hair and soap residues. Check the pop up assembly. If you have a stubborn clog in your drain, using a plumber’s snake can help you. This will be on tight you will need a pair of pliers. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Combine 1/2 cup (125 ml) table salt and 1/2 cup (125 ml) baking soda. This is how to go about it; Start by measuring one cup of baking soda and pour it down the sink or drain. For more serious clogs, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar is a popular, more natural septic safe drain cleaner. This video will take you through our step-by-step process on how to unclog your sink. That way, when you finish shaving, you can take the hairs with your hands preventing them from falling down the drain. Empty the lemon juice through the drain and close with the plug then. Rotate the handle 360 degrees until your feel resistance. Run hot tap water from your sink and into the drain for a couple of minutes. Great caution is advised. Hair goes down the drain easily and gets accumulated inside the pipe building up until the line is blocked. If your skin still tingles or burns after cleaning it, immediately seek medical help. First of all, the first step is to take a cup or pot and try to remove the water from the clogged sink. … Place a large bucket below the trap. Screw the snake through the clog in the all and pull it out the same way we described earlier. There is an art to using a plumber’s snake and you want to make sure you aren’t just pushing the blockage further down the pipe. Learning how to unclog a sink during such cases can come in handy. Hot water will cause excessive fumes and heat and is unnecessary. 6. Here are the most common methods you should consider trying the next time your sink gets plugged. https://amzn.to/2PSpgKs (Free Rent Affordability Calculator), Mortgage Payoff Calculator (your new debt free secret weapon! ), Tile Calculator: Estimate Your Tile Project for Free, How to prevent your kitchen sink from clogging. Water, salt, baking soda and vinegar are the four products more common to unclog the drains in your house. This may clear your clogged and solve your problems. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Baking Soda and Vinegar This is an old method of unclogging drains that has proven to be very effective in bathroom sinks. Once you feel resistance, twist and maneuver the hanger in an attempt to hook the blockage. Give this solution 15 minutes to work its magic. This is usually where food gathers and you can flush it out or replace it as you see fit. Using this home remedy method to unclog your sink is easy. Bend one end slightly to create a small hook capable of fitting into your sink drain. Unclogging a bathroom sink? Scared of messing up your first relationship? Step 1: Allow your sink to drain completely. Step 3: Add 1 1/4-cup of white vinegar to the drain using the same funnel. This is the least damaging but somewhat effective way to clean your drain from buildup regularly. Remove the P-trap and any pipes that connect to the drain stub-out at the wall. Never flush your hair down the drain! Carefully remove and discard the wand, saving the main part for next time. Read the label carefully to determine which cleaner is right for your particular type of blockage. See how to unclog a sink drain with baking soda and vinegar. In most cases, a plunger can be very effective, sometimes even when you’re dealing with a … If that doesn’t help, you can also try pouring boiling water down the drain, which may help loosen up whatever is inside. Boil 1 gallon (4 L) of water in a kettle or saucepan. Let it sit for a few minutes. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This can take some time. [1] X Research source Cover the drain opening completely with the plunger. There are a variety of reasons. All it needs is a little help. Using a plunger is a classic and proven way to unclog your partially or completely clogged drain without using any chemicals. There should be a slip nut on either side of the P-trap which should make it easy to remove. If the blockage is further down the line, a drain spring or a wire coat hanger can be quite useful. Turn the crank counter-clockwise to pull the cable out. References. If this happens and there’s no water going down roll up your sleeve take your index finger and spin it clockwise ( or counterclockwise if you are in the southern hemisphere) to create a whirlpool this will move around the food that is blocking the drain and may fix your drain clogged. Don’t forget to remove the stopper so you can start cleaning your sink drain to pull the blockage out. Having a clogged drain pipe deep in a wall means you will need to use a drain snake. *Do not try this with PVC pipes as it could damage the plastic in the pipes. Even a wire hanger can come to the rescue when you open and bend it to use it as a claw. The tension in the cable will be reduced dramatically after it breaks through. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes without touching it. This is really important for bathroom drains. Before doing anything else it’s always a good idea to give this a try as it works fairly often. The plunger can unclog your sink just as easily as it can unclog your toilet. Turn your sink on and let water rush into the drain. Cover again and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. If your sink begins to back up and fill with water, turn the water off and let it drain before attempting to unclog the sink again. If water is added to caustic soda, an exothermic reaction will cause the solution to possibly boil and splash on you, causing serious chemical and thermal burns. This could loosen whatever is causing the clog. But luckily the fix is usually simple and takes only about 15 minutes. Lift up to see if the water drains. How to unclog a bathroom sink drain. Pour the boiling water directly down the drain, rather than pouring it into the sink first and letting it gradually flow to the drain. Do not use bleach if you use a septic tank. Add the caustic soda to the water, never the other way around! If this made some progress you can try it again. If the water is draining slowly keep reading. Check to make sure water drains. We are an all girl family so you can image we are faced with this problem quit a bit. You may need to plunge the sink for several minutes in order to loosen the blockage. Unblock sink hairs with a magic tool Rid bathroom drains of pesky hair with the ingenious Drain Weasel tool, which snags and removes hair. You could also use the microwave to boil water, but microwave the water only in 20 to 40 second intervals and keep a wooden chopstick in the water as it microwaves. Note that this works best on minor clogs and may not prove as effective against heavy clogs. Insert the drain snake as far down into the drain as possible. The water and caustic soda should begin to "fizz" and heat up as you mix the two together. Place a plunger over the other drain, holding it fairly upright. When it comes time to tackle a clogged kitchen sink it’s important that you have the right tools. Bend one end slightly to create a small hook capable of fitting into your sink drain. The reaction is vigorous with cold water. I unclog drains in my house quite often. The things you will need are: Sometimes your sink will have a bunch of food trimmings clogging the drain. Caustic drain cleaners rely on chemical reactions caused by hydroxide ions. This should create quite a fizz and must be poured down the drain immediately. insert the wand in the plughole and hold it by the sleeve. Be sure to clean the plunger before using it on the sink, though, or purchase a new plunger for use in the sink. You can use any of these methods for any kind of sink! With the stopper out take the following steps to unclog your drain naturally. To unclog a sink, try using a plunger to loosen the clog like you would a toilet. Give yourself some time and the right tools to give it a try and you could find yourself saving a lot of money by doing it on your own. Note: This method works especially well on clogs with hair. There is a bend in the pipe coming down from the drain and on occasion food and other items can gather there and not flow through. Plunger. If this is the case you can unplug it, and try to turn the blades manually underneath it using an Allen wrench. The best DIY solution for cleaning sink and shower drains is to use the classic mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Empty the baking soda in the drain and let it sit in the pipe. Pour a pot of boiling water over the drain. Acid cleaners tend to be harsher than caustic drain cleaners. If you are working on a bathtub, apply duct tape over the overflow opening at the front of the tub. Give it a few plunges (20-30 seconds) and see if anything comes out. Pump the plunger up and down for a solid 20 seconds using a vigorous, rapid motion, but do not break the seal between the plunger and the drain. Carefully pour the boiling water into the drain. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Unclog-a-Sink-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Unclog-a-Sink-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Unclog-a-Sink-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid2809859-v4-728px-Unclog-a-Sink-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"