Everyone has experienced this: while washing your hands in the kitchen or bathroom sink one day, you suddenly realize the water isn’t draining correctly. You wait for the water to drain before trying to rewash your hands, but the problem is still there and it still smells terrible.
If you know how to unblock a kitchen sink, it will come in handy at that point. But what if this is your first time dealing with a clogged sink? How do you proceed? Don’t worry, this blog will help you. Read on for three easy ways how to unblock a kitchen sink quickly and safely, so the next time your pipes get backed up, you’ll be ready!
A Blocked Kitchen Sink: What Causes It?
Before learning how to unclog the kitchen sinks, we need to know what caused the clog in sinks in the first place.
Food scraps are the main reason for the kitchen sink blockage. A few scraps will flow through the pipes with the water, but if you frequently put your food scraps in the sink rather than the kitchen trash, you’ll probably get your sink clogged.
Grease waste is also a common factor in getting your kitchen sink blocked. At elevated temperatures, many fats become liquid; but when they cool, they solidify. Thus, your drains are highly likely to become clogged if fats enter your pipes.
In addition, the layout and design of the plumbing system can be to blame for blockages in kitchen sinks as well.
Three Easy Ways to Unblock a Kitchen Sink
After knowing the causes of your clogged kitchen sink, here are three easy ways you can learn to help you unblock your kitchen sink.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking soda reacts with vinegar to produce bubbles that help clear obstructions from pipes. Baking soda also cuts grease well.
Things You Need
- One cup of baking soda
- One cup of vinegar
- Four cups of boiling water
- Rubber gloves
Steps on How to Unblock a Kitchen Sink with Baking Soda:
- First, wear a set of rubber gloves. Bail out any standing water in the sink using a bowl or cup.
- Second, pour one cup of baking soda into the sink drain. If necessary, press the baking soda into the opening using a spatula.
- Then, fill the drain opening with 1 cup of vinegar.
- Next, allow the solution to work on the clog for five minutes. Check if the clog is cleared by running warm water through the sink.
- Lastly, if the warm water does not work, pour 4 cups of hot water down the drain.
Plunger
Pouring vinegar and baking soda down your drain will only help if your sink is completely blocked. If it’s not, attempt to utilize the conventional toilet plunger’s suction force to remove the obstruction.
Things You Need
- Plunger
- Hot water
Steps on How to Unblock a Kitchen Sink with Plunger:
- First, fill the sink with hot water about halfway.
- Put the plunger in the drain’s opening. If you have a double sink, place a washcloth in the drain that isn’t clogged to direct the pressure of the Plunger toward the obstruction.
- Move the plunger quickly up and down. Lift the Plunger off the drain opening and see whether the water starts draining.
- Lastly, once the clog has been released, keep using the plunger. The clog may need some time to be cleared. If this doesn’t work, try the next approach.
Commercial Blocked Sink Cleaner
Commercial kitchen sink unblockers work well to dissolve grease, food, hair, and other organic materials. However, they should be the last resort used because of their causticity.
Things You Need
- Commercial blocked sink cleaner
- Gloves
Steps on How to Unblock a Kitchen Sink with Commercial Blocked Sink Cleaner:
- Carefully read the label to make sure the cleaner is suitable for the blockage in your sink.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands and ensure the area is well-ventilated.
- Follow the instructions on the label, pour the chemical cleaner down the sink, and wait for it to dissolve the blockage.
- Rinse the sink with cold water to remove any debris and chemical residue.
In addition, if you think your kitchen sink is blocked by a solid object, then you should avoid using any caustic chemical cleaners. Because they probably won’t help clear kitchen sink drain but left chemical residues in your sink.
If you’ve tried all the suggestions above, it’s reasonable to assume that you won’t be able to remove the obstruction alone. In this case, you need to consider calling plumbers. Plumbers can access specialized gear and equipment that may swiftly and efficiently unclog a blocked sink. There are drain cameras to pinpoint the exact location of the obstruction and what is causing it, as well as high-pressure jets that can blast obstacles out of the way without harming your pipes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are simple methods on how to unblock kitchen sink. Follow the directions above to use ordinary materials to unblock kitchen sink from soap or fat, such as baking soda, vinegar, or blocked sink cleaner. But if you find that the water pressure is still not reduced even after clearing the blockage in kitchen sink, it’s time to call the plumbing professionals.
FAQ about How to Unclog a Blocked Sink
Yes. Because of its high acidity, vinegar is excellent at removing soap scum and will help break down some of the trapped organic material.
You can pour hot water down the kitchen sink, but you’d better not pour boiling water. Hot water can soften some substances that have hardened and are beginning to adhere to your sink. However, boiling water may expand your sink or melt PVC pipes.
Yes, you can use coke to clear a drain. Because of their acidity, carbonated beverages like Pepsi and Coca-Cola help remove buildup in pipes.
