How to unclog a sink at home

How to unclog a sink at home

At first, a clogged sink can seem like nothing more than a minor household inconvenience.  But, as the standing water in your sink starts to rise, you’ll slowly realize what a real pain this common problem actually is.

To help you figure out a DIY plumbing solution, we’ll cover several tried and tested techniques to unclog your drains with relative ease.  In addition to this, we’ll also include resources for professional plumbers, home renovations, cleaning, and other similar services.

Ways to Unclog Your Sink

Ways to Unclog Your Sink

Plungers

While they certainly work great for unclogging toilets, many folks are unaware that plungers can also help with clogged drains.  By using a sink plunger, you can remove blockages through the power of suction and air pressure just as a professional plumber would

To properly clear a blockage using a plunger, all you need to do is remove your sink’s strainer or rubber stopper.  You then place the plunger over the drain and apply pressure in an up and down motion.

You’ll know you’ve cleared the blockage when standing water drains smoothly from your sink and you can run your faucet without issue.

Boiling Water

The boiling water method is an excellent way to clear blockages made up of organic matter using extreme heat.  This method is as simple as heating up water and pouring it down a clogged drain.  

Now, although this works great on organic material, blockages made up of inorganic material are likely to be unaffected.  Aside from this, you should avoid using boiling water to unclog your sink if your pipes are made of PVC as they’re likely to melt or warp.

If you’re unsure of your piping material, it may be better to consult a plumber instead for a professional inspection.

Baking Soda & Vinegar

If basic chemistry has taught us one thing, it’s that baking soda and vinegar can cause quite an entertaining reaction when they’re mixed together.  What chemistry didn’t teach you though is the fact that this reaction can also help loosen blockages in your sink.

To unclog your sink with these two ingredients simply pour half a box of baking soda down the drain and follow that with a half cup of vinegar.  Once you see the familiar bubbly reaction, wait for a half-hour and flush everything down with boiling water.

Coat Hangers

The coat hanger method is best for blockages caused by more resilient materials such as plastic bags, children’s toys, hair,  and in some cases, silverware.  For this method, you’ll need to unwind a wire coat hanger and form it into the shape of a small hook.

With your DIY tool ready, remove your sink’s strainer and lower the hanger in while making sure to feel around for the blockage.  When you find the material clogging your sink, simply pull it out using the hook at the end of your homemade tool.

While the above methods certainly stand a good chance of helping you clear any blockages, the best way to make sure a sink doesn’t clog is to perform regular maintenance.  

This can be as simple as pouring hot water down your drain after use or straining and discarding any organic material.  If you’re pressed for time or you’d rather leave the work to the professionals, remember, you can always choose to hire a reliable plumber instead.

Now that you have access to these tried and tested methods, we sincerely hope you’ll have an easier time unclogging your sink.