When your kitchen sink stops draining or the water is taking a lot longer than usual to drain out, it can be a very frustrating experience. You might be thinking that your only option would be to call a plumber. But before doing so, here are a few easy methods that you can try to unclog your kitchen sink drain.
You can also visit Grey Water for other drainage helping tips.
Boiling Water
This is perhaps the least expensive and easiest solution, which is why you should be trying this approach first. Boil a kettle or boil water in a pot over the stove. Before you pour the boiling water down the drain, remove the water that is standing in the sink using a pot or mug to bail the water out. If after pouring the boiling water into the sink, the water is still not draining away, wait for the water to cool down and remove the water again. Repeating the process may help to dislodge the clog.
Salt and Boiling Water
If boiling water on its own is not moving the clog, pour around 1/2 cup of fine sea salt into the drain. Allow the salt to stand for a while before pouring boiling water down the sink. The salt solution may help to dissolve the blockage.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Once again, make sure the water that is standing in the sink is removed first. Pour around 1 cup of baking powder or soda into your drain. Now pour down 1 cup of apple cider or white vinegar. The combination will bubble and fizz, once it stops bubbling close the sink with the stopper and now wait for around 20 minutes. From here run boiling water down the drain. You should repeat the process to make sure everything is flushed out of the drain.
Salt and Baking Soda
This is another mixture that you can use to unclog a drain or sink. Combine 1/2 cup of salt with 1 cup of baking soda. Allow the mixture to stand for a few hours, and then flush it down using boiling water. Repeat the same process if the sink still won’t drain.
Plunger
If none of these methods are working to unclog your kitchen sink, the next approach would be to use a plunger. If there is a double sink, make sure you seal off the other side using a stopper or wet cloth. Try to create a seal that is tight as possible around the plunger by filling up the sink with water so that it covers the plunger up to the bell part. Position the plunger over your drain and then plunge vigorously many times. As soon as you hear a suction clearing away the clog, you can stop plunging. Make sure you flush out the drain with hot water.
P-Trap
In many cases, it may be the P-trap that is causing your kitchen sink to clog up. The P-trap is positioned underneath the sink where the drainpipe curves. Use a bucket or pan under the drain to catch debris or water that might fall out. Unfasten the P-trap, followed by clearing away any trapped food particles or debris. Replace the P-trap and then run warm water to flush out the drain.
Auger
Also known as a plumber’s snake, this is a tool that is used to clear away clogs that are trapped lower down in these systems. This will involve dissembling the P-trap and drainpipe in order to expose what is known as the “stubout” or “stub pipe”. Insert the auger inside the pipe until you meet up with the clog. Use circular motions to break up the blockage.
Coat Hanger
If you do not own an auger or plumber’s snake, use a coat hanger made from wire. Straighten the wire out and run it down the drain until you reach the clog. When using a wire try to not scratch the sink. To ensure that your sink remains clear and smelling fresh, pour baking soda and vinegar down the sink every 3 to 4 weeks. For a routine clean, use one cup of each. Allow the solution to stand for 5 to 10 minutes before flushing the mixture down with hot or boiling water. Lemon juice and baking soda also work well.
If you use a garbage disposal try not to overload it. Rather feed-in items slowly and in small amounts. Make sure they grind and that they have run through before you add more. Avoid putting oil, coffee grounds, or bacon grease down the drain, and make sure you run water down the sink after every use. It is also important to find out how to care for and maintain all the plumbing systems and components in your home, to make sure everything runs smoothly.
