What’s The Best Way To Unclog A Kitchen Sink?

You use your kitchen sink every time you need to wash your food for cooking or clean pots, pans and what-nots. Now the only problem is that because of the sink’s exposure to different kinds of waste materials, it becomes prone to clogging. While you’ll religiously see to it that oily substances and sticky wastes do not get into the pipe, it is in truth, almost impossible to guarantee. You may not always prevent your sink drain from getting clogged but what matters is that you know the best ways to remove the blockage. Here are some methods you should try.

1. Baking Soda & Vinegar

This must be the most popular home remedy that has ever been used by homeowners and DIY plumbers. Simply pour a cup of baking soda into the sink drain. Make sure that it touches the walls of the pipes when you pour it. Follow through with a cup of white vinegar. Plug the drain with an old cloth and let the two ingredients react chemically to break the clog into smaller pieces.

2. Boiling Water

When the fizzing sound disappears, that means that the baking soda and vinegar is done doing its magic. Pour a pot of boiling hot water down the drain to wash away these ingredients. When you’re done, turn the tap on and check if the clog has been removed.

3. Caustic Soda

Caustic soda or also known as sodium hydroxide is also good at fizzing up clogs so that when water is poured into the drain, the little particles will get washed away. When using this unclogger, you have to wear protective rubber gloves and glasses, too. Remember that direct contact with it can cause painful chemical burns. Combine approximately 3 cups of caustic soda with ¾ gallon of tap water in a bucket. Stir the mixture well; pour it into the sink hole and leave it there for about 20 to 30 minutes. Flush the mixture with another pot of boiling hot water.

4. Salt & Baking Soda

Salt and baking soda is also another great combination that can remove clogs. Mix equal portions of these two ingredients and pour the mixture into the drain. Let it sit for about 10 to 20 minutes and then pour boiling hot water.

5. Plunger

When you’ve tried all the methods above and the clog still persists, try your old reliable plunger. Fill the sink with water that’s enough to cover the rubber part of the plunger. Position it right on top of the drain and start plunging up and down in a consistent, speedy pace. Plunge for about 15 repetitions then pour water to check if the sink drain is finally okay. If it’s not, move on to the next method.

6. Plumbing Snake

When the abovementioned de-clogging methods are futile, it’s time to move on to using a plumbing snake. Simply detach the trap under the sink then insert the plumbing snake and break the clog. Slowly pull it out to dispose the waste substances that will stick to the auger.