When a kitchen sink doesn’t drain because of a clog, you might feel helpless. When water begins to back up, and dishes are piling up on the counter, it can be tempting to pick up the phone and dial the plumber’s number for assistance.
Instead of immediately calling in a professional service such as Big Blue Plumbing, you might save time by teaching yourself the basics of sink unclogging first. This is a project that anyone, given enough time and a few pointers from an expert, can complete on their own.
Boiled Water
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When the plunger fails to clear the kitchen sink, the simplest and cheapest option is to use boiling water. To unclog a drain using boiling water, follow these steps:
- Bring water to a full boil in a kettle or large pot.
- Remove as much water as possible from the sink using a cup or small pot while waiting for the water to heat.
- Spill the full contents of the teapot into the kitchen sink and give it a few minutes to cool down. The blockage is still present if water collects in the sink rather than draining.
- After waiting five minutes, remove the water by scooping out as much as possible with the cup or pot and discarding it in another sink.
- Although you may have to try this method more than once before the clog is removed, it is effective in clearing many obstructions.
Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaner from Kitchen Staples
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To clear a clogged kitchen sink, you needn’t resort to chemical drain cleaners, you know. The best drain cleaner you could find could be hiding in plain sight in your kitchen. A few suggestions:
It’s best to use salt and water that has been brought to a boil. Salt can sometimes be used to clear a clogged drain. When you’ve gotten rid of as much water as you can from the sink, pour half a cup of salt down the drain. After that, add a quart of boiling water. Wait a few minutes, and then flush with hot water to get rid of the resulting mess.
Make your drain cleaner with baking soda and vinegar. Before attempting this, make sure the sink is empty. One cup of baking soda and one cup of white or apple cider vinegar should be poured down the drain. At this point, the solution will begin to bubble; once the activity dies down, re-insert the stopper and give it 15 minutes. The next step is to try to flush the clog out by using hot water. If water is draining but more slowly than usual, it is safe to assume that the blockage is not yet completely clear, and you should repeat the operation.
Make of salt and baking soda. Blend a cup of baking soda and half a cup of salt, and then flush the system with this solution. Allow the solution to settle for a few hours, then flush with boiling water. If this doesn’t remove the blockage, try it again.
Take the Plunger out of the Drawer
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If your kitchen sink is clogged and garbage disposal emptying it didn’t do the trick, you’ll need to resort to using a plunger. Get yourself to the hardware store and get yourself a kitchen sink plunger, which will be significantly more manageable than the one you use in the bathroom.
Before doing anything else, cover one sink’s drain with a wet cloth or a stopper if you have a double sink. To ensure a watertight seal, fill the sink on the side you will be plunging so that the bell of the plunger is submerged. Plunge the plunger many times with great force after positioning it firmly over the drain. When you hear the clog being cleared by the suction, you may put away the plunger and give the sink a good two-minute flush with some warm water.
Verify that the Trash Compactor is working
If your kitchen sink is clogged, one of the first things you should do is clear out the garbage disposal. Try turning on the disposal while the hot water is running to see if that helps unclog the drain. If it doesn’t do the trick, try turning the disposal off and giving it a good lookover to make sure it’s working properly.
The disposal may need to be turned back on at its base if it shuts off due to overheating. The “on” and “off” switch for the disposal unit is often located on its underside or side.
Find out how to maintain your garbage disposal clean and smell nice with the help of natural deodorizers.
Try a Coat Rack
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If your kitchen sink is clogged, a wire coat hanger can be a useful tool. Although it won’t be as long as a plumber’s snake, it may be able to get to those stubborn clogs in your kitchen sink drain.
Once the hanger wire has been straightened, it can be inserted into the sink’s drain or “stub pipe” to dislodge any obstructions. Ensure that the wire does not ding your sink.
In addition, you might try using a plastic drain clog removal tool to get rid of the sludge. This gadget is ideal for removing hair from a shower or sink that drains slowly, but it may also be used to trap large, obstructive food particles in a kitchen drain. The fragile plastic needs to be handled with care lest it shatters and inflict further damage.