DIY home projects are great for saving money and enjoying a good challenge, but these household projects are better left for professionals.
It can be a helpless feeling when the kitchen sink won’t drain.
With water backing up and a counter full of dirty dishes waiting to be cleaned, it may be tempting to reach for the phone and dial the plumber.
Before you do, read these easy, do-it-yourself ways to unclog that drain.
Boiling water
This is the easiest and least expensive solution of all, which makes it the best one to try first.
Place a kettle or pot of water on the stove and bring to a rolling boil.
While you’re waiting for the water to heat, remove as much standing water from the sink as you can, using a mug or small pot to bail out the water.
Then, pour the entire kettle of water into the sink and wait. If the water stands in the sink and the clog doesn’t move, give the water time to cool and remove it to try again.
You may need to repeat the process several times to move the clog, but this often works on many types of stoppage.
Disposal
Check to make sure it’s not your garbage disposal that’s causing the problem.
A clogged disposal can stop up the drain, so run the disposal to see if that clears the clog.
Then inspect it to make sure it’s running correctly. If the disposal has overheated, you may need to flip the switch found on the side or bottom of the unit underneath the sink.
Salt and boiling water
After removing standing water from the sink, pour about ½ cup of table salt down the drain before you pour in the boiling water.
Let it sit for a few minutes, and then flush with hot water to clear the mixture.
Vinegar and baking soda
Again, remove standing water first. Pour about a cup or so of baking soda into the drain, followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar.
The solution will bubble, but when they subside, put the stopper in and wait about 15 minutes. Next, run hot water to see if the clog clears. Repeat if needed.
Baking soda and salt
This is another combination that can work on sink clogs. Mix about a cup of baking soda with a half-cup of salt, and pour down the drain.
Let the mixture sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water. You can repeat this process if it doesn’t work the first time.
Plunger
If these combinations aren’t successful in unclogging your sink, reach for a common household plunger.
If you have a double sink, first seal off the second side with a wet cloth or a stopper.
You’ll need to create a tight seal around the plunger, so fill the side of the sink you intend to plunge with enough water to cover the bell of the plunger.
Place the plunger firmly over the drain and plunge vigorously several times. When you hear the suction clear the clog, remove the plunger and flush the drain well with warm water.
P-trap
It may be necessary to clean your kitchen drain’s P-trap to clear the clog. The P-trap is at the curve of the drainpipe under the sink, usually inside a cabinet.
Place a pan or bucket underneath the drain to catch any water or debris that may fall out. Unfasten the P-trap from the drainpipe and clear out anything that is stuck. Then replace and run water through it.
Plumber’s snake
Sometimes called an auger, this handy tool can clear clogs that may be stuck further down the system.
You’ll have to disassemble the drainpipe and P-trap that runs underneath the kitchen sink to expose the “stub pipe” or “stubout” that travels behind the cabinet wall.
This is where you insert the snake into the pipe until you feel resistance to break up the clog.
Coat hanger
If you don’t have a plumber’s snake, you can use a wire coat hanger by straightening it.
Of course, it won’t reach as far as a plumber’s snake would, but it may be long enough to reach some clogs.
Insert it into the kitchen drain or stub pipe to push through or pull out the clog if you can reach it. Be careful not to scratch your sink with the wire.
To keep your sink smelling fresh and running clear, pour in equal parts of vinegar and baking soda on a regular basis. For routine cleaning, you’ll just need about one-half cup of each.
Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before running some warm water down the drain. You can also use lemon juice for the same purpose.
Of course, it’s always easier to avoid clogs in the first place. If you have a kitchen garbage disposal, don’t overload it.
Feed items in a little at a time, and wait until they grind and run through completely before adding more.
Never put bacon grease, coffee grounds or oils down your kitchen drain, and always make sure you run plenty of water down the drain after each use.
It’s important to know how to maintain and care for your all your home’s plumbing components and systems to keep things running smoothly.
Q&A
Use a container, such as an ice cream container or a small bucket, to scoop out as much water as possible; wear gloves to protect your hands. Check the clogged drain for debris, fluff, soap scum and pieces, paste build-up, etc., and remove any debris as best you can. Carefully tip in 1/2 cup of baking soda down the clogged drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar and let sit for 15 minutes. Boil a kettle of water to pour down the drain; if you’re not sure what the pipes are made from or you know they are PVC pipes, then just use hot water from the faucet instead. Wait for 15 minutes, then use the plunger several times to clear the clog. Repeat if needed; if this fails, then try using a plumbing snake or calling a plumber.
Most clogging will take place at the p-trap. Remove the P-trap located under the sink and check that it is clear. Then, you can also run a snake into the pipe in the wall along with some more Liquid Plumber or Draino.
If the clog is minor, try boiling or hot water alone. If something stronger is needed, a good choice is baking soda (about ½ cup) and white vinegar (about 1 cup); pour in, then leave to sit for about 15 minutes. Flush with hot water. Another solution is ½ cup baking soda with ½ a cup of salt, poured in and left for 20 minutes. After the wait, pour down boiling water to complete the clean. Or, you can purchase commercial drain cleaners; follow the instructions on the packaging.
This is a tool that uses a flexible cable to unclog drains. There are manual and powered type augers.
I used the baking soda, vinegar and hot water method (Method 2) on my bathroom sink which has seemingly fixed my issue. However, I have had plumbers tell me to never use a plunger on a bathroom sink.
According to the manufacturer of Drano, Johnson, various of its Drano brand products can be used for the kitchen sink. Check their website to ensure you’re using the right Drano product for the task.
The instructions on my Drano bottle say to never mix it with any other chemical. I would recommend calling a professional plumber or the customer service number on the bottle before trying anything else.
Cable augers can be very long. I have one that I bought at Walmart for less than $20. It’s about 25 feet long and comes in a reel that can be attached to a power drill. Any reputable plumber would have a long auger somewhere, even if he/she didn’t have it in the truck.
Yes, you can use a plunger to unclog a kitchen sink but before using it, clear any standing water by scooping it into a bucket, then clear out any debris, soap scum, hairs, etc., from the drain (wear cleaning gloves for hygiene). Put the plunger over the blocked drain hole, then thrust it up and down while keeping the seal intact on the sink’s surface (the seal can be improved with petroleum jelly). If the clog clears, the plunging will suddenly feel easier; if not, check after a few plunges to see what is happening in the drain. Flush the cleared drain with hot water to clear away the last debris. If this does not work, you can try a plumber’s snake or call a plumber.
I recommend just plain white vinegar.
