Methods to Follow to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink

A clogged kitchen sink can soon turn into a nightmare straight out of the movie. You will have to stall your essential daily tasks if your kitchen sink is clogged. Your dirty dishes will soon start piling up. At times, the problem can be a major one, like a damaged pipe deep within the walls, out of your sight. In that case, you have no option but to call an expert. However, sometimes there are a few things you can try yourself to unclog a kitchen sink before you make a call to the professionals. Here are a few measures to try if you are worried about how to unclog a sink.

  1. Pour Boiling Water

This is the easiest method. One of the most common reasons for a clogged sink is that kitchen wastes could get stuck and clogs the pipe somewhere in the bend. If allowed to stay there, it will start going wrong and start letting out a bad smell. Pouring boiling water down the drain can loosen up the clog and flush down all the dirt and grime accumulated in the bend. It will also get rid of the odor.

However, be sure to remove standing water in the sink with the help of a mug and throw it outside. If you think that the clog has only partially cleared, then allow some time to pass and let the sink dry a little. Then, pour half a cup of table salt down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Pour another kettle of hot water down the drain and check if the clog has cleared.

  1. Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

This is a standard method that many experts also recommend using. You should first clear out any standing water from the drain. Then, it would help if you poured a cup of baking soda into the drain. Then, follow it by pouring the same amount of apple cider vinegar. You will see your kitchen sink bubbling, but that is only the mixture doing its work. Eventually, the bubbles will stop, and you should put the stopper back and wait for about ten to fifteen minutes. Then, pour down a kettle of hot water and see if the clog has flushed out. You may repeat the process if required. You can also try this with one cup of baking soda with half a cup of table salt.

  1. Using a Plunger

If these methods have not yielded satisfactory results, you might have to bear some physical labor. Using a plunger can mean a little manual work, but it is almost always useful. If you have a double sink, you must be sure to seal off the other end with a stopper. It would help if you also made sure that there is a tight seal around the plunger. The side of the sink you want to plunge should have water that comes to the bell of the plunger.

Place the plunger on the drain and plunge a few times with some added pressure. You will soon hear a suction noise, like a cork going off. That is the clog coming off. Pour down hot water through the drain and see if the clog has cleared. However, before using the plunger, you should also check whether the garbage disposal system is working flawlessly or not. You will know something is wrong if it is overheated.

  1. Clearing the P-Trap

The P-trap is a mechanism in the drain that prevents the drain fumes from coming back up the drain. It has a curved structure and is mainly built inside a cabinet below the kitchen sink. You can place a bucket beneath the drain to catch any waste that might come out of the sink pipe. You can undo the P-trap and clear it out manually, and put it back on. You can also use a plumber’s snake- a device meant for cleaning out clogs from tricky places- and use it to break up the clog. If you feel that it is too much for you, you can call an expert plumber for help.

However, despite trying all these methods, if your kitchen is still not free from the clog, you have to call professionals to see what the matter is. Trying to work on the kitchen sink without expertise will only worsen the matter and increase your expenses. Expert plumbers will be the best person to help you out if you are looking for ways on how to unclog your sink. Rest assured, you can continue using your kitchen sink without any further problems or extensive repair.