How to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink
When your sink clogs, you might be tempted to call a plumber. But a clogged kitchen sink might be easy to DIY. Before you spend money on a plumbing expert, try these simple steps to unclog your kitchen sink.
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Run the garbage disposal
First, make sure it’s not your garbage disposal that’s backing your plumbing up. Turn on your sink’s hot water and run the disposal for 30–45 seconds.
If that doesn’t work, inspect the disposal to make sure it’s running properly. If it’s overheated, you might have to push the reset button on the side or bottom of the disposal under the sink.
Flush the sink with salt and boiling water
If running the disposal didn’t solve the clog, try this method. But please note: Do not use this method if your drain is attached to PVC pipes. Boiling water could soften or damage PVC. If you have PVC pipes, move to the next method. Otherwise, try this:
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- Bail out as much standing water from the sink as you can using a pot or a large bowl.
- Put a separate large pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil.
- Pour about ½ cup of table salt down the drain.
- Flush it with the boiling water.
If the water stays at the same level as before, let it cool down, bail it out and try again. You may have to try it several times before it clears your clog.
Flush the sink with baking soda and vinegar
An alternative to boiling water and salt is baking soda and vinegar, the same stuff you used to make volcanoes as a kid. Here’s how to do that.
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- Bail out as much standing water from the sink as you can using a pot or a large bowl.
- Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain.
- Pour 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar down the drain. The solution will bubble. That’s normal, so don’t worry.
- When the solution stops bubbling, insert the drain stopper and wait 15 minutes.
- Run hot water down the drain to clear the clog.
If this doesn’t work, try it again. If it still doesn’t work, proceed to the next method.
Flush the sink with baking soda and salt
his method combines elements of the previous 2 methods. Do not use this method if your drain is attached to PVC pipes. Boiling water could soften or damage PVC. If you have PVC pipes, move to the next method. Otherwise, try these steps.
- Pour 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of table salt down the drain.
- Let it sit for 3 hours.
- Flush the solution down with boiling water.
Again, try it a second time if necessary. If the clog persists, go to the next method.
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