Blog

The sink is an essential fixture in every home. We use it to happily wash our dishes, brush our teeth, and clean up after messes. A functioning sink can reliably drain wastewater through the pipes. Unfortunately, our sinks may get clogged with debris every so often.

Contrary to popular belief, the sink cannot wash away items like bones, seeds, eggshells, or potato peels. Similarly, you should not pour grease down the sink drain, which coats the pipes and solidifies. Over time, the pipes will accumulate soap, hair, food particles, and anything we wash down the drain. As the buildup grows, the water can no longer pass through the clogged sink drain.

A clogged sink hinders cleaning, washing, and many of your household activities. The good news is there are various treatments for clearing the blockage. The easiest solution is to contact a local plumber for help. The plumbing professionals have the equipment and knowledge to fix any clogs quickly. In addition, you may also find success using several home remedies for a clogged sink drain. These DIY remedies are effective techniques that many homeowners can perform with ease.

Let’s check out the five best home remedies for a clogged sink drain:

Home Remedy #1: Boiling Water

Some clogged sink drains come from grease or soap that hardened over time. An excellent way to clear these blockages is by running boiling water down the drain. The warm water temperature has a potent ability to dissolve buildups effectively. First, fill a kettle or large pot and wait for a rolling boil. Then, carefully pour the hot water down the drain. You may need to repeat this process several times, but the heat helps melt away the grime.

A similar home remedy is the combination of hot water and dish soap. First, boil approximately two litres of water. Then, add a few tablespoons of liquid soap. After mixing the ingredients, slowly pour this solution down the drain. As with other home remedies, you may have to repeat the steps a few times. Ideally, the hot water will turn the grease back into a liquid, allowing it to flow through the pipes.

Home Remedy #2: Plunger

You probably have a toilet plunger at home right now. It’s excellent at unplugging the toilet and rarely lets you down. This handy tool may also be effective when you have a clogged sink drain. If you go with this home remedy, buy a second plunger exclusively for sinks. You don’t want to deal with disinfecting the toilet plunger and the sink after you use it.

The plunging process is pretty straightforward. First, make a seal with the plunger over the drain. Then, push and pull repeatedly. This movement creates force down the pipe, flushing the water back and forth. It may take a little effort and several minutes of manual labour before you see progress with the unclogging.

Using a plunger is typically more practical for the kitchen sink. This tool can effectively unclog small clunks of food stuck in the pipelines. However, it might also work for a clogged bathroom sink drain. Just be careful as you plunge. You don’t want to worsen the problem and create a more significant blockage in your plumbing.

Home Remedy #3: Baking Soda and Vinegar

Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a chemical reaction that might fix a clogged sink drain. Start by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Ensure there is no standing water in the sink. Next, let the baking soda find its way close to the clog. Afterwards, pour equal amounts of vinegar into the drain.

A bubbling reaction will start, which helps dissolve the blockage. Wait half an hour before you pour some boiling water. The clog might flush away with this home remedy. Otherwise, rinse and repeat.

Alternatively, baking soda can be combined with equal amounts of salt and poured into the drain. Let this mixture sit for a few hours and flush with regular water. The combination of salt, borax, and vinegar may also work as you pour it down the drain. Let this solution sit for a while and add the boiling water at the end.

Home Remedy #4: Baking Soda and Salt

Baking soda and salt mix well together, creating a helpful home remedy for clogged sink drains. Start by combining equal parts of baking soda and salt. Then, pour this mixture down the sink drain. Do not put water or anything else afterwards.

Let the mixture sit for at least half an hour. You may also leave it overnight. After some time, use a pot of boiling water to clear away the residue. This remedy may disintegrate the stubborn blockages in the pipes.

Home Remedy #5: Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake can turn into the best tool against clogged sink drains in the right hands. This device works well for most deep blockages. First, you must fish the metal line down the drain until it hits the clog. Then, start rotating the handle to the auger. It will usually break up the persistent blockages without too much effort.

However, operating a plumbing snake is a complex process. Some homeowners mishandle the device and worsen the clogged sink drain. Using it can also get messy for beginners. Unless you have prior knowledge, it is best to leave this remedy to the professionals. Contact our experienced plumbers in Hamilton and Southern Ontario to help clear blockages, fix leaks, and solve various plumbing issues.