How to Unclog a Sink

August 22, 2023

So your kitchen sink is clogged? Nobody wants to deal with it especially when you have family over. Luckily for you, this handy guide will help you unclog an unruly sink on your own.

There are three methods you as a homeowner can try before calling in a professional plumber.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

First, you will want to take about 1 cup of baking soda and put that down your kitchen sink. Next, you will put 1 cup of vinegar down the sink and let it sit there for about 5-10 minutes. After that, you will want to run warm water and see if the clog has disappeared. If it hasn’t, you can put a few cups of boiling water down the sink to help clear up the clog.

Plunger

That’s right. You can use a small plunger to take care of a sink clog. First, fill the sink up with water about halfway full of water, warm water is preferred. If you have a double sided sink put the stopper on one side of a sink that is empty so the full suction goes towards the clog. Now just work the plunger like you would in the toilet until the sink un-clogs. It may take a while, but if it doesn’t work after everything you may need to try another method.

Hand Snake/Auger

Using a plastic hand auger is usually your best bet on getting a clog out if it’s within reach. You can find a cheap one at any hardware store and most big box stores for less than $10. Your first step is to remove the trap under your kitchen sink. Be sure to put a bucket under your sink first to collect any water that may be in the trap still.

Hopefully, the clog is located in the trap and you can easily clean it out without the hand auger but if it’s not, you’ll need to use the hand auger at the wall connection. Just follow the directions on the hand auger you purchased and it should take care of the clog.

If none of these options work for you, it’s time to call in your friendly neighborhood plumber Hamilton at (913) 227-4943 or schedule an appointment online today!