Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Allen Lee. Allen Lee is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Honest Lee Handyman Services, a licensed and insured handyman business servicing Sacramento, California, and surrounding areas. Working with homeowners and businesses to get their small repairs done in a timely and efficient manner, Honest Lee Handyman Services provides gutter and dryer vent cleaning along with fixture, fence, drywall, and toilet repairs.
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A clogged kitchen sink can be a nightmare in the kitchen. Luckily, there are a lot of easy ways to unclog your drain!
Steps
Fill the sink partially full of hot water. Fill the sink until it is about 1/4 to 1/2 of the way full.
Position the plunger over the drain. If you have a double sink, then stuff a washcloth into the unclogged drain to ensure that the plunger's pressure is focused on the clog.Advertisement
Work the plunger up and down quickly. Pull the plunger off of the drain opening and see if the water starts to drain.
Continue using the plunger until the clog is dislodged. It may take a little while to dislodge the clog. If this does not work, then try a different method.[1]
Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Use a bowl or a cup to bail standing water out of the sink. Pour the water into a bucket.
Push 1 cup of baking soda down the sink drain. Use a spatula to force the baking soda into the opening, if necessary.
Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the drain opening. Put the stopper into the sink so that the vinegar is forced toward the clog.
Wait 5 minutes to allow the solution to work on the clog. Run warm water into the sink to see if the clog disappears.
Pour 4 cups of boiling water down the drain if the warm water fails to work. If the sink is still clogged, then apply the baking soda and vinegar solution again.
Open the cabinet beneath your sink. Place a bucket underneath the pipes to catch any water that may drain out.
Detach the trap.[2] The trap is the curved pipe that dips below the horizontal and vertical pipes.- Try to unscrew PVC pipes by hand.
- If you can't unscrew the pipes by hand, then use a pipe wrench or channel locks to loosen the connections.
Empty water from the trap into the bucket. Check the trap for clogs and clean the trap if needed.- If you find the clog in the trap, reattach the trap. Turn on the hot water and see if the sink drains.
- If the sink is still clogged, then follow the next steps to use the cable auger.
Remove the horizontal pipe that connects the trap to the stub pipe in the wall. Push the end of the cable auger into the stub pipe until the auger meets resistance.[3]
Pull out about 18" (46 cm) of cable from the stub pipe. Tighten the lock screw.
Crank the handle in a clockwise direction. Push forward as you do this to guide the auger deeper into the pipe.[4]- If the cable catches on something, then turn the handle counterclockwise and pull the auger back.
- If the auger meets resistance again, continue pulling the cable out and cranking the handle clockwise until the cable catches on the clog.
Retract the cable from the stub pipe. Reattach the horizontal pipe and the trap.[5] Do not tighten the plastic parts too much or they may crack.
Turn on the hot water to see if the sink drains. If the water runs slowly, then fill up the sink part of the way and use a plunger to dislodge the remains of the clog.[6]
Expert Q&A
- QuestionI ran the garbage disposal, but it's still clogged. What should I do?
Allen LeeAllen Lee is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Honest Lee Handyman Services, a licensed and insured handyman business servicing Sacramento, California, and surrounding areas. Working with homeowners and businesses to get their small repairs done in a timely and efficient manner, Honest Lee Handyman Services provides gutter and dryer vent cleaning along with fixture, fence, drywall, and toilet repairs.
Home Improvement SpecialistI suggest you run a snake down the drain to see if that picks anything up. If that doesn't work, you may need to take the trap apart to get to the source of the issue. - QuestionWhat if you use Liquid Plumber and it still does not fix the clog?
Mark SpelmanMark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Construction ProfessionalMost 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. - QuestionWhat is a cable auger?Mark SpelmanMark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Construction ProfessionalThis is a tool that uses a flexible cable to unclog drains. There are manual and powered type augers.
Tips
- If you have a garbage disposal, fill the disposal sink with water.[7] If you have a double bowl sink, put the stopper in the non-disposal sink. Turn on the disposal and remove the stopper. In many cases, the disposal will generate pressure to the point that it will dislodge the clog. You can also get an inexpensive tool for unclogging a garbage disposal called a Zip-It.Thanks
- Try running a snake down the drain to see if you can pick up the clog.[8]Thanks
- If anything solid clogs the sink, only use method 3 or call a professional. If water builds up, scoop it out with a pail, and pour it down the toilet or another drain.Thanks
Warnings
- Wear gloves when using any type of chemical for pipes.Thanks
- Avoid drain cleaning chemicals. These chemicals are poisonous and can harm your pipes.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Plunger
- Bowl or cup
- Bucket
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Pipe wrench
- Cable auger
- Rubber gloves
References
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain
- ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/clear-any-clogged-drain
- ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
- ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
About This Article
To unclog your kitchen sink, try using boiling water. Just bring a pot of water to a boil, then carefully pour it down the drain of your kitchen sink. The heat from the water should help break up the clog. If that doesn’t work, try using baking soda and white vinegar. First, pour 1 cup (180 g) of baking soda down the drain. Then, pour in 1 cup (235 mL) of white vinegar. Let the baking soda and white vinegar fizz for 15 minutes, then run hot water to flush out the clog. You can also use a flat-bottomed plunger to plunge the sink drain. Place the suction cup at the end of the plunger over the drain so there's a tight seal, then pump the plunger up and down until the clog gets sucked away and your sink drains properly. If you don't have a flat-bottomed plunger, you can also try using a wire coat hanger to unclog your kitchen sink. Start by unraveling the coat hanger and bending the end into a hook shape. Insert the hooked end of the hanger into the drain as far as you can, and wiggle it up and down while twisting it to help break up the clog. If nothing is working, you may need to use a drain snake to reach further down into the drain. If your sink has a garbage disposal, try turning it on to see if that breaks up the clog. If all else fails, it might be time to call a plumber. If your sink is still clogged, read below for advice on how to drain the drain trap!
Reader Success Stories
"I used the method that recommended that I seal the unclogged drain in a double-sink situation with a wash towel to increase the pressure inside the drain pipe before I use the plunger again on the clogged one. It worked immediately after many previous unsuccessful attempts. "..." more
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