Unclogging Drains: How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Drain?

You will feel very irritated when the kitchen sink does not drain. There are plenty of dishes on the counter, waiting to get cleaned and you are feeling helpless at this point. The first thought that will come to your mind in this situation is to call the plumber. However there are also some other methods and tips that you can do yourself to help you unclog the kitchen sink drain.

The good news is that there are no special requirements for implementing these methods. Most of the items needed to perform these methods will be already available in your kitchen. Some methods of drain cleaning may require a mixture of some elements; others may require a suctioning or some degreasing element to clear the drain. These methods and tips do not require pouring of any harmful chemical down your kitchen sink drain.

Methods for Unclogging Kitchen Sink Drain

Following is a list of some methods that you can do yourself to unclog your kitchen sink before you call the plumber.

1. Try a Plunger

Plunger is a very common item that is available in nearly every household. If it is not available then you can easily get it from your local hardware store. The kitchen plunger is a bit smaller in size as compared to the toilet plunger.

First you have to fill the sink with some water because to let the plunger work properly, you have to make a tight seal between the plunger and the drain. Now put the plunger on the drain opening and pull it several times with excessive force till you hear the sound of clog clearing out. After that pull out the plunger and pour warm water down the sink drain for several minutes to clear out any residue left behind.

2. Hot water

If the plunger fails to unclog the kitchen sink drain, then you should use the hot water method. This is the cheapest and easiest method that is used for unclogging drains.

• Take a kettle or pot, add some water in it and put it on the stove on high flame to let it boil till it reaches the boiling point.
• In the meantime, take as much water out from your sink as possible. You can pour out water through cups.
• Now slowly start pouring hot water into the sink drain. Let the water sit there for a few minutes.
• If the water starts to drain, the clog is clearing out.
• If the water still remains there, you can repeat the method several times till the drain unclogs.

3. Homemade Cleaners

You can use some homemade cleaners as well to unclog the kitchen sink drain.

• You can use salt to clear the drain. For this purpose, take half a cup of salt and pour it down the kitchen sink drain. Let the salt rest in the drain for some time. After that, pour down boiling water in the drain. Let the mixture sit there for some time. After that, pour down fresh water to check if the drain is opened or not.
• You can use baking soda and vinegar mixture to unclog the drain. For this take 1 cup of baking soda and pour it down the kitchen sink drain. Pour an equal amount of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar down the drain. The mixture will start making bubbles. Wait for the bubbles and fizz to settle down. After that, put the stopper on and wait for some time. Then pour down some hot water in the drain and see if the clog has started clearing out or not. Repeat the process if needed.

4. Try Plumber’s Snake

You can easily get the plumber’s snake like a plunger from your local hardware store. It is also called auger. It is specially made to open the sink drains that are not easily reachable by other tools. You have to disassemble the drain pipe and p-trap. Then put the snake inside the pipe and keep it inserting until you find the resistance. This resistance is the clog you must break with the snake.

5. Try a Coat Hanger

According to the study from Deco facts, a coat hanger is a simple item that you will easily find inside your wardrobe. First, you have to straighten the hanger. Then put it down the sink drain till you reach the clog. Be careful while using the hanger wire so that you will not damage your sink with the wire. A straightened hanger wire does the same job as a plumber’s snake. However, it cannot reach as far down the drain as a snake can.

6. Clean the P-trap

The curved part of the kitchen sink pipe is the point where you will find the p-trap. You just have to remove the p-trap first. Then see if there is any gunk or grease causing the clog. Clear it out and you are good to go.

Final Comments

Kitchen sink drain clogs are a usual happening that occurs most often. However, you can use the above methods to help yourself in clearing out the kitchen sink drains.