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Safely unblock pipes full of food, grease, and gunk in no time
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If your kitchen sink is slow to drain or if it’s completely stopped draining, you probably have a clog somewhere in the pipes. Don’t worry! We’ve got all the best methods to get it working correctly again. Whatever method you try, make sure to wear rubber gloves to protect yourself as you work. We interviewed a plumber and a home improvement specialist to find the best ways to unclog a kitchen sink at home, and a house cleaning professional for tips on keeping it unclogged in the future. Keep reading for more!
Best Ways to Unclog a Kitchen Sink
- Plunge the sink with a regular bell plunger.
- Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain.
- Turn on the garbage disposal.
- Pour baking soda and vinegar into the clogged drain.
- Vacuum out the clog with a wet vac.
- Disconnect the P-trap under the sink and clear it out.
Steps
Section 1 of 10:
Plunging the Kitchen Sink
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Fill the sink with a few inches of warm or hot water. If there isn’t standing water in your sink already, turn on the hot water tap and let it run for a few minutes. If there’s too much water in the sink, scoop the excess out with a bucket and dispose of it in another sink, pour it outside, or flush it down a toilet. [1] X Research source
- This is the best method to use if your sink isn’t draining at all. [2] X Research source
- If there’s an overflow drain on the side of your sink, cover it with a wet towel to prevent air from escaping, which can decrease the plunger’s suction power.
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Place the rubber bell over the sink drain and press down. Submerge the plunger’s bell in the water and make sure it completely covers the drain. If you have a double sink, stuff a damp washcloth into the unclogged drain to ensure that the plunger's pressure is focused on the clog. Push on the handle gently to release the air from the bell. [3] X Research source
- Create a tighter seal around the plunger by applying a small amount of petroleum jelly to the rim. [4] X Research source
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Thrust the handle up and down to apply pressure down the drain. Plunge with quick and deliberate thrusts, keeping the bell pressed against the drain. The air from the bell will push into the pipes, dislodging the clog. Continue for 20 seconds, then pull the plunger off the drain opening and see if the water starts to drain. [5] X Research source
- If the clog isn’t clear, plunge once more for 20 seconds. If the clog still doesn’t budge, try a different method in this list.
- Professional plumber David Balkan says “you never want to put in a chemical drain cleaner and then use a plunger because that will splatter and commercial chemical drain cleaners can burn” your skin. [6]
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Expert Source
David Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main Expert Interview. 29 April 2021.
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Section 4 of 10:
Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
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Pour 1 part baking soda and 2 parts vinegar down the drain. Measure and pour 1 cup (272 g) of baking soda down the clogged drain. Slowly add about 2 c (470 mL) of white distilled vinegar. Allow the mixture to dissolve the clog for about 15 minutes. [12] X Research source
- The mixture will bubble and fizz—this means the two ingredients are reacting, which can help break up the grease and dirt in your drain.
- If there’s no standing water in your sink, cover the drain and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes instead. [13] X Research source
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Chase the baking soda and vinegar with boiling water. Boil a pot of water on the stove or heat up a kettle with water. Pour it down the drain to melt away the grease and wash the clog through the drain. [14] X Research source
- Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times, or until the clog is gone. If the clog is still there after that, try another method.
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Section 6 of 10:
Using an Auger to Dislodge the Clog
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1Insert the auger into the drain and twist the hand crank. An auger, or plumber’s snake , has a long coiled metal cable with a hook or sharp piece at the tip, which grabs onto the clog. Insert the tip into the drain that doesn’t have a garbage disposal inside it. Twist the hand crank to release the wire cable deeper into the pipes. [18] X Research source
- If your auger doesn’t have a hand crank, simply feed the wire deeper and deeper into the pipe until you feel a blockage.
- Home improvement specialist Allen Lee says the garbage disposal can get “in the way of running a snake down that drain.” [19]
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Expert Source
Allen Lee
Home Improvement Specialist Expert Interview. 10 June 2020. If you have a second drain in your sink, run the auger down that instead. - If your sink only has one drain hole with a garbage disposal attached to it, try another method instead.
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2Feed in the auger until you feel resistance, then rotate it. When you feel something blocking the path of the auger, preventing you from feeding it deeper into the pipes, carefully rotate the auger, pushing gently. [20] X Research source When there’s no longer resistance, or the auger gets tangled in the clog, reel it back up through the pipes.
- Try not to push or pound the auger deeper into the clog—this can potentially damage your connectors or pipes.
- If the sink doesn’t unclog, continue to the next method.
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Section 7 of 10:
Unclogging the P-Trap and Wall Pipe
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Place a bucket under the P-trap under your kitchen sink. Balkan says one of the easiest ways to unclog a drain with standing water on top of it is to unscrew the P-shaped trap under the sink. “The trap can be taken off with typical household tools and just dumped out and reattached in a matter of minutes,” he says. [21] X Expert Source David Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main Expert Interview. 29 April 2021. Place a bucket under the pipes to catch any water that drains out. [22] X Research source- The P-trap looks like a large curve or dip in the pipes below the sink, and it’s often found not far from where the pipe connects to the wall.
- Place towels underneath the bucket to catch any extra water that may come out of the pipes.
- Since the pipes under your sink aren’t connected to the water that comes inside your house, there’s no need to shut off the water to your sink.
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Unscrew the PVC slip nuts on either side of the P-trap. By hand, slowly unscrew the PVC nuts, or connectors, on either side of the P-trap. Depending on the layout of your pipes, you may have to loosen 2 or 3 connections to fully separate the P-trap from your sink. [23] X Research source
- As you unscrew the connections, inspect the rubber rings inside them for damage. If any of the rings are broken or worn, replace them. [24] X Research source
- Wear rubber gloves for this process to protect your hands from anything that may come out of the pipes.
- If you can't unscrew the pipes by hand, use a pipe wrench to loosen the connections.
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Empty the P-trap and check the other pipes for blockages. Pour anything from the P-trap into the bucket. [25] X Research source Look inside the P-trap to make sure nothing else is clogging it. [26] X Research source If there’s something inside, take a stick, a screwdriver, or a chopstick and try to push the object out of the P-trap and into the bucket.
- 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, follow the next steps to use the cable auger.
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Unscrew the slip nut from the wall pipe and insert a metal auger. Locate the PVC slip nut where the pipe connects to the wall. Place the bucket under the area and unscrew the nut. Empty anything from the pipes into the bucket, then push the pointed tip of the auger into the wall pipe. [27] X Research source
- If you feel a bend in the pipe and you have a large handle on your auger, rotate the handle clockwise until you don’t feel resistance anymore. [28] X Research source
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Push the auger until you feel resistance, then turn it clockwise. Once you have located the clog, turn the auger clockwise to catch the pointed tip on it. If you have an auger that attaches to a drill, press and hold the trigger on the auger to tighten it. Turn on the drill so it turns clockwise. [29] X Research source Once you feel the end of the auger catch on the clog, pull it straight out.
- If the auger meets resistance again as you pull it out, continue pulling and cranking the handle clockwise until the cable catches on the clog.
- Your auger might pull out some gunk from the pipes, but usually, it pushes the clog through. [30] X Research source
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Reattach the pipes, turn on the water, and check for leaks. Reattach all your pipes and slip nuts exactly the way you took them off. Make sure the slip nuts are only finger-tight. [31] X Research source Turn the water on and let it run for 2 to 3 minutes. Check all your slip nuts to make sure nothing is leaking. [32] X Research source
- If the slip nuts do leak, turn off the water and retighten them.
- As you tighten the slip nuts, make sure the washers sit with the concave, or narrow, side pointing down into the pipe.
- If your sink is still clogged after this, you may have to call a professional.
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Section 10 of 10:
Preventing Kitchen Sink Clogs
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1Try to avoid putting grease, oil, or other sticky items down the drain. Instead of pouring grease from cooking down your sink, house cleaning professional Raymon Chiu says to pour it into “sealable containers and throw [it] in the appropriate garbage.” He also recommends putting “leftover scraps in the garbage before placing [your dishes] in the sink.” [37] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.- Other items to avoid include starchy foods (like pasta, rice, and potatoes), fibrous veggies (like celery, corn husks, artichokes, or asparagus), eggshells, shellfish, and coffee grounds. [38] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
- Consider putting coffee grounds and other food items in a compost pile.
- Chiu also recommends using “a drain strainer to capture any small food particles.” [39]
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Expert Source
Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 15 October 2019. - Try not to grind any more than 1 cup (or about two handfuls) of food waste in the disposal at a time.
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2Pour boiling water down the drain once a week to melt the grease. Chiu says another way to keep your kitchen sink from clogging up again is to “Regularly pour boiling hot water down the drain to melt away the grease that may be stuck in the pipes.” [40] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 15 October 2019. Boil a pot or kettle of water and pour it down your kitchen drains once a week.- Alternatively, run hot water from the tap each time you use the sink to help clear the drain.
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3Grind ice cubes, salt, and lemon in the disposal to clean it. About once a month, pour about 1 cup (.59 g) of ice down the garbage disposal side of your sink. Add 1 cup (300 g) of coarse salt on top of that, then turn on the cold water and run the disposal. Stuff a couple of lemon slices or a lemon peel down the drain, then turn on the water and run the disposal again. [41] X Research source
- The ice and salt scrub the sides of your disposal, while the lemon adds a fresh, clean scent.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionI ran the garbage disposal, but it's still clogged. What should I do?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.I 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.
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QuestionWhat if you use Liquid Plumber and it still does not fix the clog?Mark 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.Most 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.
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QuestionWhat is a cable auger?Mark 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.This is a tool that uses a flexible cable to unclog drains. There are manual and powered type augers.
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Tips
- Wear gloves and safety glasses when trying to unclog your pipes.Thanks
- If you’re not confident unclogging a drain, it’s best to call a professional who can make sure everything is cleared safely.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-a-plunger/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home/baking-powder-and-vinegar-to-unclog-a-drain-does-it-work#toc-how-to-clean-drains-with-vinegar-and-baking-soda
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-a-plunger/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-a-plunger/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-a-plunger/
- ↑ David Balkan. Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main. Expert Interview. 29 April 2021.
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-clear-a-clogged-drain/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/how-to-clear-clogged-drain/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/unclogging-a-sink/
- ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/garbage-disposal-not-working/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-kitchen-sinks-drains/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/267-quick-tip-fixing-a-clogged-drain/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-kitchen-sinks-drains/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AJ86-bu5Kvo?t=101
- ↑ https://youtu.be/AJ86-bu5Kvo?t=24
- ↑ https://youtu.be/LSxGPtAd0x8?t=30
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/unclogging-a-sink/
- ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 June 2020.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/unclogging-a-sink/
- ↑ David Balkan. Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main. Expert Interview. 29 April 2021.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/idnven7Y5jA?t=142
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Iqv_Vl4hQ7U?t=111
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Iqv_Vl4hQ7U?t=191
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Iqv_Vl4hQ7U?t=144
- ↑ https://youtu.be/idnven7Y5jA?t=248
- ↑ https://youtu.be/idnven7Y5jA?t=268
- ↑ https://youtu.be/idnven7Y5jA?t=322
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1LRVU7927aw?t=384
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1LRVU7927aw?t=544
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1LRVU7927aw?t=580
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1LRVU7927aw?t=723
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/drain-cleaners/how-to-choose-and-use-a-drain-cleaner-a1022501780/
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/garbage-disposals/how-to-clean-your-garbage-disposal-a1060478189/
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/drain-cleaners/how-to-choose-and-use-a-drain-cleaner-a1022501780/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/cost-to-snake-drain/
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/garbage-disposals/foods-you-can-cant-put-down-a-garbage-disposal-a1074300549/
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/21317716/how-to-clean-garbage-disposal
About This Article
Article Summary
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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!
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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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"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. "
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"I always find wikiHow helpful. The baking soda and vinegar tip worked for me, and I found the step-by-step guide helpful for including that I had to put the stopper in the sink after pouring in the vinegar. That was not found on other sites. Thank you!"
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"Drained out old water, put baking soda in, then vinegar. I let it set. It was still clogged, so I pulled out the plunger, put more soda and vinegar in, and plunged with the disposal on. It worked. I then ran hot water and the disposal. Thank you."
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"My bathroom sink has been draining very slowly. I used method 1 (pouring hot water in the sink and plunging), and it worked very well. I was amazed that it worked so well. Much better than Liquid Plumber."
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"I only knew of one of these methods before reading this article, but I forgot the order in which to perform set actions. By doing them in the order in which I read them in this article, I fixed my problem."
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