What is the best way to unclog a sink?

Question

I don't want to use draino... and I don't want to hire a plumber. What else can I do to unclog my sink??

Answer 1

Normally a plunger will do. But what is important is ... on bathroom sinks there is an overflow hole and you have to plug this hole with a rag to get a good result. If you have a double sink in your kitchen and one is clogged you have to block the drain on the othe one. Otherwise the plunging action will just force the water thru the easiest opening.

Kitchen or bathroom ... to plunge it is best to fill the sink with hot water. Hold the plunger over the hole and try to force the clog --- or plunge down and then up --- trying to push it one way and then the other. If plunging doesnt work you may have to remove the trap. See if it is clogged or the piping past the trap. On bathroom sinks you normally have that stopper mechanism that sometimes gets so full of hair and grease that you have to take it apart .... remove the hair and grease and put it back.
These fittings are sometimes a pain to get back together without leaking ... you may need to get new gaskets ... or use some goop to help seal them ....
Should be simple .... hope this helps ...

Answer 2

You can try a tool called a plumbers helper, or a plunger. Try and unstop the sink with that, and I hope it works.

Next you can get a bucket and place it under the P trap beneath the sink and loosen the nuts and pull the trap off and see if you can find the problem there.

If you are still having problems, while you have it apart, go to the hardware store and buy a snake and fish it through the drain line and again try to dislodge the stoppage.

If you still can't get it. Now you get to look in the phone book and call a plumber and pay the bill.

Good luck

Answer 3

Draino doesn't always work anyways, ad if you really have the muscle and patience a plunger will always do the trick.

However, if you are in a newer house most likely the piping underneath the sink is PVC. Generally all you have to do is twist the two connectors by hand to remove the S shaped section. 9 times out of 10 this is where the clog is. Clean out the pipe and replace.

Answer 4

Use youjr palm as a plunger if two sink sink block one aspect fill with water try to plung the other part useing speedy pushes same with single sink or wait till it drains and use bakeing soda pour it in to empty then comply with it up with vineger as a way to have a reaction with the soda an support smash up clog

Answer 5

use youjr palm as a plunger if 2 sink sink block one factor fill with water attempt to plung the different factor useing rapid pushes comparable with single sink or wait until eventually ultimately it drains and use bakeing soda pour it in to empty then stick to it up with vineger that would have a reaction with the soda an help ruin up clog

Answer 6

Put baking soda down the drain and then add vinegar. The combo fizzes away lots of grease and food chunks but won't help if it's hair. After waiting about 20 minutes flush out drain with hot water. You could also try using a plunger on it to dislodge the clog after doing the vinegar and baking soda. BTW, all bleach will do is make a sanitized clog!

Answer 7

Options:
-Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain.
Pour in one cup of vinegar into the drain.
Cover the drain with a lid and wait fifteen minutes. The baking soda and vinegar will have a chemical reaction, breaking down the clog.
Rinse the drain with hot water to clear it out.
Repeat if necessary.
-OR if you can get past the strainer in the sink , put it all back together, and run a garden hose down the drain to flush it out.

-OR,if you have a shop vac, you could try to suck out as much as you can. depends on how bad it is, and what it consists of.
-OR rent or buy a snake (home depot/lowes)

Answer 8

IF YOU SINK DOESN'T HAVE A TWIST OFF CAP ON IT THAT YOU CAN CLOSE DRAINO IS GOOD BUT IF YOU HAVE A TWIST OFF CAP ON THE SINK TAKE IT OFF AND CLEAN IT OUT IT PROBABLY HAS HAIR IN THE SINK THEN YOUR OK I WOULD CLEAN IT OUT EVERY FEW MONTHS DEPENDING ON HOW OFTEN IT GETS PLUGGED UP IF IT DOESN'T TWIST OFF THERE IS A WAY TO GET IT OFF IT'S NOT HARD

Answer 9

Amanda, get your feet wet on this one, get a channel-locks (pliers) and unscrew the trap below the sink and remove the hairballs that have loaded up your lines.
clean it and re-install it.
bingo, you're done...now wasn't that easy.

Answer 10

If it's not too clogged, pour bleach down it let it sit then flush it through with boiling water. Repeat until it loosens up then plunge it... Good Luck!