How to Unclog a Sink Drain in the Kitchen and Elsewhere

At some point, you’ll likely find yourself trying to figure out how to unclog a drain. Your first instinct might be to call a plumber. But the solution to clogged drains is often a quick and fairly simple process that most people can manage on their own.

If you want to save some money on plumbing, handling your own drain cleaning is a great place to start. Here are some helpful tips to get your clogged sink drains working like new again.

6 easy ways to fix a clogged drain

1. Add boiling water to your sink drains
2. Use a plunger to unclog your sink
3. Check your garbage disposal for any clogs
4. Unclog drains with baking soda and vinegar
5. Remove clogs with a drain snake
6. Clean out any clogs in your sink’s P-trap

Preventing clogged drains in your home

Why keeping your sink drains clean is important

6 easy ways to fix a clogged drain

Clogged drains are usually the result of a foreign object or debris getting stuck in a drain pipe, or built-up residue that chokes off the flow. The cause of a clog and the fix for it may vary depending on what kind of sink it is. For example, a kitchen sink clog might present different challenges than other sinks in the home because of the nature of what goes into the drain.

But wherever they are in the home, it’s important to fix clogged drains as soon as you find them. If the problem goes unfixed for too long, water can begin to back up. And no one wants to have to fix water damage. The more drain cleaning techniques you know, the quicker you can resolve the problem.

1. Pour boiling water down your drains.

One of the easier and more affordable ways to fix a clogged sink drain is with boiling water, so it should be one of the first things you try:

1. Using a cup or container, remove as much standing water from the sink as possible.
2. Pour an entire pot or kettle of boiling water directly into the drain.
3. If needed, remove the standing water again, after it has cooled, and then pour salt down the drain before more boiling water. Let it sit before flushing again with hot water to clear.
4. Repeat until the clog is cleared.

2. Use a plunger to remove debris.

It might take some patience and a little practice, but a plunger can be another cost-effective solution for fixing clogged sink drains:

1. If you have a double-basin sink, cover the drain on the side that isn’t clogged (the pressure of plunging could cause water or debris to spray up the other drain).
2. Add a couple inches of hot water to the clogged sink’s basin. This will allow you to create a seal between the plunger and the drain.
3. Once you’ve got the plunger tightly sealed to the drain, start pumping up and down for a few seconds.
4. Repeat this process until the water in the sink drains.

Although any plunger will likely do the trick, you may want to invest in a mini-plunger designed specifically for clogged sink drains.

3. Check your garbage disposal for any potential clogs.

If the hot water and plunger haven’t helped to remove your kitchen sink clog, the problem may be your garbage disposal, if you have one. Here’s how to check:

1. With water running, turn on the garbage disposal. This should clear any debris that could be clogged in the unit.
2. If the disposal isn’t working or begins to make a humming noise, there could be a bigger problem, such as a jam or broken machinery.
3. You can fix a jam yourself, but it may be best to call in a professional for help.

Home appliance maintenance can be tricky, so when it comes to checking your garbage disposal, you’ll want to watch out for safety hazards and be careful not to damage the mechanism. For example, you should cut the electricity to your garbage disposal before making any repairs.

4. Unclog drains with baking soda and vinegar.

Often a sink clog can be remedied with drain cleaner, which is available at your local hardware or home improvement store. But you could also try a homemade drain cleaner, like vinegar and baking soda:

1. Start by adding some dish soap and hot water to the clogged drain. Make sure no standing water remains.
2. Next, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain. Use a funnel to avoid spillage if needed.
3. Continue by adding 1 cup of white vinegar.
4. Wait about 15 minutes and then flush the drain with another 2 cups of hot water.
5. Repeat this process if necessary.

A variation on this technique is to combine baking soda with salt and pour it down the drain. This homemade drain cleaner would need to sit for several hours, though, and then be flushed with boiling water.

5. Purchase a drain snake.

A drain snake is a simple tool that can be used for drain cleaning. It’s a long, flexible metal cable with an auger, or drill, on the end for breaking up clogs. To use a drain snake:

1. Begin by removing the trap from your drain.
2. Feed the snake’s cable down the drain until it reaches the object causing the clog.
3. Use the drain snake to break the clog apart and remove it from the drain.

You can purchase either an electric or hand-powered drain snake. Or you can use plastic clog removers, which are long and thin with little teeth on the sides to snag debris that may be built up. The best choice for you will depend on both your budget and your level of experience using plumbing tools. Or, in a pinch, you could also try using a straightened wire coat hanger instead.

6. Clean your sink’s P-trap.

Most sinks have a P-trap, a curve of the drainpipe that’s usually in the cabinet underneath the sink. To see if this is the source of your clog, you’ll want to:

1. Place a small bucket underneath your drainpipe. This will help catch any water that may have settled in the pipe.
2. Unfasten the P-trap from the drainpipe.
3. Clean the interior of the pipe that surrounds the P-trap.
4. Clean the P-trap itself and then position it back in place.
5. If the clog is located well past the trap, you can use a drain snake to clear the unreachable areas.

Preventing clogged drains in your home

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the same applies when dealing with a clogged drain. Even if you’ve become a pro at using homemade drain cleaners, you’d much rather not have the problem at all. Luckily, there are several things you can do to avoid clogged drains:

1. Properly dispose of grease and oil. Grease catches food particles and debris, which creates a blockage. That’s why it’s essential to take care when disposing of grease and oil in the sink. Find alternate methods when possible, and when you must dump small amounts of grease down the drain, always run hot water.
2. Keep coffee grounds and leftover food out of your drains. Though a small scrap here and there may seem harmless, it’s best to keep all leftover food out of your drains. This is especially true for coffee grounds, since they clump together in water and can build up in your drains over time.
3. Maintain your garbage disposal. Keep your garbage disposal clean and always run water when using it. In a sink without a disposal, use a strainer to catch pieces of food and debris to place in the trash.
4. Use drain covers when possible. In the bathroom, use a drain cover or strainer to catch as much hair as possible. Clean the visible areas of drain openings frequently when you see debris has begun to collect. You can also purchase a low-flow faucet to help save energy in the bathroom.
5. Clean your sink drains routinely. Even something as simple as pouring a few cups of hot water in your drains each week can help prevent blockages. You can also make deep-cleaning your drains part of your spring-cleaning routine.

The importance of keeping your sink drains clean

Most of us can’t fix every problem that arises in our homes — like flooding from corroded water pipes or a broken water main — but even learning how to regularly unclog a drain with baking soda can save some time and money on more extensive measures and expensive plumber fees. What’s more, standing water leaves deposits of scum on the sides of the sink, which requires more water to clean, which doesn’t fully drain, leaving fresh deposits, and the cycle continues. When you fix clogged drains in your home, it helps reduce your overall water consumption and may lower your bill.

There are also environmental benefits of regular drain cleaning. Less water consumption means less energy used in water treatment, so if your power comes from fossil fuels, that’s less carbon emitted into the atmosphere. Plus, using DIY cleaning supplies that are environmentally friendly helps not only our planet but also your plumbing, which can be harmed by powerful chemical drain cleaners. Many tasks can be done in an eco-friendly way — there are even natural remedies for pest control!