6 Ways to Unclog a Bathroom Sink

Do you see the warning signs of slow draining sinks or pooling of water around its area? Are there some unpleasant odors that you encounter as you walk into the bathroom? If you don’t know yet, all these conditions can be leading to a single and potentially catastrophic plumbing problem – a clogged drain. So what can you do to unclog a bathroom sink? First things first, you may need to call a plumber, but before you do that, here are some tips you can try.

Wire Hanger

Need something to use that is just hanging around your house? Why not try a bent wire hanger? You may be surprised that this is quite a simple but effective technique in unclogging bathroom sinks. The small hook at the end of the wire hanger can be pushed past the drain cover to allow you to fish out any blockage. Normally you will get some gunk, hair, and other potentially nasty stuff from your drain. After clearing as much debris as you can, make sure to pour some hot water to clear the path.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Mix equal parts of baking soda and vinegar in a cup. This should create quite a fizz and must be poured down the drain immediately. This fizzing action will act on the blockage made up mostly of hair, grime, and gunk to help you remove it. Allow the mixture to sit in the drain overnight before you flush it out with hot water. You may also pour baking soda first and follow it up with the same amount of vinegar.

Wet and Dry Vacuum

If you have one at home, a wet and dry vacuum is also an effective way of unclogging your bathroom sink. Make sure that it is set to liquid first and cover its vent to avoid causing a mess. A tight seal should cover the drain to allow the vacuum to exert maximum sucking action. An old plunger head can do wonders. Turn the vacuum to its highest setting to remove all the nasty dirt that is causing a blockage in your drain.

Boiling Water

Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to just boil water. Why will this work? The normal culprit of a clogged bathroom sink is hair, grime, and soap scum. Boiling water can work through all of these to restore the normal flow of your drains. The trick is to pour the boiling water in stages a couple of seconds apart. This will allow it to work its way through all the blockage.

Sodium Hydroxide

Also known as caustic soda, you need to protect yourself when working with this because it can burn your skin. This means using rubber gloves and appropriate eye protection. Instead of hot water, you will be using cold water with caustic soda and mixed together preferably with a wooden spoon. Just like baking soda, it will create a fizz. This time however, it generates heat. So when you leave it for about 30 minutes in the drain, it cuts through all the blockage. Flush it out with boiling water and repeat the process if normal flow is not restored.

Pipe Cleaning

This involves removing the sink trap located underneath. Place an empty bucket to catch whatever water is in the pipe. Loosen the slip nuts at the ends of the pipe to wiggle out the trap. Turn it upside down over the bucket. Remove any debris caught inside the trap using an old toothbrush. You may have to do this for quite a while to get rid of stubborn gunk. Make sure to rinse the trap before reinstalling it. Always test for leaks to make sure that you have reinstalled the trap properly.

If none of these tips work, you may be dealing with more than just a simple clogged bathroom sink. Call Scott English Plumbing immediately for help.