It’s important that your plumbing be properly maintained, as it not only ensures clean water for drinking and hot water for showers, but also ensures your waste is removed correctly. If your home experiences plumbing problems, it will significantly affect your household.

There are many plumbing problems that can happen at any time, but a slow-draining kitchen is one of the more common issues plumbers are called upon to fix. While it may sound simple enough, it can cause you more problems in the long run if you don’t take care of it properly.

The good news is that there are several methods to unclog a slow-draining kitchen sink. We listed down these methods for you. Read on below to learn more.

#1 – Run Boiling Water through the Drain

When unclogging a kitchen sink, this is often the most used method. All you need to do is pour boiling water down the drain. Keep doing this at least two to three times to rid the clog completely.

#2 – Run a Combination of Vinegar and Baking Soda

You can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain like you use boiling water. The combination should be equal parts of vinegar and baking soda to remove gunk build-up in the sink drain. Pour the mixture immediately as soon as you mix it, and you can repeat this process as long as necessary.

Alternatively, you can also run baking soda first, followed by vinegar. For the best results, it’s recommended to leave the mixture in the drain overnight then flush it down with boiling water the following day.

#3 – Use a Bent Wire Hanger

This DIY method involves finding a bent wire hanger and straightening it out. Once that’s done, insert it down the drain and try to grab what’s causing the clog. It’s essential to take note that you should only use this method if you think the blockage (ie a hairball or food scrap) is just below the plug hole.   Your focus should be on pulling it up instead of pushing it down since it can only worsen the clog.  

#4 – Use a Drain Snake

A drain snake is an excellent way to remove clogs not just in your kitchen sink, but in any pipeline as well. They’re also pretty affordable.

A drain snake looks like a rope with one spiral end. Put it down the drain, then twist the handle and continue pushing until you feel an obstruction. Turn the drain snake against it. Repeat the process until the blockage is gone. Afterwards, pour some hot water down to check if it’s unclogged.

#5 – Use Caustic Soda

Caustic soda is also known as sodium hydroxide. To use it, pour cold water into a bucket and add the chemical. Mix it using a disposable spoon until it dissolves, at which point it becomes hot and fizzy. Finally, pour it down the drain and leave it for an hour. After that, pour boiling water down the drain or repeat the process if needed.

If you’re using caustic soda, make sure to wear proper protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and masks. The chemical can burn your skin and harm your eyes, which is why they’re needed.

Conclusion

A clogged sink is a huge problem, but it can be easily resolved using the methods discussed above. If all else fails, it’s best to contact your plumber.

In case of plumbing emergencies, call on Designa Plumbing. We have a team of dependable emergency plumbers ready to handle your plumbing problems, be it a clogged drain or a blocked toilet.