Unclogging a Bathroom Sink: 7 Tips to Get the Job Done Right

At nearly 28 percent, plumbing issues are some of the most common home repairs, according to Consumer Affairs. Unclogging a bathroom sink is one of those things that can cause you to worry. A blocked drain or clogged drain prevents people from using the bathroom, disrupting your day!

Unblocking a drain includes pouring boiling water into the sink, using vinegar and baking soda, or trying a plunger. If all else fails, call a local plumber.

Here are seven tips for unclogging a bathroom sink.  

1. Pour Boiling Water Into the Sink

Boiling water is one of the first things you should try to fix a blocked drain. Hot water is a melting agent that can loosen stuff stuck in your clogged drain.

Use a large soup or stock pot and fill it with water. Bring it to a rolling boil, and then pour it down the drain. You might need to do this a few times to unblock a drain in your bathroom sink. 

Be careful when working with boiling water to fix a blocked drain. Boiling water that splashes can cause burns. Use towels or hot pads to carry the water from the kitchen to the bathroom sink.

2. Use Vinegar and Baking Soda

Sometimes boiling water isn’t enough to clear a blocked drain. There might still be stubborn things in a clogged drain that won’t clear. 

Use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clear and unblock the drain in your bathroom sink.

The two create carbon dioxide. It helps to break up what’s stuck in the bathroom sink. You wouldn’t think the two would be strong enough to clear your sink, but it can sometimes work. 

Here’s how you do it: pour a half-cup of baking soda into the drain and then pour the vinegar. The chemical reaction will cause the mixture to bubble. 

If, at first, it doesn’t work, don’t worry. Allow the mixture to sit in the drain for a few hours or even overnight.

At this point, you might also try pouring boiling water into the drain again. The boiling water might finish the job if the vinegar and baking soda loosened the clogged drain.

3. Try a Plunger 

To unblock the drain, try using a plunger. They’re not just for toilets.

The suction created by placing the plunger over the drain helps to loosen clogged materials in your sink. 

Push down the rubber part to create a seal. Do this a few times to get things moving. Be careful of your strength so you don’t break the pipes. 

As mentioned above, boiling water might help finish the job.

4. Use a Coat Hanger

Unravel a wire coat hanger and create a homemade snake device. The ones from the dry cleaner work best. 

Gently place the thin metal portion into the pipes to unblock a drain. Push up and down a few times to help unblock the drain. Again, be gentle; you don’t want to damage the pipes.

Doing this will loosen anything that might be stuck. The flexibility of the metal wire allows you to work it inside the piping system. 

It’s also a good idea to use boiling water to help flush anything down the drain loosened with the wire.

5. Clean the P-Trap 

The P-Trap is the curved section of pipe below the sink. Many clogged sinks begin here. Items can’t get around the pipe, so they just get stuck.

Removing the pipe is pretty simple. When you unscrew the plastic portion, it should pop off. 

Beware, items may come out of the drain pipes immediately, making a mess. Placing plastic sheeting or towels underneath the pipes is the best way to make cleanup easier. 

You might be surprised at what is lurking in your pipes. Years of not cleaning the bathroom pipes can cause some interesting smells.

6. Call a Plumber

Call a local plumber to fix a blocked drain. Plumbers come to your home with the necessary tools and experience to get your pipes working properly. Plumbers work efficiently and can easily diagnose a problem. 

A professional plumber has seen it all. They know every reason why a bathroom sink becomes clogged. Plumbers know the first steps in unclogging a bathroom sink with the best techniques. 

On average, a plumbing repair job with a local plumber will cost you more than $300. Calling a plumber outside of traditional business hours might cost you more money.

Several ways to find a plumber include searching the Internet and asking family and friends. You can also find a plumber by calling your real estate agent or other contractors. These people will help you find someone who is reliable and trustworthy.

Advanced plumbing technology will clear out any blocked drain in your bathroom sink.

7. Prevent Problems Before They Start 

Several things cause clogged drains, including clumps of hair, grease, toiletries, debris, and even soap scum. 

Sometimes, a more significant problem could be further down the sewer line. Many things can clog sewer lines, including tree roots or dead animals. Aging sewer lines can also break, causing a backup. 

Do you have a large family? Talk to everyone in your household about best practices when using the bathroom sink. Ensure everyone knows what you can and can’t allow to go down the bathroom drain.

Preventing problems before they start saves you money. It also keeps your plumbing system operating correctly. 

Furthermore, a local plumber can advise you on what to NOT put into your bathroom sink.

Unclogging a Bathroom Sink Simplified

Seven tips for unclogging a bathroom sink include pouring boiling water, using vinegar and baking soda, or trying a plunger. Other ways to unclog a bathroom sink involve using a hangar, cleaning the P-Trap, and calling a plumber. 

Also, it’s a good idea to set a strategy to prevent blocked drains in the first place.

Keep tabs on our blog for more helpful home tips and hacks.