What to do if your kitchen sink is clogged: types of blockages, how to clean them

Causes of clogged drains

Before you decide on a method for cleaning the sink and drain, you need to find out the cause of the blockage.

She may be hiding in:

poor condition of the water supply. Every day it is increasingly affected by corrosion, which leads to direct destruction. Rust coats the walls of the pipes, which causes the drain passage to narrow. Food residues, fat deposits and other household waste settle on parts damaged by corrosion, causing pipes to block;
deposition of heavy metal salts that are present in running water. Tap water is considered very hard. Against this background, growths accumulate on the walls;
accumulation of fat, food debris, hair. These reasons are considered the most common;
unusual sink design, which affects the formation of blockages in the siphon. Often dirt and grease accumulate in the siphon, which has some structural features. These include a small diameter, curved or flat structure, and tightness.

If you know the reasons for the accumulation of dirt in the sink, you can easily choose the appropriate method and clean the pipe. In solving the problem, improvised means, folk methods and household chemicals help.

Mechanical methods for removing blockages

How to remove a clog in the sink without turning to specialists?

Using a plunger

What to do if the sink at home is clogged? First of all, clearing a clog in the sink is done using a plunger.

To fix the problem, you need to fill the sink about a third with hot water. Then apply a plunger to the drainage area and pump air several times with vigorous movements.

The action of the plunger creates high pressure, which helps push the plug further down.

Application of plumbing cable

How to unclog a kitchen sink? You can resort to using a plumbing cable - it is a long thin tube, at the end of which there are spiral grooves, into which nozzles are screwed for punching plugs. Typically, cable is used for more complex seals in drain elements.

How to remove a blockage using a plumbing cable? To do this, you need to lower it to the place where the water drains. In order for the dirt to move away from the pipes, you need to twist the cable and push it further inward.

It may take some effort to turn the cable further. For pipe cleaning to be effective, you need to turn on the water periodically.

If you cannot solve the problem yourself, then it is better to turn to professionals.

Using a vacuum cleaner with air blowing function

How to remove a clog in a sink? To restore the drain, you can use a vacuum cleaner that blows out air. Before performing the procedure, you need to pull a thin rag over the hose, and then attach it tightly to the hole in the sink. The fit should be tight so that there are no gaps.

While blowing, the air flow should push out the plug. To complete the manipulations, you need to turn on the water and wash off the dirt residues.

plunger

Using a plunger is one of the simplest and most affordable methods for cleaning a pipe. This tool consists of a wooden handle with a rubber cap at the end. To clean the sink with it, do the following:

The sink is filled with water (the higher its temperature, the better), so that the plunger cap is completely covered with it. If the sink has an overflow protection hole, it should be covered (with a rag).
Use the cap of the plunger to tightly close the drain hole and apply pressure so that it sticks more tightly to the surface.
Then move the tool up and down, but so that it does not become detached from the drain hole. As a result, the plunger creates pressure that breaks the blockage in the pipe apart.
The movements must be repeated for 20 seconds, then sharply pull it out. If debris appears in the water or it begins to flow well, it means the blockage has been removed. It is recommended to repeat the previous steps to ensure that the blockage is completely cleared.

Clearing a clog with a plunger in the sink Please note! A plunger helps in removing small blockages. To remove old and dense contaminants, you will need to use other methods and tools.

Using household chemicals

If you don’t know how to clean your kitchen sink, you can resort to using household chemicals. On store shelves there is a wide selection of products that quickly and effortlessly remove dirt.

The selection of chemicals depends on the price category, obtaining the desired result and the type of contamination.

The most popular include:

Mister Muscle;
Tiret;
Mole.

If the sink is clogged, carefully pour the gel into the hole and leave it there for a few minutes. Then rinse the pipe with running water.

Cleaning products contain sodium hydrochloride. It effectively copes with any blockage, but is considered very toxic, and therefore can harm the body. Therefore, you should adhere to the rules that are prescribed in the instructions.

Siphon cleaning

If the water in the sink does not drain, then you need to check the siphon for contamination.

This is not so difficult to do, the main thing is to follow the following recommendations:

You need to place a water container under the sink. A bucket or basin is suitable for such purposes.
All drain systems have a similar structure, and therefore are easy to disassemble. Cleaning the sink siphon is done after removing all the connecting elements that hold it in place.
All the water that is in it is drained into a container, and the clogged part of the siphon is cleaned using a small brush, hands or water. It is necessary to remove not only accumulated debris, but also fat deposits.
Don't rush to put the siphon back. Check the condition of the sewer system. If there are deposits or clogs inside, you need to use hot water and cleaning products.
After removing the debris, you need to assemble the siphon.

This flushing method cleans even a heavily clogged pipe.

Traditional methods for removing contaminants

Chemical products are not affordable for everyone, as they are quite expensive. Therefore, when a siphon or sewer becomes clogged, you can use traditional methods. The advantage of them is that they are non-toxic, and the necessary components are always available in any home and help you quickly deal with the problem yourself.

Application of saline solution

How to unclog a sink? You can use a simple way to remove dirt - saline solution. To make it, you will need a mug of boiled water and three to four tablespoons of salt. The components are mixed thoroughly.

If your kitchen sink is clogged, then pour the solution into the clogged sink and wait about 5-7 minutes. Then use a plunger.

Using soda

How to clear dirt from a clogged bathroom sink using baking soda?

To break through fat plugs, you need to make a solution of 200 milliliters of water and five tablespoons of soda. Before this, the soda must be heated in a frying pan for five minutes, and then mixed in water.

If clogged, the solution is poured into the hole for 5-10 minutes. After which you just need to rinse the sink with running water.

Using baking soda and vinegar

What to do if your kitchen sink is clogged? You can break through fatty deposits with soda and vinegar. Three to five tablespoons of soda are poured into the drain pipe through the hole. After one or two minutes, a glass of vinegar. These two components, when combined, create a violent chemical reaction, which helps dissolve dirt plugs.

After the reaction is completed, the sink should be rinsed with running water.

If plastic, chrome or brass pipes become clogged, you should not use a product with vinegar - this can lead to damage.

Multi-component product

If your kitchen sink is clogged, what should you do? At home, you can make a cleaning product that contains three tablespoons of soda and three tablespoons of washing powder.

The components are mixed together and then poured into the drain hole. Then pour a glass of vinegar for 20 minutes.

After the reaction, the clogged pipe is washed with hot water.

Basic ways to unclog a kitchen sink at home

There are many ways to clean pipes from clogged elements. You can use it yourself:

By chemical means: Mole, Mister Muscle, Tiret;
Mechanical procedures: plunger, cable, vacuum cleaner;
Traditional methods: soda, vinegar, salt.

How to unclog a kitchen sink using a cable

The most common and simple method of getting rid of a blockage is a plunger. This is a device that allows, using a hollow rubber semicircle, to clean the sink mechanically. The plunger is able to cope with only minor blockages, creating a small pressure in the pipes and helping to push and split the plug that is clogging the sink.

Attention! If your sink consists of two sections, you need to use two plungers at the same time, or tightly close one of the holes, so that the pressure created in one of the drains is not reduced by the free circulation of air in the other.

To remove a blockage using a plunger, you must first fill the sink cavity with boiling water, or, if plastic pipes are installed, with as hot water as possible. The plunger must be pressed tightly to the drain hole and worked like a pump, swinging the rubber part up and down.

Important! Using a plunger can only deal with minor blockages. There is no point in trying to break through stagnation when the water does not leave the pipes at all!

If the contamination is more serious, it is better to use a special plumbing fixture. How to unclog a kitchen sink with a cable? The cable is a flexible solid cord about three meters long. The end of the cable consists of a special pointed hook, which reduces the density of the lump of debris clogging the pipes.

Related article: Indigo wallpaper in the interior

Such a mechanical device perfectly overcomes blockages of even the most complex, but there are contraindications to its use. Firstly, it is not advisable to use the cable on dilapidated pipes, pipes with a strong corrosive coating and rust - you risk simply piercing them with a sharp hook. Secondly, you should not try to clean siphons made of plastic, chrome or brass with it.

If you don’t have any plumbing equipment at hand when you discover a blockage, you can create a cable with your own hands. To do this, you will need ordinary metal or wire hangers, or just a coil of thick flexible wire. At the base of such a cable it is necessary to leave a pointed peak or hook.

How to unclog a kitchen sink using special products

You can get rid of blockages using various preparations containing acid or alkali. These include specialized lines “Mr. Muscle”, “Tiret”, “Mole” and others. The form of release of such products varies from dry and loose powders to gels and liquids of various concentrations. Basically, each such product is based on sodium hydroxide, which is popularly called alkali. In order for the product to have an effective effect on the blockage, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions before use and take safety measures.

Attention! To avoid chemical burns, be sure to wear protective gloves before using any alkaline product!

It is also necessary to remember that the use of ordinary alkali, or products containing it, is not suitable for aluminum plumbing fixtures, as well as for thin economy-class plastic pipes. Such equipment will be corroded when the alkali reacts.

Acid products are more universal; they are used for highly complex blockages, are suitable for any type of pipe, and, unlike alkaline ones, do not damage them.

For any chemical, there are a number of precautions to protect pipes from damage.

Twenty minutes before using the product, it is recommended to pour boiling water over the pipes;
After soaking the product, the pipes are washed generously with cold water;
It is necessary to strictly observe the holding time of the product in the pipes.

There are several of the most popular anti-clogging products:

Mister Muscle. Sold both in gel and foam form, and in powder form. The action is based on sodium hydroxide. The price is quite high, but the effect is noticeable immediately after use. An additional advantage is the antibacterial components, which, in addition to blockages, also remove pathogens in the pipes. The product is poured or poured into the pipe, left for about thirty minutes and washed off generously.
Bagi Pothan. Not the most popular, but one of the most effective remedies. Sold in the form of granules, in canisters of 600 g. The active ingredient is alkali. To use, you need to empty the sink and drain of water, pour one hundred grams of the drug into the hole and wait 3-5 minutes. Then you need to pour a glass of boiling water or hot water into the pipe. Then you need to wait a few minutes again and rinse the pipe with warm running water. The product works instantly. The disadvantages of the drug are its high cost, terrible smell and high degree of danger. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to protect the skin as much as possible. After use, you need to ventilate the room as thoroughly as possible and wash the sink with gentle soap solutions.
Tiret. The Tiret line of anti-clog products contains both acid- and alkali-based preparations. If the latter are more effective, then the former can be safely used on cheap and thin plumbing fixtures. The use of the drug is extremely simple - one third of the contents of the bottle is poured into the pipe, depending on the degree of complexity of the blockage, it is kept for five to thirty minutes, running water is poured into the drain under high pressure.
Mole. Perhaps the most common remedy for blockages. In addition to standard sodium hydroxide, it contains ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and potassium hydroxide, which is very dangerous to humans. Before using the product, it is recommended to ensure a flow of air into the room, put on protective elements - a mask or respirator, goggles and gloves. This is indeed a very serious chemical that can damage the skin or mucous membranes. About three hundred milliliters of the product is kept in the sink for at least an hour, preferably ninety minutes. Only after this, putting on the protective elements again (to prevent splashes from getting into your eyes and skin), rinse the sink. The product is very effective and cleans pipes for a long time, but can easily corrode aluminum or low-quality, thin plastic. After use, rinse the pipes thoroughly.

Article on the topic: Design of a country wooden house in the Moscow region

Important! Almost all alkali-based chemicals are not suitable for use on low-quality plastic and aluminum plumbing fixtures. If you doubt that your pipes will withstand the effects of such drugs, choose products based on acids rather than alkalis.

How to unclog a kitchen sink: folk remedies

If chemicals are not suitable for you due to dilapidated pipes, you can resort to other drugs.

You can remove clogs caused by grease using homemade ingredients. How to clear a clogged kitchen sink with baking soda?

It is necessary to make a solution of soda and water, in a ratio of one to one, pour it into the pipe and clean it with a plunger. The space around the drain can be smeared with Vaseline or cream so that the plunger fits more tightly to the hole. You can pre-heat the soda in a thick-walled frying pan and only then add water. Baking soda also produces an alkaline reaction, which can clear clogs.

You can also fill the pipe with baking soda and pour a glass of regular vinegar into it. How to clear a clogged kitchen sink with baking soda and vinegar? After the pipes stop hissing and gurgling, you can rinse off the solution with high-pressure warm running water. It is important, after the vinegar has been poured, to firmly close the drain with a stopper or rag to avoid getting burns from splashes from the pipe.

Also, if the blockage is formed by ordinary cooking fat, you can use a mixture of soda and salt. How to unclog a kitchen sink at home using soda and salt? Half a glass of salt and a whole glass of soda are dissolved in a glass of water, the mixture is poured into the pipes and after ten minutes the pipes are cleaned with a plunger. Then you need to rinse the drain with warm water.

Related article: How to assemble a loft bed: instructions and operating procedure

A siphon that is not too clogged can be saved by a few aspirin tablets, such as Alka-Seltzer. You need to throw them into the drain and fill them with vinegar, tightly covering the hole with a rag. After such cleaning, you need to rinse the pipes with strong pressure. Not only will the clog disappear, but also the sewer stench.

How to clear a clogged kitchen sink at home with acid? You need to pour forty grams of citric acid into three liters of boiling water and pour this liquid down the drain. If the pipes are made of plastic, you should cool the water a little.

If you have a vacuum cleaner at home with blowing capabilities, you can try cleaning the pipes with it. Simply blow out the clogged pipe at maximum power. But this method is suitable only for minor blockages or in combination with other methods.

Preventive actions

To prevent your kitchen sink from becoming clogged again, follow these tips:

There is no need to pour fat into the drain hole. It instantly hardens and forms deposits on the walls of the sewer.
To prevent the pipes from clogging, food debris from the plates must be removed in advance and thrown into the trash.
Drain elements can be protected using a special mesh. It is sold in stores. This method will help prevent dirt from getting into the pipe.
Regularly clean the siphon yourself, and also monitor the condition of the pipes and sewerage system.
If the running water is of poor quality, it is better to install a filter.
Make sure that no foreign objects get into the siphon.
Very often, women lose a lot of hair when washing their hair. To avoid blockages, you should wash your hair only in the bathroom. And after that, collect the remaining hair and throw it in the trash.

If your sink is clogged, an experienced plumber can tell you what to do. If there is a man in the house, then he will deal with the problem himself. And for women, chemical and folk remedies have been developed.

Mole and Tiret

If folk remedies and a plunger do not help with blockages, then you should use chemicals, for example, Mole or Tiret. But they are used only when pipes are partially clogged and as a preventive measure. Also, they cannot be used on old sinks or with damaged surfaces.

Note! Before using the product, you must study the instructions and dosage so as not to damage the pipes and sink.

For each case, you need to use certain means. If there is a large amount of hair in the clog, then it is better to use acidic agents, and if there is fat, then alkaline ones. Under no circumstances should acidic or alkaline products be mixed.

When using a chemical, you must use personal protective equipment - rubber gloves and goggles. If it gets on an open area of skin or eyes, rinse immediately with water.

The required amount of liquid is poured into the drain hole. So, for example, when using Tiret Turbo, half a bottle is poured out and left for 5-20 minutes, depending on the degree of blockage. After which it is washed off with plenty of hot water. Please note that it cannot be used to clean rubber or copper pipes.

The Mole product works in a similar way. It is poured into the drain hole, filled with one glass of water and left for 1-2 hours, after which it is washed with hot water.