Home Cleaning Bathroom Cleaning How to Unclog a Sink Drain—6 Different Ways It's gross but necessary knowledge. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 31, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Frequency How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Tips to Keep Your Sinks Clog-Free Close Photo: Chiociolla/Getty Images Knowing how to unclog a drain is one of those underrated skills every adult should possess. A clogged or slow-draining sink is frustrating. Fortunately, you can often take care of it with simple at-home methods and avoid having to call a plumber. Some clog-clearers are mechanical—like plungers and drain snakes—and others are chemical, like commercial drain cleaners or natural pantry products. Below, learn how to unclog a sink (in both the kitchen and the bathroom) with six different methods. How Often to Unclog a Sink When you see a drain emptying slowly or not at all, take care of the problem as quickly as possible. Instead of asking how often you should unclog a sink, though, a better question is, "What can I do to prevent a clogged sink?" The answer is to flush drainpipes at least monthly to remove hair and product build-up in bathroom sinks and grease and food residue in kitchen sinks. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Bathroom Sink Hair clog removal tool Adjustable wrench Kitchen Sink Drain snake Adjustable wrench Bell-shaped plunger Kettle or pot Wet-dry vacuum Materials Bathroom Sink Paper towels Bucket Old towels Commercial drain cleaner Dishwashing liquid Baking soda Distilled white vinegar Rubber gloves Kitchen Sink Bucket Old towels Paper towels Rubber gloves Instructions How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink Most clogs in a bathroom sink are caused by a build-up of hair and sticky residue from toothpaste, soaps, and gels. Here's how to get the sink flowing again. Use a Hair Clog Remover Tool There are two types of hair clog removal tools, often called drain snakes. One type is a long, semi-flexible plastic stick with teeth that is lowered into the drain to pull out the hair clog. Another type is typically longer and made of flexible plastic or wire with a grabber claw to pick up the clog. The usage steps are similar. Remove the pop-up drain stopper from the sink.Insert the spiked end of the hair clog removal tool into the drain opening. If you feel resistance, push the tool up and down several times to reach the bottom of the clog.Slowly remove the tool. The clog should be clinging to the tool. Use a paper towel to remove and dispose of the clog.Replace the drain stopper. Clean the P-Trap If the clog is deeper than the hair removal tool can reach or something larger is clogging the drain, you will need to remove the P-trap (the curved pipe under the sink). It's not difficult, but it can be messy and take a bit more time. Place a bucket under the P-trap to catch the water and the clog and have some towels on hand for drips.Remove the curved portion of the P-trap by loosening the slip nut on both ends. Use a rag, rubber gloves, or an adjustable wrench for a better grip as you work.Flush the trap in another sink or bathtub by rinsing it with hot water.Replace the trap and turn on the water (bucket still in place) to check for leaks. Retighten slip nuts if needed. Use a Commercial Drain Cleaner If using chemical reactions to unclog a sink, allow plenty of time (overnight is best) for the clog to dissolve. Commercial drain cleaners (like Drano) are usually more effective on hair clogs than natural cleaning products. When using these products, make sure to remove the sink stopper first and follow the instructions on the label. Try Baking Soda, Dishwashing Liquid, and Vinegar To dissolve toothpaste and soapy residue that slows a drain, pantry items can work well if given enough time. It's best to remove any standing water before you try this method. Remove the sink stopper.Boil at least two cups of water in a tea kettle or pan.Add two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, two cups of boiling water, one cup of baking soda, and one cup of distilled white vinegar.When the fizzing stops, wait at least 30 minutes (overnight is best), and then flush the drain with an additional two cups of boiling water. How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Kitchen sink clogs can be more difficult to remove due to hardened grease, food residue, and larger lost items (like bottle caps). In addition to the methods recommended above for bathroom sinks, you can also try using a standard plunger or a drain auger. Use a Plunger to Move the Clog Remove the drain stopper.If there is not already enough standing water in the sink to cover the rubber bell of the plunger, add more water.Place the bell of the plunger over the drain at an angle so the bell fills with water, then straighten the handle.Firmly push the plunger handle up and down several times to allow the force of the water to move the clog in the drain.If the water doesn't drain, repeat the plunging action.When the clog is gone, flush the sink with hot water for five minutes. Use a Drain Auger A drain auger is a thin, flexible metal cable coiled in a protective drum with a screw-type spring on one end to push through a clog up to 25 feet away in the plumbing line. It should be used with care to prevent damage to plumbing pipes. Remove the P-trap under the sink. Be sure to have a bucket under the trap to catch the water.Loosen the thumbscrew on the drum of the drain auger. Extend the cable and push it by hand into the drain pipe. Stop when you reach an obstruction.Tighten the thumbscrew on the drum. Slowly rotate the auger handle two or three times.Loosen the thumbscrew once again and slowly pull the cable back toward you.Use paper towels to remove the clog from the end of the drain snake.Repeat the steps to make sure you've cleared all of the clog and then replace the P-trap.Flush the drain with hot water for several minutes.Wash and dry the drain snake so to prevent rust. Pour Boiling Water Do not use boiling water to unclog your drains if you have PVC (plastic) pipes. Water hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit can warp your pipes because it softens the plastic. If your pipes are plastic, use a plunger instead.Also, if your sink is porcelain, be careful not to pour boiling water onto it as it can damage the enamel—aim to pour the water directly into the drain. Since a majority of sink clogs are caused by hair, grease, and soap, sometimes boiling water alone can do the trick. For metal pipes only, you can try to flush the clog with boiling water (or use it in combination with any of the methods mentioned above). Boil 2 to 3 quarts of water in a kettle or pot (preferably something with a spout so you can pour it directly into the drain without too much going on the sink itself).After the water is at a rolling boil, carefully transport the container to the sink.Slowly pour the water directly down the drain, using care not to splash yourself.Wait for several minutes, then try flushing with tap water.Repeat as necessary until the drain is unclogged. Use a Wet Dry Vacuum Wet-dry vacuums work in a similar way to plungers to unclog drains, but they're more powerful. Insert the end of the hose into the drain and try to make a tight seal. If you can't get a tight seal, use a rag and wrap it near the end of the hose to help get a better seal. If you have a double sink, plug the other side of the sink with a stopper.Turn the vacuum on to the exhaust setting and let the vacuum push the debris out. After about 10 seconds, switch to the suction setting. After another 10 seconds, switch back to exhaust.Flush the drain with water to make sure the clog is gone. Repeat if necessary. Tips to Keep Your Sinks Clog-Free Use strainer baskets in kitchen sinks or hair trappers in bathroom sinks to prevent debris from clogging sinks.Never pour oil or grease or unused beauty products down a drain.Flush sink drains monthly with hot water, dishwashing liquid, baking soda, and vinegar to clean the pipes and help prevent clogs. How to Clean a Kitchen Sink Regardless of the Material