Express Sewer & Drain Blog

Whether your home’s kitchen sink has a garbage disposal or not, it is still bound to clog at some point.

• Dirt
• Soap scum
• Food debris
• Hair

There are plenty of ways that you can unclog it; maybe you use the garbage disposal or douse chemical unclogging liquids down the drain.

However, these aren’t necessarily the best methods to remedy your sink back to smooth draining because those harsh chemicals can begin eroding your pipes if used too often.

4 Ways to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink

So, what’s your alternative? Well, the following details 4 different ways that you can try to unclog your kitchen sink.

1. Handy Plunger to the Rescue

Your plunger is arguably the handiest plumbing tool for decades now. While it might not repair leaking or broken pipes, it’s tried and true for unclogging your bathroom fixtures (i.e. toilets, tubs and sinks).

However, it’s a pretty handy tool for your kitchen sink as well. Next time you find dirty dishwater pooling up in your kitchen sink, try using your plunger.

2. The at Home Chemist’s Solution Part I: Vinegar & Baking Soda

Baking soda is the all-purpose solution that has been passed down generations—toothpaste, laundry detergent etc. And, it also happens to be a less harsh way to unclog your kitchen sink.

Simply pour ½ cup of baking soda down the sink drain, followed by ½ cup of white vinegar and then hot water.

3. The at Home Chemist’s Solution Part II: Baking Soda and Salt

Again, baking soda is the DIY unclogging ingredient to remedy your sink. However, this recipe is a little different—it uses salt instead of vinegar.

This recipe calls for 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of salt. Just pour both down your sink drain and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Then boil two cups of water and pour that down the drain.

4. Homemade Snake

Make your own snake with a metal wire hanger. All you have to do is untwist it and then start snaking your drain. It will either pull-up the clogged item or push it down the drain.

Pesky Kitchen Sink Clogs

While these 4 methods for unclogging your kitchen sink are great quick and cheap fixes, they may not work if it is a severe clog.

So, if you find your kitchen sinks aren’t unclogging and you’ve exhausted all the above options, it may be time to contact a professional plumber. There are non-invasive methods, such as hydro-jetting, to unclog even the toughest of drain clogs.