New or old, it’s an inevitability that at some point in our lives, we’ll have to deal with a blocked sink. And deal with it quickly, at that, or risk dealing with slow draining water, gurgling sound and, worst of all, the smell. The good news, unblocking a sink – even without specialised cleaners – can be a quick and simple job, if done not long after the blockage is formed. 

• What If I Don’t Fix a Clogged Drain? 
• Sink Unblockers 
• Unblocking a U-Bend 
• Unblocking a Sink – Step by Step 
• Final Thoughts 

We get it. No one wants to spend an hour unclogging a drain, particularly early in the morning or just after getting home from work. You may think it won’t be a problem to push it off for another day, maybe even two. And you’d be right. The issue, however, the longer it is left alone the more difficult it will be to remove.   

Naturally, this has drastic consequences on your sink's ability to drain, leading to a higher risk of flooding and foul-smelling stagnant water. You may even end up in the nasty situation of having to pay a professional plumber to repair the sink for you. Needless to say, addressing the clog as soon as it appears is the quickest (and cheapest) solution. 

Sink Unblockers are often the first port of call when dealing with a clogged sink. Easy to use and able to cut straight through standing water, they are a fantastic method for keeping your drains clear. Simply pour the whole contents down your sink, leave for the recommended about of time on the bottle and flush clear. 

Below we’ll explore the common solutions for unclogging a sink. For smaller blockages, and those you manage to get to quickly, these should be more than enough. However, in more server cases, where clogs have been allowed to grow the only solution may be to remove the u-bend and clean it by hand. 

If you are planning to do this, we cannot stress enough how important it is to prepare a bucket, gloves and some old clothes. As you might expect, cleaning out drains is a tremendously messy and smelly job. 

What do You Need? 

• Gloves 
• Plunger 
• Old Cloth 
• Bucket 
• Baking Soda & White Vinegar 
• Funnel 
• Soda Crystals 
• Kettle 
• Snake 

1. Drain ALL water & Debris 

The very first thing you’ll want to make sure of is that your sink is free of any water, crumbs, hair and other debris. If your sink is completely blocked and not draining at all, this will mean a bucket, a jug and a good pair of protective gloves. You can also take this time to clean any soap scum from the plug hole. 

2. Block the Overflow 

Take your cloth and secure the overflow. This is to prevent water from leaking out whilst you are using your plunger, so use strong tape if you feel the need. 

3. Use the Plunger 

Put the plunger against the bottom of the plughole and fill up the sink with about 2 inches of warm water – this will form a tight seal. You can then firmly push on the plunger down and up to create the suction that should dislodge any solid clogging the pipes. Run your water normally to see if this blockage has been removed. If not, move on to the next step. 

4. Run Boiling Water Down You Sink 

Boil a full kettle and slowly pour it down your drain. This will help dissolve any organic matter that is contributing to the clog. 

5. Baking Soda & Vinegar 

After your boiled water has done its magic, you can then use a funnel to put 1 cup of baking soda down your drain as well. Leave this for 3 minutes before following it up with another single cup of white vinegar. You should hear it fizzling. This is the chemical reaction we want and a good sign that the clog is being loosened. 

6. Flush with Boiling Water 

After 10 minutes of this, flush the baking soda and vinegar with another kettle full of boiling water. Again, check that your water is draining properly. 

7. Moving on to Soda Crystals 

A further step to take, if needed, is to use Soda Crystals. Much like the baking soda and vinegar solution, simply pour a mug full of crystals down your drain. Follow this up with another mug of hot water and then wait for around 5 minutes. After this, flush it down with boiling water to finish. 

8. Unclogging your Drain with a Snake 

If all of the above has failed, the final measure you can take is to use a snake. Simply feed the end of the snake into your drain and push it down until you can feel the blockage. 
Never force the snake, its design should allow you to feed it down with little effort. 

10. Rotate Clockwise 

Slowly rotate the handle of the snake, allowing it to move into the blockage. Continue rotating back and forth to break up the blockage until you no longer feel any resistance. 

11. Test & Repeat as Needed 

It may take two or three attempts before the obstruction has been completely cleared. After each, carefully rewind the snake and turn on the tap to see the water runs freely. 

Whilst clogs are common and, in most cases, a quick and easy fix, it is even easier to prevent a blockage from forming in the first place. Introduce sink and drain unblocker into your general maintenance and avoid putting anything but water and soap down your sink.