Tried and Tested Methods to Unclog Bathroom Sink Drains

A clogged bathroom sink is a very common plumbing issue. There are many easy ways to solve this issue by you because it is the easiest of all types of drain clogs. The only thing you need is the knowledge and the right set of tools to help you solve the clogging issue.

There are various methods that you can try for unclogging your bathroom sink drain. Some of them are easy while others are a bit complex. However, the good news is that they all are easy to implement and you do not need to call the plumber at once if you know all or some of these methods.

Causes of Bathroom Sink Clogs

Your bathroom sink can easily get clogged due to several reasons. Some of the most common reasons are given below.

1.     Grease

Oil and grease can easily make a home inside the bathroom sink drain and cause a clog. These things can enter the sink and keep on building up inside with the passage of time. After some time, you will slow drainage of water or a totally blocked sink due to the buildup inside the pipe.

2.     Hair

Hair is the main victim in many bathroom drain blockages. Washing your hair, shaving, and other activities that involve shedding hair cause the blockage. This blockage can also get serious if not attended to at the right time.

3.     Soap Scum

A clogged bathroom sink can also be caused by soap scum. Soap particles keep on building inside the sink drain with the passage of time and when the build-up in the pipe becomes serious, it results in a clogged sink.

4.     Damaged Pipe

It is not necessary that the clogged sink is caused always due to something you pour down the sink; it could happen inside the sink as well. If you are facing slow drainage of water in the bathroom sink then a broken pipe could also be the cause. If this is the case, you have to call a professional to assess the situation and prescribe a possible solution.

5.     Toiletries or Other Items

It happens a lot that things go down the bathroom sinks that do not belong there for example cotton balls, swabs, hair, dental floss, etc. all these foreign products create a residue or buildup inside the sink because they stuck at some point down the pipe and cause blockage or clogging of the drain.

Methods to Unclog Bathroom Sink Drains

You can use many methods to try to fix your clogged bathroom sink drain. Some of these methods are very easy to implement. Below are listed some of the tried and tested methods to help you unclog the bathroom sink drain.

1.     Use Boiling Water

The first tried and tested, the most common, and easiest method to dissolve any clog is boiling water. You may think about what simple water can do to unclog a drain but we will suggest that you should never underestimate the power of boiling hot water. For this method, follow the below steps.

•         Take a pot and fill it with water.
•         Put it on the stove and turn on the flame.
•         Let the water boil till it reaches the boiling point.
•         Turn off the flame and let it cool for 2-3 minutes.
•         Pour down the water down the clogged drain and wait.
•         Now pour running water and see if it drains normally.

2.     Try the Plunger

The plunger is a very common household item found in every bathroom or kitchen. If it is not available you can get it from your nearby local household items store. It is a very useful tool for unclogging drains. You have to perform the following steps for this method.

•         Place the rubber part of the plunger above the drain.
•         Make sure to make a tight seal between the drain and the plunger.
•         Start plunging vigorously in the downward direction to build pressure.
•         After that pull out the plunger with sudden force to plunge out of the obstacle causing the clog.
•         Do the running water test to check if the clog is removed.

3.     Try Cleaning the P-trap

The curved part of your pipe under the sink is called a p-trap. Often there is something stuck inside the p-trap causing the slow drainage of water in the bathroom sink. Try this method  for drain cleaning by following the below steps.

•         First pull off the p-trap by unscrewing the nuts under your sink.
•         Detach the p-trap carefully.
•         Now start washing the pipe from the inside out with the help of dish wash liquid and a sponge.
•         Dish wash liquid will help to cut down the grease or oil debris inside the p-trap.
•         Wash in the end with hot water to clear away any other residue.
•         Put back the p-trap and tighten the screws.
•         Do the running water test to check if the blockage is removed.

4.     Try a Wire Hanger

A cloth hanger is not used for hanging clothes only; it can be useful in many other ways as well. Follow the given steps to unclog a bathroom sink drain with the help of a wire hanger.

•         First remove the drain cover and the stopper underneath the sink.
•         Now straighten out the hanger in the form of a wire with the hook side downwards.
•         Now enter the hook side inside the drain and start twisting and moving the hanger to grab the gunk or debris inside.
•         Try to remove as much build-up as possible.
•         Put back the stopper and drain cover and run water to check if the drain is now unclogged.

Final Words

The above methods will help you to handle the bathroom sink clogs by yourself instead of calling a plumber at first. You can save a lot of money by trying yourself and not calling the plumber.