Your bathroom probably has the strangest things in it than you can imagine. From hair clogs to grease, the drains in your bathroom aren’t as squeaky clean as you might think. If you have a leaking drain in your bathroom, you might have tried flushing several bottles of drain cleaner down the drain. And, if your sink or tub is clogged, you know that nothing seems to work. No matter how much you try, the drain never seems to unclog. As frustrating as that is, you can avoid the same thing from happening to you. Follow these steps to unclog your bathroom sink and keep it that way.
Step 1: Unplug Everything
This is the most important thing you can do to unclog your sink. Make sure that all your electrical items are unplugged, including your phones, tablets, and gaming consoles. Hair can get stuck in all of these items and cause a full clog. If you unplug them, you won’t have anything to accumulate all that dirt and gunk in your drain.
Step 2: Look for Blockage
You should already know if there’s a clog in your drain because it will not flush away. If there is, you can use a flashlight to look for signs of it, such as a solid brown or black clump, or a strong smell. If you can see it, you can dig it out. If you don’t see it, there’s a chance that it’s in the pipes below your sink.
In either case, that clog is going to need to be removed. One way to do that is with a plunger. Plungers are used to unclog toilets and drains because they have a large bell that can vibrate and break up the clog. Make sure to buy a plunger that is designed for sinks and another one just in case because you will likely use it more than once.
Step 3: Mix a Solution of baking Soda and Water
Baking soda is a great natural cleaner and has many uses around the house, including unclogging drains. The great thing is that it’s also cheap and easy to get. You can find baking soda at grocery stores, drug stores, and even some dollar stores.
Mix one cup of baking soda with two cups of water in a bucket. If you don’t have a bucket, you can use a large plastic bag. Place that bucket in the drain, keeping it as far from the source of the drain as possible. Cover the drain with your hand and give it a few gentle shakes. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then use your plunger or cup plunger to unclog the drain.
Step 4: Scrub the Drain
After you’ve unplugged everything, removed the blockage, and mixed the solution, it’s time to scrub the drain. You should do this before you do anything else. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get the clog out.
Start by filling the sink with very hot water and adding in some baking soda. Let it sit for about five minutes, then scrub the drain with a toothbrush. After that, pour some more hot water into the drain and let it sit for about five more minutes. Use your plunger to unclog the drain.
Step 5: Pour in the Baking Soda and Water
Now that the sink is unclogged, it’s time to get rid of the clog. The easiest way to do that is with baking soda and water. Mix one cup of baking soda with one gallon of water, and pour it into the drain. Let it sit for about five minutes, then use your plunger or cup plunger to unclog the drain.
Step 6: Keep on Scrubbing
Baking soda is a great natural cleaner, but it has a limited shelf life. After a few weeks, it loses its effectiveness and needs to be replaced. That’s why it’s important to keep on scrubbing the drain even after you’ve unclogged it.
Once you’ve used the baking soda and water, pour in some more and scrub for five more minutes. Let it sit for about five minutes, then unclog it with your plunger or cup plunger.
Step 7: Use a plunger to unblock the pipe
Now that the clog is gone, it’s time to unblock the drain. You can do this with a plunger, or a plumbing snake. A plumbing snake is a flexible tube with a clamp on one end and a plunger on the other.
Unclog the drain by placing the plunger over the drain and giving it a few quick, firm pumps. If you have a slow clog, you may need to do this a few times. While you’re at it, try unplugging the drain once again to make sure there’s no residual blockage.
Conclusion
Your bathroom probably has the strangest things in it than you can imagine. From hair clogs to grease, the drains in your bathroom aren’t as squeaky clean as you might think. If you have a leaking drain in your bathroom, you might have tried flushing several bottles of drain cleaner down the drain. And, if your sink or tub is clogged, you know that nothing seems to work. No matter how much you try, the drain never seems to unclog. As frustrating as that is, you can avoid the same thing from happening to you. Follow these steps to unclog your bathroom sink and keep it that way.
