How to Unclog a Sink

Introduction

Do you have a clogged sink? Do you not know what is wrong with it? Use this guide to solve your problem. If your sink becomes unclogged after step 1 or step 6, then you do not need to continue following the guide. But it is highly recommended that you finish the guide completely to ensure your sink is completely unclogged.

What you need

Step 1 How to Unclog a Sink

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Begin by filling the sink halfway full with water.
Pump the plunger rapidly for 30 seconds.
Do NOT break seal between plunger and drain.
Repeat this process 4 to 6 times.
Wait 20 min before proceeding to the next step. This will allow some debris to flow down the pipes.
If the sink is equipped with a spillover (a hole in the side wall, next to the top edge), you should cover it with a paper towel or kitchen towel while pumping the plunger with the other hand. Otherwise the pressure, that you create by pumping, would be released via the spillover immediately, possibly throwing dirt into your sink.
If you wish to pump with both hands, you may want to ask somebody for help, to cover the spillover.

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Step 2

Place a bucket below the P-trap .
The curved white pipe is called the P-trap.
These next few steps may get a bit messy. Proceed with caution.

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Step 3

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Carefully untwist slip nuts by hand.
If you are unable to remove by hand, use a slip joint plier to remove the slip nuts.
The nuts at the ends of the P-trap are called slip nuts.

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Step 4

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Use a small wire brush to clean the P-trap.
You may want to clean the connecting pipes with the wire brush as well.

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Step 5

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Carefully rinse the P-trap with hot water.
Do NOT rinse the P-trap in the sink you are working on because there is no connecting pipe to catch the water.

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Step 6

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Reattach the P-trap.

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Step 7

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Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.
Pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain.
Quickly cover the drain with a drain stopper.
This keeps the reaction in the pipes.

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Step 8

As soon as the fizzing stops, pour another 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain.
Cover again with a drain stopper.
Let the sink sit for 20 min.