The sink is one of the appliances that accumulates the most germs. In fact, a clogged kitchen or bathroom sink is one of the most common and annoying problems that can occur. Then we tend to panic and immediately think of contacting a plumber.
But before considering incurring expenses, did you know that there are several tricks that can help you quickly unclog your pipes, without the help of a plumber?
We invite you to discover these 6 safe ways to unclog your kitchen sink without calling a professional!
1. Vinegar, baking soda and salt
First, try this radical way to unclog your sinks.
Take 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of salt. Mix them and pour them into the sink.
Heat the vinegar until it boils and pour the previous ingredients.
Quickly plug the drain to prevent the resulting foam from overflowing.
Wait 15 to 30 minutes. Finally, rinse everything with plenty of hot water.
A little tip: before applying the products, slowly pour very hot water into your sink, which will help soften food debris and dirt.
2. White vinegar and baking soda
White vinegar and baking soda are powerful antioxidants with excellent degreasing and stain removing properties. They are highly recommended when solving the problem of clogged drains. Very effective, fast and economical, this method was the immediate solution that our grandmothers used.
Pour boiling water down the drain. In this case, you can apply a large amount of this mixture.
Then add a cup of baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes.
Mix boiling water and vinegar in a bowl and add baking soda on top.
Cover the drain. You can use a stopper, plunger, or anything else.
Pour another glass of hot water. Then rinse everything.
3. Salt and boiling water
Salt is often recommended to clean the pipe from the inside: it effectively eliminates bacteria and bad odors. The boiling water will help dissolve everything.
The salt/boiling water duo is the gentlest option for cleaning your pipes. Since this method is not as powerful as the previous ones, you can reapply it repeatedly.
Take half a cup of salt and pour it down the sink.
Take a kettle with boiling water and pour the salt into it.
Turn off the hot water to the faucet and rinse the sink more thoroughly.
Repeat if necessary.
4. A sheet of paper
If you have hair and product residue in your pipes, we still have an unknown solution: you can take a piece of paper, cut it and place it in the sink. Move it up and down and side to side. You’ll notice dirt starting to build up on the angled piece below so you can remove it from the pipes. It’s surprising, but it works!
5. Metal hanger
As for paper, a metal hanger will work too! Take a pair of pliers and bend the hanger so it is straight. Leave a slight curve at the end, make a small hook. This trick will be useful for unclogging kitchen and bathroom sinks.
6. Use a suction cup
Finally, the least expensive and most widespread solution for unclogging sinks is none other than the plunger.
If you have one at home, you don’t have to worry about buying other products.
Does your sink have two parts? You just have to cover one of the drains. Then place the plunger in the second hole, turn on the faucet, and fill the sink with water until it covers the plunger.
Use all your strength to suck in, repeat 6 to 10 times, then remove.
If the water drains smoothly, you have successfully unclogged it. If not, repeat the process several times. Once you’ve unblocked the sink, pour hot water to clean the pipes.
Obviously, if none of these remedies work and your sinks are still clogged, there must be a real deep plumbing problem. In this case, it is best to quickly call a professional.
