Kitchen sinks work silently unless clogged, and you need to clean the kitchen sink drain. Imagine you are washing the dishes in the kitchen sink, and suddenly you find that the water is not draining, but the water is building in the sink. Isn’t this a horrible scene? Indeed it is for anyone.

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You first check whether there is anything blocking the drain opening. If there isn’t anything, and you have opened the garbage disposal also, but in vain, you need to clean and unclog the kitchen sink drain to normalize the operation.

How to Deal with Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain?

It is difficult but crucial to clean the kitchen sink drain now and then to keep it clean and clog-free. The kitchen sink drain can still clog if you do not send clogs while washing the dishes because the oil that flows through with the water causes the drain to slow down and clog ultimately.

However, if you ever face this issue, there is nothing to worry about because it is a common issue, and you can easily resolve it without professional assistance. This guide will explain the kitchen sink drain’s unclogging and cleaning method.

How to Clean Kitchen Sink Drain?

Cleaning or unclogging the kitchen sink drain is easier. However, when it comes to the kitchen sink drain, avoid chemical cleaning because it can sometimes make the clog even more severe. Therefore, follow the below simple steps to clean your kitchen sink drain.

Check the Garbage Disposal

If your sink contains a garbage disposal, it can cause your sink drain to clog. If the garbage disposal is the culprit, you must turn it on to break the clog. If the disposal is overheated or dysfunctional, it may not even turn on, but you can activate the reset switch at the side or bottom of the unit. After resetting the unit, try turning the disposal on again.

Pour Boiling Water

If the drain clog is due to debris like hair, grease, and soap residue, boiling water may be the ultimate solution to loosen the blockage. This method is the easiest and should be your first choice for cleaning the kitchen sink drain.

Put half a gallon of water to a boil.
Pour the boiling water directly into the drain opening.
Turn on the faucet to check if the water flows through normally or if it slows down and builds up in the sink.
Please remember that this method is not applicable if you use PVC pipes because they can melt and get damaged by boiling water.
If the boiling water cannot clear the clog, it is an extremely stubborn clog.

Use the Plunger

If you have turned on the disposal and tried the boiling water method, you must take out the plunger. A flat-bottomed plunger is useful for clearing sink drain clogs.

Create a seal around the drain, and fill the sink with hot water.
Place the plunger over the drain and begin pumping up and down quickly.
Remove the plunger and wait to see if the water drains.
Hold on and wait for the results.
Repeat the process until the water drains freely.
If the plunger cannot solve your problem, you must try another method.

Use Plumber’s Snake

A plumber’s snake is a plumbing tool using a steel hook to remove the clogs from the drains. It has a long wire, so it is useful to unclog the drains. If the blockage is resistive and requires force to come out, it is an extremely stubborn clog.

Send the wire down the drain, and if you feel any obstruction, you need to pull back the spiral hook through the wire. The clogs that put up a fight will require the strength of a plumber’s snake to battle the blockage. Electric snakes are also available in the market.

Using Vinegar, and Baking Soda

Using baking soda and vinegar is the natural alternative to chemical drain cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are available in each home, and you need to make the perfect combination to clear the clog.

Eliminate the build-up water from the sink with a cup or bowl.
Put one cup of soda down the drain.
Let one cup of white vinegar flow down the drain opening.
Wait for half an hour to let the chemical reaction happen and neutralize the clog.
Use boiling water after the mixture to clean the drain properly.

Clean the P-Trap

If your drain does not clear after applying all the methods, the issue might be with the p-trap. Many food particles and other blockages can halt the water flow in the p-trap. Therefore, you should also disengage and clean the p-trap to ensure no stone is left unturned. If the problem persists, you should call a professional.

Conclusion

Many methods to clean kitchen sink drains are applicable to drain clogs. Chemical cleaning is normally avoided in case of kitchen sink drain clogging. Other methods like pouring in the boiled water, vinegar, and baking soda, cleaning the p-trap, and turning on the garbage disposal are still effective in unclogging the kitchen sink drain.