Blocked sink – how to deal with it? Check out our tips!

Is the water in your sink draining more and more slowly? Hearing that tell‑tale gurgling? Or has it already become completely blocked? A clogged sink is a common occurrence that’s happened in every household at least once. How do you unblock a badly blocked sink? Read on below. We’d encourage you to keep reading!

Blocked sink: the most common causes

Proper water flow through the basin is essential; without it, you simply can’t use it. A sink can become blocked in many ways, depending on where it’s located. In the kitchen, leftover food or coffee and tea grounds can wash down into the pipes while you’re doing the dishes and create a blockage. In the bathroom, the main reason a basin gets clogged is hair going down the drain while washing or shaving, but it can also be, for example, sizeable bits of bar soap or undissolved bath bombs.

The causes listed above are just the most common ones. There can be many more, so it’s better to prevent blockages than worry about clearing them. In the kitchen, fit drain strainers in your sinks, and in the bathroom, try to limit hair going down the drain and remember to remove it from the waste regularly. What should you use to unblock a sink if a blockage has already formed? There are a few options.

How to unblock a sink

Blocked sink: the water is standing there and you’re not sure what to do? Wondering how to clear it? The job will take a bit of your time, but there’s a very good chance you’ll manage without calling in a professional. Where to start? There are two main approaches to tackle the problem: home methods and specialist ones.

Home remedies for a blocked sink

How do you clear a sink without a professional or special chemical agents? Is it even possible? It turns out, yes! There are a few ways, and the best part is you’ll find what you need among everyday kitchen products.

The first home method uses a mix of bicarbonate of soda (bread soda) and vinegar. How do you unblock a sink with vinegar and soda? It’s very simple: just mix them in a glass in equal parts, then pour into the drain and follow with hot water. The soda will react with the vinegar and produce foam — wait 15–30 minutes before rinsing it away. After that time, the sink should clear.

Citric acid can also help. Dissolve two sachets of it in warm water, then pour it into the drain. After a short while, pour plenty of hot water down, and the basin should unblock.

Home remedies are ideal if you’re wary of, or simply don’t want, highly caustic chemicals in your home. They’re also a more environmentally friendly choice and, above all, safer for the entire plumbing system.

Blocked basin and specialist chemical products

It can happen that kitchen-cupboard staples won’t sort a blocked basin. What should you use to unblock a sink when home methods don’t work? Reach for specialist chemical drain unblockers. You’ll easily find them in any supermarket, for example as a gel or granules that you simply pour into the drain and wait a bit. After the time stated on the packaging, flush the basin with hot water and the pipes should clear.

These products are highly caustic and require particular care during use. Always handle them sensibly and follow the instructions on the label. It’s very important to wear gloves to protect your skin from accidental burns. You should also avoid inhaling the vapours that rise from the basin.

A plunger or a professional?

If home methods and chemical products haven’t solved the problem, you can try to unblock the sink with a drain plunger. With a bit of elbow grease it should work; if it doesn’t, it’s time to call a professional, who will remove and clean the trap (U-bend).

The methods above show how to clear a sink waste pipe. Remember, it’s easier to prevent issues than to deal with them later, so it’s worth giving the drain a quick clean at the first signs of a blockage. Try the suggested methods and find the best solution for you.