A clogged sink is a homeowner’s nightmare. Foul odors sometimes rise from the drain, and you might hear a disconcerting gurgle. You could try to ignore the problem, but that won’t do you any good. The longer you wait to unclog a bathroom sink, the bigger the issue will become. So, you need to diagnose the reason behind the clogged bathroom sink then see if you can get water flowing again. Here are some ways you can do just that.
Reasons a Bathroom Sink is Clogged
Bathroom sinks can get easily clogged, especially by one of the four following things:
Soap Scum
When soap meets magnesium and calcium present in your water, a chemical reaction occurs, creating sticky soap scum that forms clogs.
Hair
Wet hair can easily clump and tangle when wet. Sometimes, hair catches on the pipe walls and will mix with soap scum.
Something in the P-Trap
The p-trap’s shape leads to items, like caps, soap, earrings, and so on, to get stuck there and clog the sink.
Damaged Piping
Pipes inevitably corrode, rust, and get damaged throughout the years.
How to Unclog a Bathroom Drain
Once you know the reason behind the clogged bathroom drain, you can select the method for remedying the congestion. You can also run through the following list from top to bottom to be safe.
You will notice that no chemical cleaners are recommended. Chemicals can damage your pipes further and are not environmentally-friendly. With that in mind, here is how to unclog a bathroom drain:
Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Unscrew the drain, removing the stopper.
- Measure 1 cup vinegar and ½ cup baking soda.
- Pour the baking soda into the drain first.
- Pour the vinegar.
- Let the mixture sit for about 8-10 minutes. Once the fizzing stops, run hot water.
- Repeat 2-3 times.
Caustic soda/sodium hydroxide also works extremely well. Leave it in the drain for around 30 minutes.
Plunging
- Remove the drain and stopper.
- Seal the overflow with either tape or a rag. Put towels down.
- Fill the basin with tepid water.
- Submerge the plunger, creating an airtight seal.
- Pump the plunger. Movements should be quick and sharp.
- Test the drain to see if the water goes down. If not, repeat.
Clearing the P-Trap
- Put a bucket under the p-trap before loosening the nuts.
- Remove the p-trap, letting water drain into the bucket.
- Look for objects that could be clogging the pipe.
- Clean it with a toothbrush.
- Re-fasten the p-trap to see if water drains.
Snaking
If you have a plumbing auger/snake, you can use it in this final step:
- Remove the p-trap and stopper.
- Begin threading the snake down the drain.
- When you reach the clog, move the snake up and down and rotate it.
- You will feel the clog dislodge.
- Remove the auger and re-assemble the sink.
- Check to see if water drains.
Did none of the tips work? Then you may have a problem that requires more than a simple fix. Call a professional plumber. They have the tools and the knowledge to figure out what is keeping the water from draining down your bathroom sink. Once the problem is found, they will deal with it accordingly.
