Reach For Your Sink Plunger
Take your plunger and put it in one side of the clogged sink. Take a washcloth or any rag and plug it into the opposite drain of the two basin sink (the side that will not be plunged). Begin applying some forceful pushes to one side of the sink and do this multiple times.
Over time, grease, food particles, and other debris can collect in the P-trap and cause a clog. If this happens, it can prevent water from flowing through the drains and lead to a double kitchen sink backing up to the other side. If you're comfortable doing so, remove the P-trap and look inside it for any blockages.
You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For clogged or slow-running drains, apply the product and let it work 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. For tough problems, allow 30 minutes before flushing.
Slow drains may not always be due to clogs.
Plumbing vents, soap buildup, and garbage disposal malfunctions are among the most common culprits. Understanding these different causes can help you better determine the best course of action to address the issue with your kitchen sink.
Simply pour a kettle-full of boiling water slowly down the drain, let it sit for a minute, then following with hot water from the tap. The boiling water will melt the grease and clear the clog.
Final Verdict. Our best overall pick for drain cleaners is Drano Max Gel Clog Remover, which also comes recommended by experts. We love that this formula works on every type of drain pipe and can clear just about any clog.
Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.
The national average cost to snake a drain professionally is about $250. For easy clogs, you can expect to pay as little as $100, but for complex clogs, the cost can escalate to $360 or more.
Kitchen sink clogs are usually caused by food. Food washed off of plates and down the drain can become trapped in the pipe system under the sink. Sinks usually have what's known as a P- or J-trap that catches larger items to keep them out of the rest of the pipe system in your home.
For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.
A drain blockage in the kitchen drain is almost always caused by drink and food particles. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in particular are known to clog pipes and cause a blocked drain in the kitchen. This is because when these materials are hot from cooking, they are liquid and can easily be poured down the drain.
Yes. This product is designed to pour through standing water. However, it is formulated to work effectively on slow flowing drains. Therefore, for particularly stubborn clogs that cause standing water in drains, we recommend using Liquid-Plumr® Urgent Clear®.
It is Extremely Corrosive For Your Drains
When your pipes are clogged, Drano will sit on top of the clog, continually reacting and generating heat until the clog dissolves. This can put a great deal of stress on your drains as the heat can cause PVC pipes to soften and even break or collapse.
It is not a great drain clog remover. Bleach has no effect in dissolving the common culprits of household drain clogs, like hair, food scraps and grease. Also, pouring bleach can harm the integrity of your drains and pipes. It's a lose-lose scenario.
Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes
When a drain snake is inserted into a pipe, the end may flop around, scratching the pipe. If the operator isn't completely confident in their ability to control the drain snake, they may apply too much force on the device.
The chemicals in the product are designed to break own the clog, but if left for too long, they can start to break down the pipes themselves. This can lead to cracks and leaks in the pipes, leading to various issues, including water damage and flooding.
You need to make sure that you've securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can't do this, your auger won't work.
You can also pour vinegar down the drain on its own.
Pour about 1 cup of vinegar down your drain and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Vinegar has a very high acid content (which is why it's great on soap scum) and it will break down a good bit of the organic content that is stuck.
Can you leave baking soda in the drain overnight? It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain.