How do you unblock a stubborn sink?

Author: Roger Berge  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Vinegar & Baking Soda Pour the baking soda into the drain first, followed by a generous glug of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes until the mixture has stopped fizzing and flush with hot water. Again, you may have to repeat this process a few times if it's not effective at first.

How do you unblock a sink that won't unblock?

How to unblock a sink without a plunger
  1. Bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) and white vinegar. ...
  2. Washing powder (biological) ...
  3. Alka Seltzers and white vinegar. ...
  4. Use a wire or tool to poke/pull out the blockage. ...
  5. Use a blast of water. ...
  6. Use a natural drain cleaner. ...
  7. Bleach and hot water.

What is the strongest thing to unclog a sink?

The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.

What can I pour down my sink to unblock it?

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Pour a cup of baking soda into the clogged sink and wait for about four minutes. Afterwards, pour a cup of vinegar down the same sink. Plug the sink and leave it for 10 minutes to break down the blockage. Afterwards, run hot water to see if the clog is gone.

How do you unclog a severely clogged drain?

Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.

How to Unblock Your Sink - Pro Tip

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

How do you unclog a sink asap?

All you need to do is simply bring a pot of water to a boil, and then slowly pour it down the drain once it has reached a rolling boil. You may have to repeat this a few times to fully clear the drain clog. Boiling water won't hurt your pipes in the bathroom sink, and you can repeat this method as many times as needed.

What is the best sink unblocker?

9 Best Drain Cleaners, Tested by Experts
  • Best Overall Drain Cleaner. Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover. Read more.
  • Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs. Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator. Read more.
  • Best Drain Cleaner for Kitchen Sinks. Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs. Read more.

What product will unclog a sink?

If your sink doesn't have a garbage disposal, use Drano® Kitchen Granules Clog Remover. It creates heat inside your drain to melt and dislodge greasy clogs.

What do professional plumbers use to unclog drains?

How Professional Plumbers Clean Your Drains
  • Manual Drain Snakes. A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. ...
  • Motorized Drain Snakes. ...
  • High-Definition Drain and Sewer Line Cameras. ...
  • Hydro-Jetting Machines.

Can hydrogen peroxide unclog a sink?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for unclogging a drain. It will dissolve and loosen natural matter—like skin cells—stuck in the pipes. Hydrogen peroxide also reduces germs and disinfects the drain, helping it smell fresher and clean.

What tool is used to unblock a sink?

Drain Rods & Plungers. Drain rods and plungers are handy household tools for unblocking clogged toilets, domestic pipes and drains. Our selection includes drain rods and toilet plungers from leading brands including Rothenberger, Minotaur and Draper.

How to unblock a sink full of water without a plunger?

How to Unblock a Sink Without a Plunger
  1. Run some boiling water down the drain. Put the kettle on and boil up some water. ...
  2. Pour a cup of baking soda. Put 1 cup of baking soda directly into the plughole. ...
  3. Add in a cup of vinegar. ...
  4. Wait. ...
  5. Wait and flush with boiling water. ...
  6. Repeat if necessary. ...
  7. Check the drain.

How do you unclog a stuck sink?

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.

How to make a homemade plunger?

Steps
  1. Use gloves to remove as much water and debris as possible.
  2. Fill up a large plastic bottle with hot water.
  3. Place your gloved thumb over the bottle's spout.
  4. Insert the bottle directly into your toilet bowl and remove your thumb from the opening.
  5. Use two hands to squeeze the bottle and force water pressure into the clog.

What is the best thing to unblock a sink with?

Make sure you clear any standing water in the sink first, then pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow this with a cup of vinegar, and immediately put the rubber stopper in the drain. The mixture will fizz, and push the clog down. Follow with hot water from the tap to finish flushing.

Can I leave Mr. Muscle overnight?

Using innovative drain unblocking technology, Mr Muscle's new biodegradable formula delivers the power to unclog bathroom drains in just 5 hours. Use it at night, let it work its magic and wake up to freely flowing drains.

What liquid can unclog a sink?

Liquid-Plumr ® Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel comes in a thick gel formula that works through the toughest drain clogs. Pour two cups (16 oz.) down the drain and wait 15 minutes. Then, flush the sink drain with hot water.

How do plumbers unclog sinks?

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.

Will a clogged sink eventually drain?

While it's not the end of the world, it won't cause immediate damage to your home and the water will eventually drain away, a slow drain is still a problem that needs to be fixed. A drain that is slow to empty will mean there is already a clog in the system and, over time, one that will only get worse.

What is the quickest way to unblock a drain?

Top 10 Ways To Unblock Your Household Drain
  1. #1: Use baking soda and vinegar. ...
  2. #2: Try baking soda and salt. ...
  3. #3: Unblock your drain with boiling water. ...
  4. #4: Unclog your drain with a snake. ...
  5. #7: Try soda crystals or washing powder. ...
  6. #9: Use a Zip-It.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.

How to unclog a drain that won't unclog?

Baking soda, water, and vinegar all mix and work together to break down the grime and gunk that clogs up drains. The baking soda is used to eat away and break down the clog, which is enhanced with the addition of vinegar.

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