How do you unclog a sink when a plunger doesn't work?

Author: Mina Price  |  Last update: Sunday, August 31, 2025

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.

How do you unblock a severely blocked sink?

Vinegar is effective at cutting grease and baking soda causes a reaction with vinegar that bubbles up and helps to remove blockages in the pipe. 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.

How to unclog a drain if you don't have a plunger?

Steps
  1. Ensure your toilet is half full with toilet water.
  2. Pour one cup of baking soda into the bowl followed by two cups of vinegar.
  3. Let the vinegar and baking soda sit for a half hour before flushing the toilet.
  4. In most cases, this simple method will clear a blocked toilet if you don't have a plunger handy.

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

Why? Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat destroying drain cleaner. Plus vinegar and baking soda are not surfactants, so they do not help water carry oil and grease away the same way that detergents can.

How do you unclog a sink when the stopper doesn't come out?

Use a Plunger

Just like you would when unclogging a toilet, place the plunger over the circle of the sink drain. Apply force in the direction of the drain to force air in, pushing down until the rubber cup is flattened and pulled out. The force of the vacuum seal should pull the stopper upward.

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How do you unblock a sink plunger that wont work?

If the plunger method doesn't work, you can try using the baking soda and vinegar to clear the blockage. Just pour a small amount of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar.

How to release a stuck plug-in sink?

Twist and pull

Don a rubber glove and push down on the plug, twisting it firmly anti-clockwise. No luck? Try spraying WD-40 onto the plug and letting it sit for a minute, then twisting and pulling again.

How do you unclog a drain that won't come unclogged?

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.

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.

Can boiling water unclog a drain?

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Boiling water helps break down grease and soap holding the clog together to clear the blockage. This method is easy and only requires one or two steps. Most important is to boil water on a stove using a kettle or saucepan.

What to do if clogged drain plunger doesn t work?

The dynamic duo of baking soda and vinegar can be a lifesaver in unclogging a toilet. Start by pouring about one cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by two cups of vinegar. This mixture will create a foaming action that can break down the clog. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, and then flush the toilet.

How do you unblock a sink full of water without a plunger?

Bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) and white vinegar

All you need to do is pop a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda down the plughole and chase it with a cup of white vinegar. Leave it for about five minutes and then try flushing the blockage with the hot kettle 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.

How to create suction without a plunger?

How to Unblock a Sink With Your Bare Hands When You Have No...
  1. Step 1: Fill the Sink With Warm Water. Fill the sink with hot water, if it's not already full. ...
  2. Step 2: Cover the Overflow. Put one hand over the over-flow to stop the air coming out. ...
  3. Step 3: Use Your Hand As a Plunger! ...
  4. Step 4: The Sink Is Unblocked!

What do professionals use to unblock drains?

Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.

Is hydrogen peroxide good for unclogging drains?

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 is the best item to unclog drains?

Plungers are good for food or organic material clogs. Or use an enzyme drain cleaner. Drain snakes are the best drain cleaner for hair clogs, whether the hair is natural or synthetic. If that doesn't work and the hair is natural, try a chemical drain opener.

How do I unclog a deep clog?

How To Unblock A Clogged Drain Deep In Pipe
  1. Using a Toilet Plunger or Plunger.
  2. Applying Baking Soda and Vinegar.
  3. Employing a Drain Snake or Plumbing Auger.
  4. Hydro Jetting Techniques.

Is baking soda and vinegar better than Drano?

It's definitely not strong enough to tackle serious food particles and microbial growth in a kitchen drain, though. While you can have better luck with a combination of baking soda and vinegar, it's best to use Dran-O, available at Target, or another chemical drain cleaner if your drain is clogged.

Will a clogged drain 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.

How do you unclog a plug drain?

All you have to do is pour 1 cup or baking soda down your drain and then follow it with 1 cup of vinegar. After your mixture is in the drain, seal the top of the drain and wait for about an hour so your concoction can start breaking down any clogs. After about an hour, rinse your drain a few times with boiling water.

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