Home Remedies for Clogged Sink Drains

Homeowners commonly deal with having a clogged sink. While drain cleaner usually does the trick, you might not have it on hand at home. Instead, try some of these natural home remedies to unclog your sink simply and quickly.

Step 1 – Use a Plunger

First, fill the sink basin with water. Block any alternative outlets, such as the sink overflow, and then start to push the plunger with several strong strokes. If the blockage isn’t bad, the plunger should solve the blockage by bringing up any debris and waste fragments.

Step 2 – Pour Boiling Water

If the above step didn’t work, you should try the boiling-water method next. It’s simple and free. If the blockage is not substantial, pouring boiling water down the drain from a kettle will likely fix the problem.

Be careful when handling boiling water to not get any on yourself, and if you do, seek first aid immediately.

Step 3 – Use Baking Soda

If the drain still remains blocked, try pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Afterward, pour about 3 cups of boiling water to follow it. The baking soda and the water should cause a reaction that can move through the clog.

Adding Vinegar

If this method doesn’t work on its own, you can add vinegar to the baking soda. This method is great for clearing up grease in your pipes. Pour the baking soda down the drain as explained above, and then follow it with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Afterward, cover the drain for a few hours to let the baking soda and vinegar react. You can flush it with boiling water afterward.

Adding Salt

If you don’t have vinegar, or you’d prefer to use salt, you can pour 1/2 cup of salt followed by 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain to clear it. As in the above directions, flush it with boiling water.

If the home remedies above don’t resolve your clogged sink drain, you may need to resort to professional advice or chemical products.