If the water in your sink does not drain after a minute or two, you most likely have a slow-running drain. Slow running or clogged bathroom sink drains are a common household problem regularly caused by hair clumps or residue from hygiene products that have built up and eventually caused a blockage. Many people rely on chemical solutions to unclog bathroom sinks as a quick fix, but many more practical and non-corrosive ways solve the problem.
Also, many people avoid dealing with a clogged drain and don’t unclog bathroom sinks in their homes. But if left unnoticed, the problem can amplify to an entirely blocked pipe that is much harder to deal with. It doesn’t have to be challenging to figure out how to unclog bathroom sinks and if your bathroom sink is clogged and you’re ready to find a solution, follow the steps below.
Using boiling water to unclog bathroom sinks
Before explaining the benefits of boiling water to unclog bathroom sinks, you must know that if the residential plumbing drainpipes in your bathroom are made from PVC, this method is not recommended due to the chance of melting your pipes.
Using boiling water can be an excellent remedy to unclog bathroom sinks if the blockage is caused by residuals, built-up chemicals, and soap scum. Fill up a pot or a kettle with water and bring it to a boil. When your water is ready, pour it directly down the drain in 4 to 6 increments of approximately half a cup and wait for it to unclog bathroom sinks.
It is important to note that your drain must be empty when pouring the water in, make sure to do this at least 15 to 20 minutes after the last time you used the sink’s faucet. If the reasons for the blockage were chemical residuals or soap scum, this method would easily unblock bathroom sinks.
Using vinegar and baking soda to unclog bathroom drains
Another easy DIY method that almost anyone can do instantly to unclog bathroom sinks is to use baking soda and vinegar. When vinegar and baking soda are combined, they have a chemical reaction that produces a lot of bubbling and fizzing that removes all stubborn stains and gunk that may be stuck in the drain, clearing bathroom sinks.
To unclog bathroom sinks with this method, you will need approximately 1/3 to 1/4 of a cup of both ingredients. Pour your baking soda down the gutter, then follow it with the vinegar; leave the mixture in the drain for approximately 24 hours to see the full effect.
We must say that it’s pretty important to not mix your baking soda with the vinegar outside the drain because you want the reaction to occur where the clogging is, and doing it outside of the drain and then pouring it in is very counterintuitive and might not unclog bathroom sinks.
Using a plunger
One of the easiest DIY methods to unclog bathroom sinks is using a plunger. Plungers are helpful for almost any type of clogging if you catch the problem at its early stages and do not let it grow into a total blockage, but it is vital to use the correct type of plunger. Standard toilet plungers have a flange at the end that restricts your plunging abilities when it comes to unclogging bathroom sinks. To unclog bathroom sinks, you must use a cup plunger.
To use this method to unclog bathroom sinks, first, you need to remove the drain stopper. This step is crucial because if you don’t remove the drain stopper, you will only be closing and opening the stopper instead of plunging your pipes. The second step is to center the plunger over your drain and place it on it to create a perfect seal, then move it up and down with a little force.
But beware that the gunk and trash stuck in your drain may come up to the sink with plunging, so be prepared to clean them out and not let them go back in the drain.
Unclog bathroom sinks with a wet-dry vacuum
Sometimes when dealing with a commercial plumbing blockage, the drains don’t clear by using boiling water, baking soda or a plunger. In that case, using a dry-wet vacuum can be a powerful way to unclog bathroom sinks, sucking everything loosened up or softened by the other methods and bringing them to the surface.
The first step to unclog bathroom sinks with a vacuum is to put your vacuum to the highest setting and cover the end of the hose with a towel to prevent any clumps from getting into your vacuum. Place the cloth-covered hose directly on top of your drain and seal the drain. Open your faucet and raise the water just over the towel to make an even better vacuum. Lastly, turn on the wet and dry vacuum, keep it on top of the drain, and watch it take care of business.
If you do this correctly, hopefully, you will hear your vacuum unclog bathroom sinks and bring gunk and hard minerals up in no time.
Using a drain snake or a wire
If none of the other methods worked to unclog bathroom sinks and send the residuals out of your pipes and into industrial plumbing systems, this one will surely do the trick. This method is saved for last because it’s the most involved and labor-intensive.
Drain snakes are coiled metal wires that have a broader tip to efficiently and effectively collect hair or destroy obstacles in their way. You can buy these coils at any hardware store and use them to unclog bathroom sinks. But if you don’t want to invest in a complete drain snake kit, you can use a hanging wire, straighten it and bend the end to shape it like a hook. Stick it down the drain and pull all the hair out. A drain snake does the same but is more advanced.