How to Unblock a Sink

Are you getting an eggy smell from your sink, finding that it's not draining quick enough, or even at all? These can be signs of a serious plumbing problem, but it can also be a small issue which can quickly be resolved with one of these DIY solutions.

A plunger:

• Run some warm water in the sink
• Place the plunger over the sink hole – make sure nothing is preventing it from sitting flush against the sink
• If you have any exposed holes in the sink make sure they are covered with a wet cloth
• Using an up and down motion, move the plunger to suck out what's stuck inside the pipe
• Force from the plunger should dislodge any small blockage. If it is clear the warm water will drain away

Baking soda and salt:

• Remove any water that's in the sink
• Mix 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of salt
• Pour the mixture down the drain. You can use a spatula or knife to force the mixture down the drain
• Let the mixture sit for a minimum of 2 – 3 hours, ideally overnight
• Once it has been left to do it's magic, pour boiling water down the sink

Baking soda and vinegar:

• Pour ½ a cup of baking soda down the drain
• Pour ½ cup of white vinegar down the drain – do not mix the two beforehand, they react very quickly and you won't have a chance to get it to the sink quick enough!
• The mixture should take effect quite quickly; make sure that you follow with boiling water to flush out the blockage
• You may need to repeat this process a few times until the blockage is clear

If you have tried all the above suggestions and your sink is still blocked then call a plumber. Maintracts are available 24/7 – if you have a blocked drain get in touch.

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Image by Thiago Felipe Festa