Blocked sink – how to deal with it? Check out our tips!

Is the water in your sink draining more and more slowly? Do you hear that tell-tale gurgling? Or has it already become completely blocked? A blocked washbasin is a common occurrence that has happened in every household at least once. How do you unblock a badly blocked sink? More on that below. Read on!

Blocked sink: the most common causes

Proper water flow through the washbasin is essential; without it, you can’t use it. A sink can become blocked in many ways, depending on where it is located. In the kitchen, food scraps or coffee grounds or tea leaves that go into the pipes while washing up can cause a blockage. In the bathroom, the main reason for a blocked washbasin is hair going down the drain while washing or from shaving, but it can also be, for example, sizeable pieces of bar soap or undissolved bath bombs.

The causes listed are just the most popular ones. There can be many more, so it’s better to prevent than to worry about unblocking. In the kitchen, fit special strainers over the sink drains, and in the bathroom try to limit hair going down and remember to clear it from the drain regularly. What should you use to unblock a sink if a blockage has already formed? There are several ways.

How to unblock a sink?

Blocked sink: the water is standing and you don’t know what to do? Wondering how to clear the sink? The task will certainly take a bit of time, but there’s a very good chance you’ll manage without a professional. Where to start? It’s worth distinguishing two main ways to deal with the problem: home methods and specialist ones.

Home methods for a blocked sink

How can you clear a sink without a professional or specialist chemical products? Is it even possible? It turns out it is! There are several options and, most importantly, you can find them among the products you have in the kitchen.

The first home method uses a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. How do you unblock a sink with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda? It’s very simple: just mix these in a glass in equal parts, then pour into the drain and flush with hot water. The bicarbonate of soda will react with the vinegar to produce foam — wait 15–30 minutes before rinsing it away. After that time, the sink should be unblocked.

Citric acid can also prove helpful. Dissolve two sachets of this product in warm water, then pour into the drain. After a short while, pour plenty of hot water down and the washbasin should clear.

Home methods are a great solution if you’re worried about, or simply don’t want, highly caustic chemicals in your home. They’re also a more environmentally friendly option and, above all, safer for the entire plumbing system.

Blocked washbasin: specialist chemical products

It may happen that items from your kitchen supplies won’t cope with a blocked washbasin. What should you use to unblock a sink when home methods don’t work? It’s worth reaching for specialist chemical products for clearing pipes. You’ll easily find them in any supermarket, for example as gels or granules, which you simply pour or tip into the drain and wait a moment. After the time stated on the packaging, pour hot water into the washbasin and the pipes will clear.

Such products are highly caustic and require particular caution during use. Always handle them very sensibly, following the instructions provided. It’s very important to wear gloves while using them to protect your skin from accidental burns. You should also avoid inhaling the fumes that appear over the washbasin.

Plunger or a professional?

If home methods and chemical products haven’t solved your problem, you can try to unblock the sink with a plunger. With a bit of elbow grease it should work; if it doesn’t, it’s time to call in a professional, who will unscrew and clean the U-bend.

The above methods show how to clear the sink’s waste pipe. Remember that it’s easier to prevent than to struggle with the problem, so it’s worth giving the drain a clean at the first signs of blockage. Try the suggested methods and find the best solution for you.