How do I clean a sink drain?

Lucy Large
by Lucy Large
+1
Answered
  4 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 22, 2019

    Hi Lucy,


    1/cup baking soda followed by 1 cup white vinegar, when the fizzing stops, rinse well with hot tap water.

  • Betsy Betsy on Nov 22, 2019

    Hello Lucy: This looks long and complicated, but it's not. Well, it is long, but not complicated:)

    If stopped up, get a really long zip tie, cut slits going down the side, one on the right, one on the left, all the way along to the bottom and twist it. Then, tie a string on the top really securely, and tie that around your finger. This will keep it from falling down the drain:) Then, stick it into the drain and jiggle it around and lift it out to see if anything stuck to it. If so, do it a few more times to get as much gunk out as you can.

    Then, You will need this:

    A small box of baking soda

    1/2 cup vinegar

    1 quart of water

    Directions

    1. Bail out any standing water .
    2. Dump about 1/2 of a box of dry baking soda down the drain.
    3. Get your plunger or stopper ready and at your side, and be prepared to hold it down tightly.
    4. Put a cloth in the overflow hole tightly, it's usually near the top of the sink or by the front of a bath tub.
    5. Following the baking soda, pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain.
    6. Immediately after you pour it in, plug the drain with the plunger or stopper, or whatever you have that can seal the opening, covering the drain hole completely so nothing can escape.
    7. HOLD TIGHT!The interaction of the vinegar and baking soda will cause a “mini volcano” that will come up and out of the drain if you don’t keep it down there, to bust out your clog.
    8. After the initial “volcano” subsides, leave the baking soda and vinegar mixture in the drain for about 30 minutes. While you are waiting, boil a tea kettle full of water.
    9. After 30 minutes, remove the stopper or plunger and slowly pour the boiling water down the drain.
    10. This should take care of the clog. You may have to do it twice, but usually not.

    Good luck




  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 22, 2019

    Remove as much as possible with a snake or drain cleaning tool. Pour ½ cup baking soda then ½ cup white vinegar in the drain and cover, letting sit for 20 minutes. Boil water, remove cover, and pour water down the drain. You may have to repeat the process.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Nov 26, 2019

    They sell a barbed plastic strip at any home improvement store that is specifically designed for sink drains. They are cheap (like $2). You put it down the drain then twist it and pull back out. I recommend using gloves for this. It's going to be gross.