You don’t need to reach for the bottle of Drano the next time your kitchen sink clogs up. In fact, there are many ways to unclog your sink without chemicals using things you already have in your house. Below you’ll find three of them.
Use a plunger: If you’ve got standing water in your sink, the best way to get it to go down the drain is to plunge it. You’ll need a plunger — but preferably not the one from your bathroom (yuck), so use a clean one. Place the plunger over the drain in your sink to create a suctioning effect and firmly pump up and down until the water begins to clear out. After all the stagnant water is out of the sink, run clean water down the drain to make sure it’s clear. If it isn’t, you’ll need to plunge again.
Dissolve it with baking soda and vinegar: If you don’t have a clean plunger on hand, you can use a tried-and-true cleaning technique with baking soda and vinegar. This creates a bubbling reaction that breaks up larger pieces of muck so that they’ll go down the drain easily. First, start off by boiling water in a kettle and then pour it down the drain. Next, pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. You may need to use a wooden spoon, rubber spatula or plastic utensil to help push the baking soda down the drain. After the baking soda sits, pour in a cup of white distilled vinegar. The combination will create a fizzy reaction to help loosen the clog. Use a stopper and plug the sink for about 15 minutes. During this time, boil another pot of water and pour it down the sink.
Clean the P-trap: If you’ve tried every option but your sink still won’t drain, you may need to clean the P-trap. This is the part located underneath the sink and is shaped like a U to keep debris and sewer gases from rising up through the drain. To clean it, carefully insert a straightened coat hanger through the opening in your sink to dislodge any foods that could be stuck in the drain. Unfortunately, if that doesn’t work, you’ll have to take the P-trap apart. Get some gloves, place a bucket underneath it, and unscrew it. Once it’s off, you can remove the bits inside it and reattach it to your sink.
