Dealing with a blocked sink in your kitchen is another level of inconvenience; not only does it mean plumbing issues in your home, but it can also get in the way of your food preparation, and even pose a health hazard if the odours attract pests. Luckily, there are a number of easy and effective methods to unblock your kitchen sink - so let’s take a look.
The first step in addressing a blocked kitchen sink is identifying what typically causes these blockages: in most cases, everyday items like food remnants, cooking grease, coffee grounds, and even small objects like bottle caps are the culprit. However, among these, grease is particularly troublesome: fat and grease tends to solidify inside the pipes, creating a stubborn blockage that captures other debris, creating what is humorously known as a “fatberg”.
Before you embark on any unblocking endeavour, you’re going to want to make sure you’re prioritising safety. Always wear durable gloves to protect your hands from dirt, debris, and harmful bacteria, and if you're considering using chemical drain cleaners, make sure the kitchen is well-ventilated and you’re wearing a mask and protective eyewear (this is to prevent any accidental splashes from harming your eyes).
Several DIY methods can be effective in clearing a blocked kitchen sink, but one of the simplest methods is to use hot water, which can help dissolve some forms of grease-based blockages. Pouring it down the drain may sometimes be enough to clear mild clogs, but do make sure not to pour boiling water down PVC pipes, which tend to be frailer than other pipe materials.
Alternatively, you can try using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar: this mix can be poured down the drain to help break down the blockage. Leave it for a few minutes, then follow up with hot water to flush out the dislodged debris.
A DIY classic, another way you can unblock your kitchen sink is through using a plunger: simply place it over the drain and pump vigorously. This action can create enough pressure to dislodge a blockage, especially if it’s caused by organic material - but you’ll want to make sure to wash your kitchen sink thoroughly afterwards, especially if the plunger has already been used elsewhere in your home.
For more stubborn blockages, a drain snake or auger can be a more effective tool. For the uninitiated, a drain snake is exactly as it sounds: a flexible rod that can be inserted into the drain to physically break up or retrieve the obstruction. This method is particularly useful for blockages that are located deeper in the pipe and cannot be resolved with plunging or boiling water - but you’ll want to be careful using this, as it can damage weak or frail pipes if you’re too vigorous.
Finally, chemical drain cleaners can help a blocked kitchen sink, but we’d always advise to use these with caution; this is because these cleaners can be incredibly harsh on your plumbing system, not to mention how bad they are for the environment! When using a chemical cleaner, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and use them minimally rather than relying on them to clear every blockage in your home.
Preventing future blockages is as important as knowing how to unblock your sink - and costs much less time and money than any of the above unblocking efforts! To avoid clogs, you simply have to be mindful of what goes down your drain: avoid disposing of grease and oil in the sink, and use a sink strainer to catch food particles and other debris. Regularly cleaning your sink with hot water and dish soap can also help prevent the buildup of grease and soap scum, and keep your plumbing system running smoothly.
So, if your sink remains blocked after trying several of the above DIY methods, it might be a good idea to consider professional help from a plumber, or from expert drain unblockers in East London like us at FS Drainage. After all, persistent or recurrent blockages often do usually indicate a more serious issue in your plumbing system, and professionals - like us - have the necessary expertise and equipment to effectively examine and resolve more severe or complicated blockages.
While a blocked kitchen sink can be a massive nuisance, sometimes all you need to do is put some handy DIY methods to the test - and who knows, you might get things running again in no time! And if your efforts seem fruitless, there’s always the option of calling for professional help: at FS Drainage, we can help you with any and all plumbing problems or queries, whether it be a blocked kitchen sink, a leaking washing machine, or intruding tree roots.
