Food waste, grease, fat. These are all culprits that can block your kitchen sink, causing back ups and slow draining water. Not what you want when you’ve got a pile of washing up to get through. Plunging your arms elbow deep into greasy water isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with our latest blog on how to unclog your kitchen sink.
What Causes Blocked Kitchen Sinks?
The biggest cause of a blocked kitchen sink is grease and food waste. It’s important to ensure you aren’t pouring fat or cooking grease down the sink. You should pour it into a container and dispose of it in the bin. Similarly with food waste, properly scrape plates into the bin or compost. You might also want to consider a drain protector to trap any bits of food you may have missed.
What Are the Signs of a Blocked Kitchen Sink?
If your kitchen sink is blocked, you might notice the following:
- Slow draining water (or not draining at all)
- Strange smells coming from the sink
- Gurgling sounds
How to Unblock Your Kitchen Sink
There are a few methods you could try to unblock your kitchen sink before calling in professional help, and we’ve listed these below for you.
Baking powder + vinegar
Pour two teaspoons of baking powder (or bicarbonate of soda) down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Leave it for around five minutes, during which time you can boil the kettle. Once boiled, pour the water down the drain to try to flush the clog.
Washing powder
You can also use washing powder, as it can be especially effective against grease. Pour a couple of tablespoons down the sink, followed straight after with boiling water.
Natural drain cleaner
A biological cleaner is a safe way to clean out your drain as it won’t cause the same damage as harsh chemicals such as bleach can. Natural cleaners use enzymes to break down blockages. You can usually pick these up online or in your supermarket.
Drain auger
You can pick up a drain snake or auger at most hardware shops. You simply push the auger down the drain until you reach the blockage. Then, just pull out the blockage. Be sure to have a bucket or container to hand to put the blockage into once it’s out.
Plunger
Plungers are good for tougher clogs as the suction force can often dislodge those stubborn blockages. Make sure you have to hand a plunger, rubber gloves, towels, a cloth or rag and a cup. Use the cup to remove any excess water that’s stuck in the sink. Then, use the rag to seal the sink overflow hole (the hole just below the tap). Lay out your towels on the floor to mop up any excess water and to protect your floor.
Next, remove the plughole and give it a good clean. If you can see any blockages that aren’t too far down, you can try to remove them yourself. Replace the plughole and grab your plunger. Stick the plunger cup over the plughole and press down to form a seal. Running some water to a few cm deep will help. Then, firmly pump the plunger up and down repeatedly. If you hear a gurgling noise, this may mean the blockage is gone.
For more serious blockages, call the team at Trents Drains. We treat blocked drains in Bristol and the South West and our team has years of experience. Call 0117 949 0155 today.
