It can be really frustrating when you go to the washroom and see that the bathroom sink is clogged. You instantly think of calling a plumber as it might seem a daunting and a dirty task. However, in reality, it is not as difficult to unclog a bathroom sink with standing water, and it does not have to get messy as you might think.
You can easily do it yourself with a little bit of knowledge and the right tools which you already have at home. In this article we will tell you how to unclog a bathroom sink with standing water easily without having to buy anything extra or making an effort or getting dirty.
What Causes Sink Clogs?
There are numerous reasons why your bathroom sink is clogged. The most common ones include:
- Hair
When we wash our hair in the sink, comb them, or even shave, the hair goes in the drain. Over time, they can clog the drain.
- Soap Residue
Some soaps end up clogging the drain. The only option is to change your soap if you feel that it is the culprit.
- Toiletries
Things like paper towels, cotton swabs, and floss can cause the drain to clog.
- Damaged Pipes
While it is rare but damaged pipes may be the reason for your clog problems. It usually happens in homes that are quite old.
How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
1. USE HOT WATER
You must be wondering “how to unclog a bathroom sink clogged with hair?” as one of the common reasons behind bathroom clogging are hair which get trapped with passage of time. There is no expertise required to open such a drain. In fact, it is so simple that you don’t need to call a plumber and spend money.
You can do it yourself by simply boiling water in a kettle and then pouring it down the drain. The hot water should remove all the impurities without much hassle. The process may require several attempts depending on the blockage. Be careful when pouring boiling water down the drain.
There are numerous cases where people have suffered burns due to the hot wait. What happens is that as the drain is blocked, the water splashes out suddenly, leading to burns. Therefore, exercise caution. We highly recommend wearing gloves and clothes which cover your entire body.
2. USE A PLUNGER
If the boiling water does not work, you can always use a good old method of using a plunger to open the bathroom sink. If there is heavy blockage the plunger will surely remove all the obstacles. It is recommended that you use a flat-bottomed plunger instead of toilet plunger as its design is more suitable for opening the bathroom sink and may require a few attempts only.
You need to half fill the sink preferably with hot water and then position the plunge accordingly and then pump it. Again, we recommend that you exercise caution. The reason is that the hot water might cause burns. Therefore, wear the right protective equipment.
3. USE A BAKING SODA
Whenever there is mention about cleaning, one cannot ignore the use of baking soda. It is more of a universal cleaner and can be used almost everywhere including bathroom unclogging. Moreover, you do not need to go to a shop and buy expensive chemicals to open the sink. Baking soda is already present in your kitchen. So how to unclog a bathroom sink with baking soda? Use a cup and pour the baking soda in the drain. You may require a spatula to shove down the baking soda. Leave the baking soda for 15 minutes and put a stopper to close the drain. After 15 mins, disconnect the stopper and turn on hot water and let it go down the drain. The baking soda will do what its supposed to do and remove the blockage and clear the drainage.
4. PLUMBER’S SNAKE
The best way to unclog the bathroom sink is by using a plumber’s snake. This tool consists of a twisted spiral snake that can easily go down the drain until it reaches the obstacle. You can easily remove the obstacle by pulling it up through the drain. You can make a temporary plumber’s snake if you don’t have it at home. Use a wire hanger and cut it so that it becomes a long wire. Use the hangers hook as an obstacle grabber and pull out the debris. Make sure you adjust the hook’s angle and don’t push it hard down the drain that forces the obstacle to go even deeper.
5. P-TRAP CLEANING
If none of the aforementioned techniques work, then it means there is blockage in the sink’s P-trap. It is a pipe under the sink which is like an elbow shaped and is made up of plastic. Debris gets stuck in the P-trap which results in slow or no sink drainage. You need to open the P-trap and manually clean the pipe. Wear a glove and goggles to keep yourself protected as it can get dirty. When you open the P-trap, place a bucket under it since it will remove water and debris immediately.
6. Call a Plumber
If nothing works, then the last option is to call a plumber. Do not call the first plumber that comes up on the screen when you search for ‘plumbing services’ on Google. Instead, do a little research. Talk to at least five people/businesses, read their customer reviews, and compare their quotes.
One more thing. When the plumber is working on unclogging your sink, do not sit wait around idly. Instead go into the washroom and see what the plumber is doing to unclog the sink. So, if the issue reoccurs, you can unclog the sink yourself rather than call a plumber.
Conclusion
These are the top tips on “how to unclog a bathroom sink with standing water.” If you have any questions or suggestions, let us know. We would like to hear from you regarding which method proved most effective in unclogging your washroom sink.
