A clogged kitchen sink can be a nightmare for those working in the kitchen. From doing dishes to washing fruits, several activities can come to a halt if your kitchen sink is clogged. Compared to a regular sink, a double kitchen sink can be harder to unclog. But before dialing in for professional help, you can follow these steps on how to unclog a double kitchen sink and solve the problem yourself!
Things You’ll Need
Here are a few items that you will need to unclog your sink yourself.
Baking Soda
White Distilled Vinegar
Sink Plunger
Pliers
Step 1: Add baking soda over the drain
The easiest and first method to unclog your sink is to use baking soda and vinegar. Slowly pour a cup of baking soda on the clogged side of the sink, on top of the drain. Wait for 3-4 minutes. Now add a cup of white distilled vinegar to the same drain and plug it.
You will hear some fizzing sounds as the baking soda and vinegar form a chemical reaction and break the blockage apart. Leave your sink for 10 minutes in this state before running hot water over the drain to rinse out the baking soda and vinegar.
- If the water still does not run through smoothly, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Pour down boiling water over the drain
Sometimes, if the blockage is big or your drainage pipe has accumulated solidified residue over time. In this case, pouring down hot boiling water directly into the sink drain can help melt the residue and push the clog out of the pipes. Be careful with this step, as pouring the water rashly can result in hot water splashing on you. While you can carry this out without using baking soda and vinegar, we recommend otherwise.
- If the sink still does not unclog, move to the next step for unclogging your sink.
Step 3: Block the drain on the unclogged side of the sink
The time has now come to apply the plunger method to unclog your sink. For this, first, block the unclogged side of the sink to create pressure. Use the drain plug that came with your sink, or if you have misplaced it, you can stuff a towel into the drain. To ensure that your plunger works properly, create a tight seal on this side of the sink. You can also ask for someone for help to hold the plug down as the pressure build-up from the plunger can loosen it up.
Step 4: Fill the clogged side with 3-4 inches of water
Next, fill the clogged side of the sink with the warmest water you can handle. Make sure there is at least 3-4 inches of water in the sink; otherwise, the plunger will not fit and seal around the drain properly. Alternatively, you can skip this step if you already have standing water in the sink (as it is clogged).
Step 5: Place the plunger and pump for 30 seconds
To unclog your sink, place the plunger in a way that the rim of its cup is pressed around the drain. Slightly push it down to make sure that it forms a tight seal around the drain. Keep the handle vertical so the plunger does not lose its suction. Now start pushing it straight down and pull it up quickly but not forcefully to create suction. Continue this movement for up to 30 seconds to loosen the clog in your pipes.
- Now run water to see if the sink is unclogged. If, not repeat the plunging for another 30 seconds.
- If plunging does not help, move over to the next step to unclog your sink.
Step 6: Place a bucket under the sink’s drainage pipe and unscrew the trap
If baking soda, boiling water, and plunging did not work, it means the blockage may be in the U-shaped section of the drainage pipe under your sink, known as the trap. So, now you will want to clean your trap for unclogging your sink. Place a large bucket under the trap and unscrew the nuts on either side of the trap. First, try turning them counterclockwise with your hand to see if they come loose. If they are too tight, grip them with a pair of pliers and continue loosening them until you detach the trap.
Step 7: Try to remove the blockage from the trap with a wire hanger
Straighten up a wire hanger and push one end of it into the trap as far you can take it. If you meet resistance, push and pull the hanger to break the clog apart and loosen it from wherever it is stuck in the trap. Let the clog fall into the bucket alongside any accumulated water in the pipe and dispose of it.
Step 8: Rinse the trap and reattach it
Finally, to unclog your sink, rinse the trap thoroughly. Hold it under the hot water faucet and run the water through each of its sides. This will make any debris or remaining residue from the clog wash off. Reattach the trap by screwing the nut tightly back into place.
You may use your hands to do this, but we recommend using a screwdriver for the job. Now turn on your hot water faucet and run water on each side of the sink. If it doesn’t back up, you have successfully unclogged your sink.
- If the water is still not flowing down smoothly, the blockage may be deeper in your pipe, and in this case, consider calling a plumber to unclog your sink.
Our Final Thoughts
There are many reasons why your double kitchen sink may be clogged, so looking into what could have caused the blockage can help you determine faster as to which method will work best for you. In our guide on how to unclog a double kitchen sink, we presented the steps in chronological order as to what you should try first, moving toward the last resort. We hope the steps shared above can help you unclog your sink in a hassle-free way.
