How to Unclog Your Kitchen the Expert Way — Tips Specialty Plumbers Recommend
The kitchen sink is a common place for clogs to form. They can be caused by food waste, grease or a malfunctioning garbage disposal, but there are several DIY options that homeowners can try before calling in a plumber.
Using a Coat Hanger to Unclog the Drain
A wire coat hanger is a handy tool for removing clogs that are too far down your drain for a plumber’s snake or a drain auger. Simply insert the wire into the clog to loosen it.
If that doesn’t work, try a plumbing snake, also called an auger. The snake has a flexible handle that you feed into the pipe until you feel resistance. You’ll want to pull it out once the clog is gone, but don’t push too hard because you could break the pipe.
Cleaning Your P-Trap
The curved part of your drain pipes is known as the P-trap, and it’s a potential cause of kitchen sink clogs. It’s important to clean it regularly to prevent clogs and ensure that water runs smoothly down your drain.
Another way to keep your kitchen drain free from buildup is to use a drain screen. These can be found in hardware stores and are a great investment for restaurants.
Vinegar is a great drain cleaner that’s easy to come by in most commercial kitchens. It can help remove a lot of the fats and oils that can clog your drains, says Sokolowski.
To prevent a clog from occurring, make sure you don’t pour grease down the drain and run hot water after each dishwashing session. This will wash the grease out of your pipes and prevent it from building up.
Alternatively, you can rinse your dishes in cold water and scrape them before throwing them away. This helps prevent the grime from accumulating in your pipes, which can back them up over time and lead to a clogged drain.
Baking Soda and Vinegar is a Homemade Drain Cleaner
One of the easiest ways to unclog your drain is to mix about a cup of baking soda with an equal amount of vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar will create a fizzy reaction that can loosen up your clog.
After the mixture sat for about 15 minutes, run some hot water down the drain to clear it up. Repeat this process if necessary until you have no standing water in the sink.
Boiled Water is a Quick and Easy Way to Unclog Your Kitchen
The next step after removing the clog is to boil a pot of water. Once the water is boiling, pour it down your sink in shifts, allowing each one to sit for a few seconds before you repeat.
This is a quick and easy way to unclog your kitchen sink without causing any damage to your plumbing. You might have to do this multiple times before the clog is completely removed, but it’s worth trying! You may even notice a difference in the way your drains drain afterward.
