The blocked kitchen sink is a recurring problem that many households face. From a small puddle of stagnant water, you can quickly move on to slow draining or a completely unusable sink.
Many people turn to products specifically created to solve this problem. However, they are ineffective most of the time, in addition to being sold at exorbitant prices. Fortunately, you can overcome this problem with simple products already available in your kitchen. Find out how to easily unclog your blocked kitchen sink.
What causes a blocked kitchen sink?
It is important to know the possible causes that can lead to a clogged kitchen sink. The most common are the accumulation of grease, debris or food residue in the evacuation system.
There is also the gradual accumulation of food scraps that are not removed from the dishes when you wash them. Improper detergents that are used can also contribute to this buildup which will certainly take quite a long time to disappear.
To prevent these blockages from forming, you can adopt certain habits such as frequently pouring coffee grounds down the drains. However, when the problem already exists, other remedies will have to be used.
How to unclog your blocked kitchen sink?
You will need 3 ingredients that are definitely in your kitchen. These are salt, baking soda and vinegar. They can be used in two different ways.
For the methods we will reveal to you to be much more effective, it is important to first pour a kettle of hot water into your pipes. By doing this, some of the debris will be able to loosen with the heat and be carried away.
You can also use a plunger if the blockage is still persistent. The role of the diver will be to cause pressure changes in the pipe in order to unstick and eliminate blockages.
The sink should be filled with enough water to cover the plunger and create a seal. Now let’s move on to the solutions to use for unblocking.
Using vinegar and baking soda
This first solution consists of pouring the bicarbonate into the siphon and waiting a few minutes before adding the vinegar. You will then have to let the two ingredients act.
You will notice, after another few minutes, that air bubbles will begin to form. This is a sign that the blockage is being resolved. Finally pour boiling water so that the debris that has been dissolved is flushed out.
The combination of vinegar and baking soda produces a chemical reaction that creates carbon dioxide. The reaction caused by these 2 ingredients contributes to the dissolution and evacuation of debris.
The use of coarse salt, bicarbonate and vinegar
For this second method, you will need to mix these 3 ingredients and pour the solution obtained into your pipe. After a few minutes, finally pour boiling water down your drain.
Adding salt helps break down food residue and grease that forms a blockage in the pipe.
It would be wise to call a plumbing expert when these natural solutions do not work. This professional in the field will be able to resolve the problem without causing irreversible damage to your pipes.
When the problem is resolved, remember to apply the prevention measures frequently.
Here are a few :
- use sink strainers to remove debris;
- do not pour leftover food into your kitchen sink;
- do not pour grease into it.This way, you will always keep your drainage system in fairly good condition.
