How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink

by Joshua Speaks

A sink can easily clog from a buildup of food or other debris. This blockage often results in water spilling onto the floor and creating a mess that's difficult to clean up. The following steps will guide you through how to unclog a kitchen sink in order to avoid these problems.

How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink

How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink
How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink

Step 1: Turn off the water supply valve located behind your faucet or underneath your sink before proceeding with any other steps. If you don't, it's possible for the sink contents to spill out while lifting it from its base, causing an even bigger mess than if you had left it alone.

Step 2: Use pliers or channel locks on the end of a plunger handle and insert this into one side of the drain opening.

I am here to share with you a few household tricks that will help you unclog your kitchen sink. If your sink is getting backed up and there are no leaks, this could be due to a build up of grease or food debris. The first thing I recommend trying is pouring boiling water down the drain followed by some baking soda.


If this doesn't work, try using an enzyme cleaner such as Drano Max Gel Clog Remover which breaks down the organic compounds at the root of clogs in drains, pipes and septic systems for fast-acting results.

  1. Clear the sink of any dishes or anything else that might be in it
  2. Place a bucket under the drain and open up the faucet, letting all of the water out
  3. Pour baking soda down into the drain to help loosen food particles stuck inside
  4. Use a plunger to create suction and push down on top of the clog until you feel it move
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 as necessary until you can't hear anymore gurgling from below your sink
  6. Flush hot water through your pipes for about 10 minutes to make sure everything is clean before turning off your faucet.

What is the best home remedy to unclog a kitchen sink?

The best way to unclog a kitchen sink is with a plunger. A plunger will create suction and force the clog loose. All you need to do is place the plunger over the drain hole, pump it up and down vigorously for about 10 seconds, then release it. If this doesn't work, try using a chemical-free cleaner such as baking soda or vinegar followed by boiling water or hot dish detergent. If none of these methods work, contact your local plumber for assistance.

The kitchen sink is a hub of activity in the home. It's where we wash dishes, prepare food, and clean up after ourselves. The question isn't "if" you'll have to unclog your kitchen sink at some point but rather when? Here are 5 tried-and-true methods for unclogging a kitchen sink that can be used as needed:

  1. Pouring boiling water down the drain -Inserting an object such as a plunger or wet rag into the drain to create suction and pull out debris
  2. Using chemical products like bleach or baking soda and vinegar solutions
  3. Filling the basin with boiling water and plunging it up and down vigorously until it clears itself out
  4. Calling a plumber.

How do you unclog a double kitchen sink?

The kitchen sink is one of the most used appliances in any household. It's not uncommon for it to become clogged with food, hair, soap scum and other unmentionables. If this happens to you, don't worry! There are many ways to unclog a double kitchen sink that will work well on your particular situation. Read on for some tips that may be helpful in clearing out your pipes.

  1. Put a bucket under the clogged sink
  2. Fill the bucket with hot water and dish soap
  3. Pour boiling water over the dishes in your blocked sink, then pour cold water to cool it off
  4. Cover your mouth with a towel or shirt to avoid inhaling any steam that may come up from the drain while you're pouring boiling water into it
  5. Use pliers to remove any gunk blocking the pipe before pouring more hot water down there again
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all of your dishes are unclogged.

Does anyone else have a double sink in their kitchen?

I can't even count the number of times I've had to unclog my two sinks. After trying every other product on the market, someone told me about using baking soda and vinegar--it worked! Now it's my go-to solution when one of my sinks becomes clogged. To get started, place some baking soda down your clogged drain before pouring in the vinegar. The mixture will bubble up and foam for a few minutes, which is actually what you want to happen because this means that it's working! Keep an eye on the bubbles until they stop all together or decrease significantly because if they don't then it could be time to call a plumber.


What is the easiest way to unclog a drain?

To avoid a clogged drain, don't pour grease down the sink or flush anything other than toilet paper and human waste down the toilet. Grease is hard to break down and will make a mess of your pipes if you try to clean it out later on. The easiest way to unclog a drain is by using baking soda and vinegar together as they are both natural cleaners that dissolve hair, soap scum, food particles, etc.


Bathroom drains are one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face. The easiest way to unclog a drain is with the use of an auger - this device is inserted into the pipe and used to remove any clogs. However, there are other methods that can be used if an auger isn't available or you just want another option.

One example is pouring boiling water down your drain which will force debris out of your pipes. You can also try using baking soda or vinegar to create a chemical reaction that loosens up the gunk in your pipes too.

About Joshua Speaks

Can’t think of a day that that Josh didn’t have a beer or two. Be it a long day of work or of nothing. Sometimes, it is a few packs even. Especially when there are familiars over.

His fridge is packed with beers: Heineken, Corona, Guinness, Budweiser, and all other wierd brands in between. He had to get a secondary 30 cu. fridge off Craigslist for more beer storage.

Sometimes he wonders if a day truly starts only after the first sip of beer for the day. Enough talk about Josh and his passion; that’s the reason for this beer blog and related items. Feel free to hit on him. Start with something like: “hey beer head!” You got the idea!

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