When the drain in your bathroom is clogged, it can cause quite a bit of mess in the area. Also, a stopped-up and slow-moving drain is a common issue in sinks, caused by certain objects and impurities, like hair and gummy soap scum, which can get caught on the stopper or pivot rod. Luckily, there are easy-to-perform fixes that would only take you a few minutes to finish. Here are steps you can take in order to clean a clogged bathroom sink and keep things staying clean in the area:
1. Apply Baking Soda And Vinegar.
Aside from being used to settle an upset stomach and add flavor to salads, baking soda and vinegar are often used as a simple household remedy in clearing the gook out of a clogged bathroom sink. To apply them, just pour in ½ cup of dry baking soda to the opening of the drain to be followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture set for about 30 minutes, and then flush it down with a tea kettle full of boiling water. But if your drain pipe is made of plastic, use hot tap water, instead of boiling water, to avoid melting the pipe.
2. Use A Plunger.
If the baking soda+vinegar technique does not work, then you can try using the old-fashioned plunger. It is not the large-type plunger for toilets, but the short-handled plunger with a small rubber cup on the end, which fits nicely over a bathroom sink drain. If there is not any standing water in the sink, you need to turn on the faucet to allow about 2 to 3 inches of water to stand in it, as it would give the plunger a better suction effect. Place the plunger’s cup over the sink opening and then quickly press it up and down several times.
3. Remove The Sink Drain.
If the plunger does not get the job done, then there must be something dropped down the drain, causing it to clog up. Small objects, such as a chunk of soap, a toy or a ring might be stuck in the trap and become a big part of the stoppage. If this is your situation, you need to remove the drain pipe under the sink. Follow these steps:
• Place a bucket underneath the pipe to avoid water spills and anything else that might come out with it.
• With a wrench, loosen the pipe until it is free to remove. After removing, its inside to find the cause of the clog.
• If there is not anything in the pipe, it means that the stoppage is down the drain and you need to use an auger to de-clog it. There is a handle on the side of this device that allows you to unwind it as you work it down. Wiggle its end down the pipe until it comes out through the removed pipe.
• Leaving the auger in the drain, run a little water into the sink to see if it comes out into the bucket, which is a sign that the clog is cleared.
• Clean the pipe and install it back using the wrench and make sure it is tight enough.
4. Run Hot Water.
After all the previous steps are performed, run hot water down the drain to finally help clear out any remaining scum. Check around for leaks, and if there are some drips, tighten the pivot rod nut slightly with a pair of pliers.
By following these steps, you will be able to clean a clogged bathroom sink in no time!
