Although this might not happen very often, a problem with a clogged drain pipe needs to be fixed when it does. A slow draining kitchen sink is already bothersome, much more one with standing water. Before calling a plumber, there are ways to tackle this problem by yourself.

1. Use a Plunger.

One of them most practical things to do and is often effective is to use a cup plunger. If there is standing water, this is what you can do. Just put the plunger on top of a sink drain. Ensure that the plunger covers the drain opening completely. Create a seal by pressing the plunger down and push and pull the handle while keeping the hole covered with the cup. Do this for about 20 minutes. This should solve the problem and remove the standing water. Run some water to remove the gunk and dirt that might have been left on the sink.

2. Make a Natural Drain Cleaner.

In this method, you will use two items that you might already have in the kitchen; baking soda and vinegar. You will also need to boil some hot water. First, pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it with a half-cup vinegar. This will create a fizz as the two ingredients get in contact with each other. You might want to cover the drain with the stopper to ensure it gets all the fizz it needs down the drain and not towards the top. As it subsides, pour some vinegar again. Let it stand for about an hour to let the mixture work its way on the gunk and grease. After, flush it with hot water to loosen more of the clog.

3. Use a Coat Hanger.

If an object is clogging the drain pipe and it is just near the top of the kitchen sink drain, chances are, you can use a wire hanger that you can get from the cleaners. Simply untangle the wire handle and straighten end and creating a small hook at the other end. Insert it into the drain pipe and remove the object that has caused the clog by pulling it. Pushing it down the drain might just worsen the problem when it gets stuck way down the pipe.

4. Remove The Clog With a Plumber’s Snake.

If the first three methods do not solve the problem, you can try a snake which you can buy from the local hardware store. It is an effective tool to break down the clog. Follow these steps:

Wear a pair of rubber gloves to ensure you will have a good grip.
Insert the end of the wire of the snake while slowly turning the crank to push the snake down the drain for at least a few feet. The flexibility of the snake makes it capable to get inside the pipe and work on the bend.
If it seems to take time for the snake to get through, you can also pour some hot water into the drain pipe to loosen grease and small material that might be blocking it.
Once you feel the resistance or if the snake has reached the clog, wiggle while pushing and pulling the snake to loosen the clog. If you think that the problem is caused by gunk, pull the wire several times and clean the end of the snake. Repeat the process.
This should clear the standing water. Check by turning the faucet and letting water flow.