A blocked kitchen drain is one of the things that can happen out of nowhere that can effectively ruin your day. You can always call the pros like BDS drainage if you don’t have time to deal with a clogged sink. Not only will this save you time, you can also make sure that your drain problem is being looked after by professionals.
But if you think you can handle a simple drain clog by yourself, even better. There are a couple of proven and natural ways to unclog a kitchen drain especially if you don’t want to spend too much on commercial grease unblockers or you prefer to use natural unblocking methods to get a clean kitchen sink. Read on to know what they are.
6 Easy and Natural Ways to Unblock a Kitchen Sink
Hot water, vinegar and baking soda
Hot water, vinegar and baking soda is the easiest combination you can whip up if you want to unblock your kitchen sink. Pour a kettle of boiling water into the kitchen drain followed by 100g of baking soda and a 500ml solution of boiling water and vinegar. Cover the opening for 10 minutes to let the chemical reactions do their work. Afterwards, pour another kettle of boiling water to flush all the gunk out.
Dish soap and hot water
This is another easy DIY sink unblocker that you can put together in a matter of minutes. Mix a few tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and two litres of hot water and pour over the drain. This is a good idea if you think the clog is caused by grease, oil and fat deposits. The dishwashing liquid and the hot water can effectively work together to melt and flush out the greasy debris.
Plunger
A plunger is a practical thing to have around the house because you never know when you’re going to need one. A plunger is a good option if you want to stick to non-chemical ways to unblock a sink. You may need to use a bit of elbow grease to use this properly but a plunger can unblock most clogs and give you a clean kitchen sink in a matter of minutes. Opt for a flat bottom plunger that is designed for kitchen use. Push down over the drain to create a tight seal and start plunging until the sink begins to drain the water again.
Metal hanger
Clogs in the kitchen drain are often no match for a metal wire hanger. Unbend the hanger to get a straight metal rod with the hook still intact at the end. Push this down the sink with the hook end first until you reach the blockage. You can either push or pull the clog up until the pipes are cleared of the blockage. You may need to push the hook together to make it narrower so that it can pass through the pipes with ease.
Caustic soda
Caustic soda is a stronger alternative to baking soda but it is easily available and can be the next step if the baking soda/vinegar combo fails. Because caustic soda can irritate the skin, make sure you are wearing gloves when handling caustic soda. Mix 450g of caustic soda with 3L of cold water and pour it down the sink. Leave for an hour before flushing with boiling water. Caustic soda is not too strong to corrode your pipes so you can repeat this process if the first one still does not fix the clog.
A clogged kitchen drain is not a huge problem as long as you know what you need to do in a pinch. Keep these tips in mind so you can quickly deal with a clogged kitchen drain and get it working again in no time.