The next time you have a clogged kitchen sink, you don't have to resort to calling a plumber or pouring a bottle of hazardous chemicals down the drain. Using simple kitchen staples or common household objects, you can unclog your kitchen sink on your own without paying a dime.
To prevent future clogs, avoid putting food waste, solids and kitchen oils down the drain as much as possible. Even when the kitchen sink is not clogged, you can use the baking soda and vinegar method (illustrated below) as regular maintenance to keep your sink drains flowing as smoothly as possible.
Got your own DIY tips for unclogging the kitchen sink? Share with us in the comments below.
Homemade Remedy For Clogged Drains
If you have a clogged drain and cannot run out to the store to get a commercial drain product, try this remedy.
1) Remove all water from the sink. You may have to dip it out of the sink with a cup and place it in a bucket.
2) Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain.
3) Follow that with one cup of table salt.
4) Next, pour one half cup of white vinegar down the drain.
5) Allow the drain to set for ten minutes than flush it with two quarts of boiling water.
Useful tips to avoid a blocked kitchen sink
A main problem home owners experience with their kitchen sinks is the excessive build-up of both food and grease that gather together in the drain line. One should always keep in mind that the drain lines used by a kitchen sink vary significantly in size when compared to other drain lines used in the house. This means that, as opposed to other drainage systems, it is much easier to overload a kitchen drain line than expected.
Below are four useful tips that should be followed to avoid a blocked kitchen sink:
1. Understanding the garbage disposer
The kitchen sink garbage disposer is a wonderful and convenient piece of equipment. However, it must be understood that it has one basic role and that is to grind up the unwanted remains of food into particles that are small enough to easily pass through the drain. Once this occurs, the drainage system functions to carry the food waste further down the drain so that it finds its way into the sewer.
2. Cutting food into small bits
Small bits and pieces of food that make their way down the sink are completely acceptable for a garbage disposer, but a garbage disposer itself should not be mistaken as a trash can. Food waste is likely to fall into the sink when cooking, but it should be sent down in small bunches and not as one large amount. Hot water from the sink should run to help the small pieces pass down the drain easily.
3. Foods that should avoid the drain
A garbage disposer works great for most food waste, but as is the case with nearly every appliance it does have exceptions. Certain foods nearly always cause problems, including rice, citrus fruits and onions. When preparing food with these ingredients, it is highly recommended for the unwanted pieces to be composted or thrown in the trash can, not washed down the kitchen sink.
4. Proper disposal of grease and oils
Depending on how frequently one uses grease and oil in their cooking, these ingredients will eventually end up in the kitchen sink drainage system. Grease and oil will build up in the pipe system and begin to limit the flow of water and other food waste, eventually causing a blockage. For this reason, grease and oil should be poured in the trash whenever possible to minimize any potential problem.
In summary, by understanding the role of garbage disposers in kitchen sinks and taking care to prevent what commonly leads to pipe blockage, one can easily avoid the inconvenience and expense of needing to call a professional plumber for help.
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