How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink

If the water in your sink isn’t draining well, you’ve got a slow running drain. This is most often caused by strands of hair, soap scum and other debris catching onto the drain parts in your plumbing system. Over time, this buildup gradually blocks and then stops the water flow. To figure out how to unclog a bathroom drain, try one of the techniques below until you fix the problem.

One of the easiest solutions for clearing a clog is plain boiled water. Hot water is the first thing to try when you want to know how to unclog a sink drain. First, make sure your pipes are not plastic and your sink is not porcelain. Boiling water can damage both. Next:

• Allow your sink to drain completely. You need to start with a clear drain.
• Fill a tea kettle or pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil.
• Slowly and carefully pour the water into the drain. Ideally, the water will start to clear the clog almost immediately and you’ll be able to add the rest of the water without filling the basin.
• Allow the water to drain. If the bathroom sink is still not draining, you can repeat this process as needed.

Boiling water is just one method of how to unclog a bathroom sink. If that doesn’t work, try vinegar and baking soda.

Knowing how to unclog a sink drain using vinegar and baking soda can be a quick and easy solution to your slow drain. Vinegar and baking soda create a natural chemical reaction that clears small clogs. It’s also safe and budget friendly when compared to chemical-based drain openers.

• Make sure your sink is completely drained.
• Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into your drain. (Use a funnel to make sure all the baking soda goes down the drain.)
• Pour 1 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the drain.
• Use a sink stopper to plug the drain. If you don’t have a sink stopper, stuff a towel into the drain.
• Let this mixture work in the drain for about 20 minutes.
• Pour hot water down the drain slowly.
• Repeat this process if necessary or try another clog removal technique.

A plunger is a useful household tool that you probably already have around the house. Smaller plungers work best for bathroom sinks. Here’s how to unclog a bathroom sink with a plunger:

• Remove and put aside the top of the sink hole cover or stopper. Most stoppers will come right out when you pull up and turn or unscrew the stopper to the left.
• Add water to the sink until it covers the drain by about an inch. Avoid completely filling the basin.
• Center the plunger over the drain. Apply force to create a strong seal.
• Pump the plunger up and down for about 15 seconds.
• Remove the plunger. The water should clear down the drain very quickly.
• Fill your sink and test your drain again.
• If necessary, use the plunger again to clear stubborn clogs or try another method.

If a bathroom sink’s not draining and a plunger didn't work, try drain cleaning tools to clear the clog. For example, a plumber’s snake or drain snake is a flexible auger that can clear more difficult drain stoppages. Here’s how to unclog a sink drain using a plumber's snake:

• Try using the drain snake to see if the clog is in the pipe before the P trap.
• If not, locate the P trap under your sink. This is a two-piece pipe with a curve toward the bottom of the assembly. Place a bucket beneath your sink’s P trap.
• Remove the P trap with a screwdriver or wrench. Keep the screws or fasteners nearby.
• Watch out for any water that comes out.
• Check the P trap to see if the clog is located inside. If so, you can use a bent wire hanger to remove the clog. If not, you’ll need to use your plumbing snake to go deeper into the pipe and get the clog.
• Insert the plumbing snake into the pipe opening. Keep going until you feel you’ve hit something. In most cases, this is the clog that needs to be removed.
• Secure the plumbing snake by tightening the nut assembly near the handle of the snake. Now you can begin to twist the snake to grab the clog and clear it from your drain. When the clog is cleared, you won’t feel resistance.
• Secure the P trap back in place and check the sink.
• Any standing water should drain quickly. Fill the sink and test the drain again.

Tip: Always consult manufacturer’s directions on how to unclog a sink drain using a drain snake.

Knowing how to unclog a bathroom sink using a wet-dry vacuum can be a lifesaver. With its powerful suction, a wet-dry vac can remove even the hardest clogs. It also comes in handy to clean up any water. Here’s how to unclog a bathroom drain with a wet-dry vacuum:

• Plug the drain with the sink stopper. If your sink doesn’t have a stopper, you can use a towel or rag to help create a seal.
• Place a bucket beneath your P trap.
• Remove the P trap with a screwdriver or wrench. Keep the screws or fasteners nearby.
• Attach the wet-dry vac hose to the stopper pipe. This is the vertical pipe that goes up to your sink basin.
• Connect the other end of the wet dry vac hose to the vacuum.
• Adjust your vacuum to the “wet” or “liquid” setting.
• Turn on your wet-dry vac. Pulse the power on and off a few times to help get the clog moving.
• In some cases, the clog will come out completely into the vacuum. Other times, you’ll need to manually remove the clog from the end of the drain opening.
• Reinstall the P trap and try draining the sink again.

Once you’ve solved your slow drain problem, use these helpful tips to help prevent a bathroom sink clog in the future:

• Avoid flushing hair from shaving down the drain. Small hairs may not seem problematic, but over time they can build up and clog your sink.
• Clean your sink’s stopper often. Stoppers collect hair and debris. Left unchecked, this will eventually make its way down the drain.
• Add a grate or screen in high-use sinks. These can trap hair and soap scum before they enter your drain system.
• Use boiling water periodically to break down soap scum and other bits of small debris.
• Pour baking soda and vinegar down your drain regularly to keep your sink from backing up.