Unclogging a Bathroom Sink: A How-to Guide

Clogged bathroom sinks can be a problem. The water will not flow down and you’ll be left with a sink that is unusable for all practical purposes. 

However, unclogging it is a fairly easy task but for that, you’ll have to know what is clogging the sink. Figuring out why your drain is clogged is the first step for effective unclogging. For instance, if it’s hair, tweezing or plunging will work better. 

Once you’ve found out the cause of the clog, next, follow this guide and pick the process that suits you best. If however, you’re not confident about what you’re doing, you can always connect with some reliable Ann Arbor plumbers. 

Probable Causes of Clogged Bathroom Sink

Four common reasons cause clogs in most people’s sinks. Figuring out which one is causing yours might be the first step where you should begin. The four common cause are as follows:

• Clumps of hair
• Soap scum
• Something stuck in p-trap
• Damaged pipes

Unclogging Your Sink

Once you’ve figured out what is causing the clog in your sink, now you can try out the processes described below. If you can’t figure out what exactly is the cause, try each of the following processes one by one.

1. Baking Soda and White Vinegar

• First, you need to unscrew the drain cover and then remove the sink stopper.
• Now, measure a ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. And then pour them one by one down the drain. 
• Let the mixture remain in the drain for several minutes and then wash it off with hot water.
• Repeat the process several times until your drain is unclogged.

2. Tweeze or Pull Out Hair

• First, remove the stopper.
• Look down the drain using a flashlight.
• If you can see hair, retrieve it using long-nosed tweezers.
• If you can’t see hair, use a zip-it tool, and retrieve it. You can also bend and insert a wire hanger for the process.
• Slide the zip-it tool up and down the drain naturally. Do not force.
• Try different angles and move it around for catching more hair.
• Repeat the process several times until your drain is completely unclogged.

3. Use a Plunger

1. First, remove the stopper.
2. Now, seal the sink overflow with some tapes and put some rags on the floor around the sink.
3. Next, use warm water to fill the sink.
4. Use a cup plunger and create an airtight seal over the drain.
5. Now, pump the plunger up and down with quick sharp movements several times.
6. Now, check if the drain is unclogged.
7. Repeat the process if necessary.

4. Clean the P-Trap

1. Put a bucket under the p-trap of your sink.
2. Now, loosen the slip nuts. Use pliers if necessary.
3. Remove the p-trap. Dump the water in the bucket.
4. Next, remove any object lodged in the trap.
5. Clean the p-trap with a brush.
6. Put the trap back and test your sink.

Note: Wear rubber gloves for safety during the entire process.

These are the processes you can try to unclog your bathroom sink. If however, the Clogged bathroom processes do not work or if you are not sure about what you are doing, you can always connect with us. As reliable Ann Arbor plumbers, we will guide and help you unclog your bathroom sink or any plumbing requirements that you may have.