How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink Naturally

Unclogging a bathroom sink that’s blocked with hair and other random gunk isn’t usually as straightforward as taking a plunger to it. Yes, chemicals can eat through clogs, but they don’t work in all cases, and they aren’t good for you or the environment.

So today I’m going to show you how to unclog a bathroom sink naturally. There are a few different ways to do this so you’ll have options when the need arises.

How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink with Baking Soda and Vinegar

If you have a clog in your sink, and it’s not severe, one of the best ways to get rid of it without using any harsh chemicals is by using a simple baking soda and vinegar combination. All you need is some baking soda and vinegar, a little bit of time, and it should do the trick.

This is a great method because when baking soda and vinegar are combined, it creates a reaction that produces carbon dioxide, which helps to loosen up stuck on debris. At the same time, vinegar is also a great degreaser.

Keep in mind that for severe clogs, this option will not work, in which case using either a drain auger or completely removing the trap will be necessary (see below for those methods).

Directions

1. If your sink has a stopper, you’ll need to remove it. For pop-up stoppers, you’ll need to loosen the nut for the horizontal pivot rod located under the sink, slide the rod out, and you should be able to remove the stopper. For push/pull and lift-and-twist stoppers, these can be removed simply by unscrewing them.
2. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Use some kind of long utensil to get the baking soda down as far into the pipe as possible.
3. Take one cup of vinegar and very slowly pour it down the drain. You should notice a reaction happening right away, and if all goes to plan, you should notice some debris bubbling up to the surface.
4. Wait a few minutes then pour two cups of hot water down the drain.
5. Repeat this process a couple of times if the sink hasn’t drained yet. Even lighter clogs may need repeating. If after three attempts it’s still blocked use one of the other two methods mentioned below.

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Unclogging a Bathroom Sink with a Drain Auger

If that baking soda and vinegar trick above doesn’t work, the next best solution is to use a drain auger. Follow the steps I’ve listed below to successfully use a drain auger to unclog a bathroom sink.

Directions

1. Some sinks have pop-up stoppers, in which case you’ll need to pull it up and remove it. There may be some kind of horizontal pivot rod located under the sink, in which case you’ll need to loosen the nut to release the stopper. You may also be dealing with either a lift-and-turn stopper or a push/pull stopper, both of which can be unscrewed.
2. You’re now going to take your drain auger and feed the cable into the sink. Keep feeding it into the sink until you feel resistance. This means that there’s either a bend or a clog. If you think that it’s just a bend in the pipe, jiggle the drain auger back and forth and keep feeding it through so that it gets past the bend.
3. Once you encounter the clog, turn the handle of the auger clockwise to rotate the head, therefore breaking up the clog. Push the cable forward until the clog is completely disintegrated.
4. Once you feel that the clog has been removed, turn the handle of the auger counter clockwise to retract it, and make sure to wipe the cable as it comes out of the pipe to remove debris.

If you feed the drain auger as far as it can go, and you don’t encounter a clog, it may be the case that the clog is located in the drain pipe leading from the trap into the wall. If this is the case, you’ll need to remove the trap and feed the auger into the pipe leading into the wall. To remove the trap, move on to the next section, and then come back to this method using a drain auger.

The Best Way to Unclog a Bathroom Sink – By Removing the Trap

The best way to unclog a bathroom sink naturally without using any harsh chemicals is by removing the trap. This process, though it’s somewhat labour intensive, is the most effective at clearing blocked drains. In order to successfully unclog a bathroom sink by removing the trap, you’re going to need a few things.

Tools and Materials Needed

• Plumber’s wrench (aka pipe wrench)
• Bucket
• Wire hanger, Zip-it tool or similar tool
• Toilet paper

Directions

1. Clear the area. Take everything away from under the sink, and make sure that the sink is empty. If possible, drain the sink totally first. Although, this may of course not be an option if your sink is very clogged.
2. Place the bucket right under the trap to catch any water that will fall from the pipe.
3. Find the trap, which is either a P-shaped or U-shaped pipe found under the sink that’s designed to hold water so that sewer gases don’t come up through the sink. It connects to the vertical pipe from the sink drain, and it’s usually made of metal or PVC.
4. Hand loosen or use your wrench to loosen the slip nuts that hold the trap in place to the drain pipe and the one that connects to the wall piece.
5. Take out the trap and pour any remaining water into the bucket.
6. Inspect the trap for any blockages and clean them out with toilet paper. You can use a wire hanger, Zip-it tool or any other tool at your disposal to further remove the gunk inside the trap.
7. While you’re at it, you can also clean out the drain pipe by shoving some toilet paper into the top of the sink drain and fishing it through the length of the pipe with your hanger.
8. Position the trap in its place, and then use your hands to tighten the slip nuts initially, followed by a final tightening with your wrench.

For visual directions to removing a P trap watch the below video:

Images: Stokkete