Kitchen Clogs: How to Unclog a Sink
Mar 9, 2010 1:28 PM
Q:I love to cook, but my kitchen sink often clogs up right in the middle of the process. I don’t know what I should do when this happens. Any suggestions on how to unclog a sink?
A:Kitchen sink clogs can be particularly annoying—after all, they disrupt your everyday kitchen activities. One minute you’re cooking a nice meal, the next you’re calling the pizza delivery guy and staring at a sink full of water.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take when your kitchen sink decides it doesn’t want to cooperate. The first thing to check is the strainer over the drain. Remove it, look for any food or gunk, then clean it off thoroughly to make sure it isn’t causing your clog.
Next, use a plunger. Partially fill the sink with water (if it isn’t already filled), then work the plunger down and up several times before quickly pulling it off the drain opening. If you have a double-bowl kitchen sink, stuff a wet rag into the drain opening that isn’t clogged (this will help with suction).
Next, use a Drano® drain opener to dissolve any remaining clog-causing gunk. Remember to keep hands, face and children away from drains while using Drano®. Also, never use a plunger during or after use of a Drano® product. The formula may still be present in the drain and splash-back could occur.
If you have standing water that won’t clear, we recommend Drano® Max Gel to unclog a sink. This product pours through standing water to attack clogs directly at the source.
If your drain is running slower than usual and you don’t have a garbage disposal, we recommend Drano® Kitchen Crystals Clog Remover to unclog a sink. Wait until all the water has cleared from your sink, then simply follow the directions on the label. This product creates heat inside your drain to melt and dislodge greasy clogs.
If you have a garbage disposal and your drain is running slower than usual, use Drano® Dual Force™ Foamer—it foams up to fill your whole drainpipe and thoroughly attack clogs.