How to Unclog Your Bathroom Sink (The Easy Way)
Let's face it - clogged bathroom sinks are frustrating, and it can be hard to choose from all the unclogging methods out there. Whether your sink is completely clogged or just draining slow, it's important to know how to properly restore the function of your sink so you can avoid further frustration and calling a plumber. In this article, you'll learn the simplest, easiest way to unclog your bathroom sink (this works with deep pipe clogs). Let's dive straight in.
What You'll Need
(Don't let this intimidate you, it's super easy to use!)
For this method, you'll need a basic drain auger which can be found at your local Home Depot for around $25, or even cheaper on eBay.
You can use a drill to spin the auger, but you can do it by hand if you don't have a drill.
If you have any chemical drain cleaners in your drain, be extremely careful before proceeding! The springy nature of a drain auger can launch liquids and debris from your drain in different directions. If you have chemical drain cleaners in your drain, consider using the auger in a slower fashion in the next steps.
Step 1: Prepare Your Sink
Chances are, you'll need to remove your sink stopper to fit the auger snake into the drain. To check if you need to, flip the locking mechanism on the auger to unlock it and try to feed the snake underneath the stopper into the drain. If it doesn't fit, don't worry! We made a step-by-step guide on removing your sink stopper. If it fits through, you can move onto the next step.
Step 2: Feed the Snake into the Drain
Unlock the locking mechanism on the auger and repeat these steps:
Feed: Feed the snake 6-12 more inches into the drain.
Flip: Flip the locking mechanism to lock the snake into the auger.
Spin: Spin the auger at least a few rotations, ensuring the snake doesn't kink on itself.
Check: Check if the drain is cleared by running a little water down the drain.
If the snake kinks, try spinning it back and using less rotations next time. You only need to keep doing these steps until the drain is working again. When water is flowing smoothly, you can move onto the next step.
Step 3: Remove the Snake
Unlock the locking mechanism on the auger, and as you pull the snake back into the auger, clean off any dirt, debris, or hair and discard it. It can help to run the snake under your faucet to clean it off as you pull it out, but make sure not to wash too much debris back into your drain!
Step 4 (Optional): Replace Sink Stopper
Now that your drain is flowing smoothly again, it's time to replace your stopper. You might be able to figure out how to do this if you removed the stopper, but it can be a little tricky. That's why we also made a step-by-step guide on installing a sink stopper, which can be found here.
Step 5: Use a Sink Strainer to Prevent Future Clogs
It's no doubt that sink strainers are the tried and true clog prevention method. And if you're reading this, chances are you don't have one! It might be a good idea to invest in a sink strainer to avoid the hassle of drain clogs entirely.
There are many strainers on the market, but you don't need anything fancy. You need a simple strainer that is cost-effective and stops hair, jewelry, and debris from clogging your drain. That's why we recommend the popcork 2-in-1 Sink Strainer and Stopper.
The popcork 2-in-1 Sink Strainer and Stopper installs in seconds. It's the simplest yet most effective strainer on the market... and keeps your drain flowing smoothly. No more struggling with a clogged sink! Click here to buy yours now.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations! You've successfully unclogged your bathroom sink. There are many methods for doing this, but truth be told, many of them don't work and/or aren't suitable for deep pipe clogs like this method. Now you know how to easily clear a clogged bathroom sink! Feel free to leave a comment to share any tips or if you need further assistance. Happy DIYing!
Any questions? Reach out to us below for a timely response and extra guidance :)