Use a plunger
Use a cup plunger, the kind with a flat bottom, for sinks and tubs. Run a few inches of water into the sink, cover the overflow hole with a wet rag, and plunge firmly 10 to 15 times. On a double kitchen sink, plug the other side first.
Pull out the hair
In shower and bathroom sink drains, the clog is usually hair caught just below the opening. Remove the drain cover or stopper and pull the hair out with your fingers or an inexpensive plastic drain tool. Many bathroom sink stoppers lift straight out, or come out after you loosen the nut on the rod behind the drain under the sink.
Clean the trap
- Get readyPut a bucket under the U-shaped pipe under the sink.
- Take it offLoosen the two slip nuts by hand or with pliers and remove the trap.
- Clean and replaceClean out the trap, put it back, and tighten the nuts by hand. Run water and check for drips.
Try a drain snake
A small hand auger, sold at any hardware store, can reach clogs past the trap. Feed it into the drain, turn the handle when you feel resistance, and pull the clog back out.
Why we skip harsh chemical drain cleaners
Strong chemical cleaners can burn skin and eyes, damage older pipes and seals, and often clear only part of the clog. They also make the drain dangerous for anyone who has to open it afterward.
When a clog means a bigger problem
- Several drains are slow at the same time.
- Water comes up in the tub when you flush or run the washer.
- Drains gurgle or smell like sewage.
- The same drain clogs again within a few weeks.
Those are signs of a clog in the main sewer line. That needs a plumber with a drain machine, and often a camera inspection to see what’s causing it.