How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink: Plunger, Trap and Snake

How to unclog a kitchen sink: start with a cup plunger, move to cleaning the P-trap under the sink, and use a drain snake only if the clog is further down. Most kitchen clogs are grease and food scraps close to the sink, so the first two steps solve the majority of them without chemicals.

How to unclog a kitchen sink: the quick answer

Remove standing water, plunge firmly with the second basin and the dishwasher line blocked off, and check whether the clog clears. If not, empty and clean the P-trap, the U-shaped pipe under the sink. If water still will not leave, a hand-cranked snake reaches the clog beyond the trap.

Quick facts: how to unclog a kitchen sink
Time needed	15 to 45 minutes
Tools	Cup plunger, bucket, towels, pliers, drain snake
Difficulty	Easy to moderate
Avoid	Chemical drain cleaners and plunging after using them

Step 1: plunge it properly

1. Bail out most of the water so the plunger cup can seat on the drain.
2. On a double sink, block the other drain with a wet cloth or stopper. Block the dishwasher line if there is one.
3. Add a little water to cover the plunger cup, and plunge in a steady up-and-down rhythm for 15 to 20 strokes.
4. Pull the plunger away. If water drains, flush with hot water for a minute.

Step 2: clean the P-trap

1. Put a bucket under the trap and unscrew the two slip nuts by hand, or with pliers if they are stiff.
2. Slide the trap off, tip out the water and debris, and clean it with a brush.
3. Check the pipe stub in the wall for build-up.
4. Reattach the trap, tighten the nuts snugly, and run water to check for leaks.

Step 3: baking soda and vinegar

Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then a cup of vinegar, and cover the drain for 30 minutes. Flush with hot water. This helps with light grease and odour, but not a solid blockage.

Step 4: use a drain snake

Feed the snake into the drain or the open pipe stub until you meet resistance, crank to hook or break up the clog, and pull it out. Run hot water afterward to flush any loose material away.

What clogs a kitchen sink

Grease that cools and sticks inside the pipe, coffee grounds, rice and pasta that swell, eggshells and fibrous peelings are the main culprits. Even if it all goes down at first, it builds up on the pipe walls. When you learn how to unclog a kitchen sink, you also learn what to keep out of it.

Special cases

Situation	What to check
Garbage disposal in the sink	Make sure the disposal is not jammed, and clear its outlet
Dishwasher drains into the sink	The dishwasher hose may be clogged too
Both basins full	The clog is past the shared trap, so use the snake
Gurgling elsewhere in the house	The main drain or vent may be affected

When to call a plumber

Call if the clog returns within days, if other fixtures drain slowly, if you smell sewage, or if the snake does not clear it. These point to a partially blocked branch or main drain, which needs a longer cable or a camera.

Grease: the clog you keep making

Hot grease looks harmless going down, but it cools inside the pipe and traps everything that follows. Pour cooled cooking fat into a can or jar for the bin instead, and wipe greasy pans with paper before washing. Hot water alone only moves grease further down the pipe, where it settles, so the clog reappears weeks later and is harder to reach.

Preventing the next clog

Wipe grease from pans into the bin, use a strainer in the drain, and flush the drain with hot water after washing greasy dishes. A monthly baking soda and vinegar rinse keeps light build-up under control.

Related reading

• Garbage Disposal Not Working? Reset, Unjam and Test It
• Dishwasher Water Backing Up Into Sink: Causes and Fixes
• Practical Guide: How to Unclog a House Drain
• Plumber cost to unclog drain: What Drives the Price and How to Get a Fair Quote

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