How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink With Standing Water? Follow the Guide

It’s unsanitary and upsetting to have still water in your sinks. The water could bring a foul odor and even host disease-causing bacteria within the house. But How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink With Standing Water?

You need to prepare all requirements. Then, we will tell you to unclog a kitchen sink by hand, hot water, natural drain cleaner, and plumber’s snake…

Keep reading.

Table of Contents

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Bucket
Flashlight
Plunger
Channel lock pliers
Drain snake

Materials

Rubber gloves
Rags
Vinegar
Baking soda

Instructions

Here are the details:

Unclog a Kitchen Sink by Hand

Remove the Standing Water

As much of the water that is standing should be removed using a bucket. In a working drain or outside the house, dispose of the collected water.

Inspect the Drain

In some instances, food particles and other debris that have accumulated in the sink‘s bottom simply block the drain. If the clog is further down the drain, use a flashlight to try to get a visual of the clog so you know what you are working with.

Extract the Clog

Wearing rubber gloves, reach into the drain to physically remove any hair, food scraps, paper towels, or other debris that is the cause of the clog. If this doesn’t clear the clog, proceed to the next drain clearing method.

How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink With Standing Water？ Follow the Guide

Use Hot Water

If soap residue, grease, or hair gets lodged in your drain, hot water can help unclog it.
Pour half a gallon of hot water directly into the opening of your drain.
Check to see if the water flows steadily by turning on the faucet.
If the sink is clearing, repeat the process twice.

It’s time to try a different approach if the sink still clogs after two attempts.

*** Please be aware that using boiling water to clear clogs in pipes can harm or melt PVC pipes and result in even worse problems. With PVC pipes, avoid using boiling water.

Plunge a Clogged Sink

You might be wondering if you can plunge a sink if it is clogged and has standing water. Yes, you can, is the response.

You can unclog your sink with a sink plunger or a flat-bottomed plunger.

Remove all standing water from the sink first.
Once it is halfway full, refill it with hot water to create a seal around your drain.
Place the sink plunger over the drain and start pumping up and down swiftly.
When the water starts to flow freely, remove the plunger, check to see if it is flowing, and repeat the process.

If diving doesn’t solve the issue, there may be a more serious issue that requires a different strategy.

Unclog the Drain With a Natural Drain Cleaner

Remove the Standing Water

Use a bucket and a sponge to gather any standing water from the sink, then drain it down an open drain or outside the house.

Pour Baking Soda and Vinegar Into the Drain

Baking soda and white distilled vinegar are both measured at one cup each. Pour the vinegar into the drain after the baking soda and then plug it with a rubber stopper or plug. Give the mixture an hour or so to combine and clean the pipes.

Test the Drain

To clean the drain, turn on the hot water, and check to see if the water is draining. If it does, the issue is solved, but if the water backs up again, you might need to remove the P-trap to clear the obstruction.

Remove the P-Trap to Unclog the Drain

Remove the Standing Water

Use a bucket to scoop out as much standing water as possible, then dump the water outside or down a different drain.

Detach and Clean the P-Trap

Place the empty bucket under the P-trap and use channel lock pliers to loosen the nuts on either side of the trap. Take out the P-trap and look inside it for any obstructions or clogs. Clean out any material or debris that may be causing the clog.

Reattach the P-Trap and Test the Drain

P-traps should be realigned with the drain line and secured to the drain by tightening the nuts on either side of the trap. The water should freely flow down the drain after you turn on the faucet. If the sink’s water still overflows, the issue is further down the drain line.

Use a Plumber’s Snake to Clear a Sink

Again, a plumbers snake can help you unclog your drain if the above methods do not work.

If you feel an obstruction, insert the plumber’s snake into your drain and turn the handle.
By turning the handle, you can remove the obstruction from the drain.
Indication that all debris has been removed is when the snake can easily pass through the drain.

If your sink does not unclog after applying the above strategies, you should seek the assistance of expert plumbers to assist you clear the drain. True Plumbers are top rated plumbers in Lakeland. Professional plumbers are familiar with clearing clogs from drains and are knowledgeable about the best tools to use for your drain depending on what they may discover.

FAQs

How Do You Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink?

White vinegar should be followed by one cup of freshly made baking soda in the drain. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. After giving the vinegar and baking soda 15 minutes to work, remove the drain cover and pour hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.

Why Are My Double Sinks Not Draining?

If both sides of your double kitchen sinks appear clogged and begin to back up, the likely reason is a blockage in your sink’s main drain or you have a clogged garbage disposal. Your drain can be unclogged with the help of baking soda and hot water, which also works well as a cleaner and odor absorbent.

Will Baking Soda and Vinegar Unclog a Drain With Standing Water?

Both baking soda and vinegar and baking soda and salt are effective home remedies for clearing standing water clogs. These safer drain cleaners won’t damage pipes. If you don’t have vinegar at home, use salt instead.

Why is My Sink Clogged on Both Sides?

This typically indicates that you’ve had buildup where the sinks connect beneath the pipes. Buildup, however, is a problem that is easily solved and can most often, be achieved on your own! For obvious reasons, a plunger is the perfect tool for removing clogs.