Clogged sinks are a nightmare, but before you grab the plunger, consider this expert advice.
Lee Waring, plumbing guru from HomeHow.co.uk, suggests: “When you’re trying to unblock a sink without a plunger, it’s best to start with the simplest solution first.”
He recommends hot water for melting common clog culprits like grease and soap: “Hot water is particularly good at melting oils, fats and soap scum – meaning it can quickly remove common household sink blockages.”
He advises boiling the kettle and pouring the water down the drain, possibly repeating the process a few times.
If that doesn’t cut it, white vinegar might be your hero. Known as a natural cleaning wonder, it’s also a champ at clearing drains.
As reports the Express, Waring explains: “Most bathroom sink blockages are caused by a mix of soap scum and hair. As distilled vinegar is acidic, it’s very good at dissolving soap scum.”
So, for a sparkling clean and clear sink, he says: “Pour 200ml to 300ml of neat distilled vinegar down the plughole of the blocked sink. You may need to use a small jug or funnel to help you do this.”
Let it sit for around 30 minutes then send boiling water down the drain to tackle any blockages lurking in your pipes. Distilled white vinegar, a steal at about 30p a bottle from many supermarkets, is a thrifty choice for pipe maintenance.
For slicing through greasy build-ups, your laundry cupboard staple — washing powder — is surprisingly effective. The plumber added: “Biological washing powder contains enzymes that break down fats. So, it’s another effective tool for unclogging kitchen sinks when you don’t have a plunger.”
“Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of your washing powder down the plughole and use the hot water from your kettle to help flush it through the blockage.”
Should these tricks fail, it might indicate trouble deeper in the drain line. In such cases, it’s wise to ring up a local plumber for a thorough inspection and fix-up.
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