Troubleshooting clogs: How to unblock your sink efficiently

There's nothing worse than a blocked sink. It starts innocuously with a gentle gurgling in the pipes; then the water drains more and more slowly, and an unpleasant smell begins to emerge from the drain. In such situations, we often panic and call a plumber, who may charge us a hefty fee for their services. Fortunately, there are several methods to solve this problem quickly and efficiently without needing professional help.

This unpleasant surprise can happen in both the kitchen sink and the bathroom sink. The problem can be solved in various ways – from buying chemical agents in a shop, through home remedies for a clogged drain, to mechanically unclogging the pipes. It’s worth trying the cheapest methods first.

Pour a generous amount of baking soda (about 200 grams) into the drain and add the same amount of vinegar. The mixture should be poured into the drain immediately, as the baking soda and vinegar undergo a chemical reaction, creating a large amount of foam. This foam is meant to unclog the pipe. You can cover the overflow with a cloth or a stopper and wait about 15 minutes. After this time, pour roughly a litre of boiling water into the trap and check if the method brought the desired result.

An alternative to baking soda and vinegar is citric acid. Simply pour two small packets of citric acid into the drain and add 2 cups of hot water. Citric acid should dissolve the accumulated grease and mineral deposits, which may be the leading cause of the clogged pipe.

You can also unclog pipes using dishwasher tablets. Simply fill a cup with hot water and add one tablet to it. The resulting mixture should be poured into the sink, and you wait 10 minutes. After this time, rinse the drain with a large amount of hot water. The dishwasher tablet effectively tackles greasy deposits, quickly getting rid of the persistent blockage and leaving a fresh scent.