What Is Good for Unstopping Bathroom Sink Drains?

Pulling the Stopper

• A bathroom sink drain is unlike a kitchen sink drain in that it has a stopper fitted into the drain pipe. This stopper reduces the free space in the pipe, and so makes it more easily clogged. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that bathroom sinks are more likely to have hair washed down them. This hair can easily get tangled up by the stopper until, saturated with soap residue, it stops up the sink. The very first thing to try, therefore, is to pull out the stopper and look for clogs. Remove them by hand or with the assistance of a wire hook if your hand cannot reach them. If the stopper does not lift straight out, then it is held in place by a pivot rod. If this is the case, remove the nut where the pivot rod enters the drain and pull the pivot rod out first.

Plungers

• If this approach doesn’t work, then try plunging the sink. Use a small sink plunger to do this. Bathroom sinks tend to be smaller than kitchen sinks. Large plungers meant for large sinks or toilets may not get a good seal and, consequently, won’t work that well.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

• For a particularly tough clog, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it with 1/2 cup of vinegar. The mixture will foam up rapidly and blast the clog out of place. Follow this up by pouring boiling water down the drain after the foaming has subsided. The hot water will help dissolve any leftover soap still holding things in place. Repeated rounds of baking soda and vinegar, boiling water and plunging will take care of many tough clogs.

Chemical Drain Cleaners

• If none of your other attempts have worked, try a chemical drain remover. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. Never pour chemical drain removers into a clogged sink with standing water in it. If it fails to remove the clog, then your sink will be full of highly toxic and caustic chemicals. Never plunge a sink that has chemical drain cleaners in it. Splashing water from the plunging could cause serious injury.