If the sink doesn’t drain, turn off the water since the clog may be deeper in the pipes. If you hear something solid knocking around when you run the garbage disposal, unplug it and shine a flashlight into the drain. Use a pair of tongs to remove anything stuck in the garbage disposal.
Push the baking soda deeper into the drain with a wooden spoon or utensil if it didn’t all go into the drain. Baking soda and vinegar usually only works to break apart smaller food particles.
If the water doesn’t drain, wait for it to cool down so you don’t burn yourself trying other methods.
Since a plunger can cause pressure to build up, ask a helper to hold the drain plug in place so it doesn’t come loose.
If you already have standing water in your sink, you can skip this step.
You may be able to find a plunger with a short handle so it’s easier to maneuver in your sink.
If you’re worried about the plunger splashing you with water, wear gloves and an apron so you don’t get dirty.
If the plunger didn’t work after the second time, you may need to check the sink’s trap or use a drain snake.
You may also use a garbage bag or garbage can if you have room underneath your sink.
If you’re worried about getting splashed with dirty water, wear rubber gloves.
If you don’t feel any resistance, then the clog may be deeper in the pipe and you’ll need to use a snake to get rid of it.
If water still gets stuck in the trap, then try using the wire hanger to break apart the clog or scrape the sides of the pipe. You can also use your garden hose with a jet attachment to forcefully clean out the trap.
If the sink still clogs on either side, then the blockage may be further down the pipe.
Put a bucket underneath your sink even if you don’t have standing water since there may still be some liquid that comes out from the pipes. You can also use a garbage bag or garbage can.
Hold the trap upside-down over the bucket since it may also have water stuck inside of it.
A drain snake has a long wire stored inside of a drum so you can feed it in and out of your pipes without cutting them. You can buy drain snakes from hardware stores or online. If you’ve used the full length of the drain snake and you haven’t felt the blockage, then contact a plumber since you have problems further down in your pipes.
If you feel resistance even when you’re pulling the snake back toward you, the clog may have caught on the end.
Wipe the snake with a paper towel or cleaning rag as you retract it to help keep it clean.
If the water still backs up in the sink, contact a plumber to check your drain lines since they may have damage farther than what you’re able to reach.
