6 Simple Steps To Unclog A Sink With No Experience

A blocked sink may be incredibly common, but that doesn’t make it any less of a frustrating household plumbing issue. Whether you’re rinsing off dishes or brushing your teeth, a clogged sink drain may not seem like a huge deal, but it can massively disrupt your day and even lead to unpleasant odours or water damage. Before you panic and call a plumber straight away, there are steps you can take to learn how to unblock a sink and tackle the problem yourself. With a little patience and some basic tools, no matter your skill level, you may just be able to fix the issue without spending a dime.

In our exclusive guide, we’ll walk you through how to unblock a sink drain – with practical advice for everyone from the not-so-handy to the moderately skilled. And if all else fails, don’t worry—our skilled and affordable Melbourne drain plumbers, Canberra blocked drain experts, and Geelong drain cleaning specialists at Fix-It Right Plumbing are just a call away.

Step 1: Remove standing water

Just want to unblock sink drains that are bothering you? Well, if your sink is clogged and filled with water, the first step is to clear it out.

For the not-so-handy: Use a small container or cup to manually scoop out the water into a bucket. Be patient and try to get as much as possible. If your sink is still slow to drain after this, don’t worry – this is just the beginning.

For the moderately handy: Consider using a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the water quickly and efficiently. It’s a brilliant way to unclog drain sinks, but you’ll obviously need the vac or need to borrow or rent one. But rest assured – these devices are great for removing excess water before tackling the blockage.

What a plumber would do: A plumber will assess the sink’s drainage system and use professional-grade tools to pump out water and start identifying the blockage.

Step 2: Inspect the drain for visible blockages

Many sink blockages are caused by food particles, hair, or grease that have built up over time.

For the not-so-handy: Remove the drain cover and use a torch to check for visible debris. If you can see the blockage, try pulling it out using a bent wire coat hanger or a pair of tongs.

For the moderately handy: Use a drain snake or a similar tool to probe deeper into the drain and dislodge clogs further down the pipe.

What a plumber would do: A plumber will use specialised equipment, such as a plumber’s auger or CCTV drain camera inspection, to locate and remove blockages deep in the plumbing system.

Step 3: Use boiling water

Sometimes, a clogged sink drain can be cleared with nothing more than boiling water.

For the not-so-handy: Boil a kettle of water and carefully pour it down the drain in stages. This works particularly well for blockages caused by grease or soap scum.

For the moderately handy: After pouring the boiling water, use a plunger to apply suction to the drain and help move the blockage along.

What a plumber would do: If boiling water and plunging aren’t effective, a plumber may flush the drain with high-pressure water or chemical solutions designed for tougher clogs.

Step 4: Create a DIY solution

Having trouble unclogging sink drains? Homemade remedies can sometimes work wonders for unblocking a sink.

For the not-so-handy: Mix one cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar and then:

Pour the mixture into the drain
Let it sit for 15-30 minutes
Rinse with hot water.

This method is safe, natural, and surprisingly effective for minor clogs.

For the moderately handy: After applying the baking soda and vinegar solution, consider using a plunger to amplify the effect. The combination of the solution and suction can be very effective.

What a plumber would do: Plumbers may use professional-grade enzymatic cleaners or other advanced chemical solutions to dissolve tough clogs without damaging your pipes.

Step 5: Check the U-bend

How to unblock a sink with water in it? Sounds like the U-bend is the culprit! The U-bend or P-trap under the sink often traps debris and is a common source of clogs that fill up that sink and then overflow it.

For the not-so-handy: Don’t feel bad, because many of the not-so-handy of you out there wouldn’t and shouldn’t attempt this. For the adventurous:

Place a bucket under the sink to catch any water
Carefully unscrew the U-bend
Empty it out
Clean it thoroughly
Re-attach.

For the moderately handy: While cleaning the U-bend, use a flexible drain snake to probe deeper into the pipe and ensure the blockage is fully removed.

What a plumber would do: A plumber will dismantle and clean the U-bend with professional precision and inspect the entire pipe system for additional blockages or structural damage. Knowing how to unclog sink plumbing is never an issue for the guys in the know!

Step 6: Test the drain

Once you’ve tried a few methods, it’s important to test whether the blockage has been resolved.

For the not-so-handy: Run the tap and observe whether the water flows freely. If it drains smoothly, congratulations – you’ve successfully unblocked your sink!

For the moderately handy: Still not working? Don’t give up your journey into how to unblock the sink quite yet!

So if water still drains slowly, repeat one or more of the steps above to ensure the blockage is fully cleared.

What a plumber would do: How to unclog a sink? Calling a plumber is always the easiest and most thorough way! A licensed and experienced tradie will perform a thorough test of the entire plumbing system to confirm that all blockages are resolved and that your pipes are in good working condition.

When to call a professional

Tried everything? Hands dirty? Still unsure how to unblock a drain sink? It’s time to call in the experts. That’s because a persistent or severe blockage isn’t just annoying and potentially damaging, it may indicate a deeper and much more expensive and destructive problem – such as tree roots invading your pipes or a broken sewer line. Attempting to fix such issues yourself can lead to further damage and even bigger bills than you ever imagined.

Why choose Fix-It Right Plumbing?

Sink clogged? At Fix-It Right Plumbing, we specialise in solving all types of plumbing problems – including how to unblock a sink, how to unblock a drain, and so much more. With experienced and fully licensed Melbourne plumbers, Geelong plumbers, and Canberra plumbers, we’re always ready to help when DIY solutions fall short. We pride ourselves on fast response times, upfront pricing, and long-lasting solutions that give you peace of mind.

So don’t let a blocked sink disrupt your day, and instead give us a shout right here at Fix-It Right Plumbing. Our friendly team will have your plumbing running perfectly in no time.

9 Signs You Have a Blocked Drain

Your kitchen sink is slow to drain – You have been noticing for a while now that after doing the dishes or running the dishwasher, your sink is very slow to drain. Sinks can be one of the first places you will see signs of a blocked drain as they are frequently attached to the overflow

You have water sitting outside near your overflow grate – water in the overflow or near the grate is usually a sign the overflow has been working, and when it does its working because you have a blockage

Your toilet occasionally drains fully – that sipping sound that you’ve been seeing when you flush the toilet is not by chance. Toilets to this when the air flow through the pipes is disrupted by excess content inside your drain i.e. a blockage

You have sewage sitting in the back yard – sewerage in the back yard can come from the inspection shaft or boundary trap located in the yard. Most sewerage connections are in the rear yard of peoples properties. sewerage sitting around the area of connection (inspection shaft) is almost certainly caused by a blockage

You hear a gurgling sound when you have a shower – Because showers have the lowest drain point in the house, they can be susceptible to symptoms of a house blockage. Gurgling will usually occur here because the airflow has been interrupted inside the drain

Flushing the toilet makes a noise – you can also hear the gurgling sound inside the toilet. Toilets are usually the first places that signs of a blockage will occur simply because of the large amount of water used when flushing.

Your shower backs up when you use your basin – when you have multiple fixtures that are backing up, its usually a sign the connecting drain is blocked

Your toilet takes a while to drain – when a toilet backs up, the water will eventually go down, however this can take anywhere from a few minutes to well over a few hours depending on how bad your blockage is

You have a foul smell outside – unusually smelly drains especially outside is a sign that your drains are not functioning correctly.

If you have seen one or have a few of these things happening in your home an your hoping it will go away, chances are it won’t. Severe blockages rarely clear themselves and can be harder to clean if the drain is continued to be used.

Our expert professional plumbers clear blocked drains in Melbourne, blocked drains in Geelong and blocked drains in Canberra.