Easy Ways to Clean and Unclog Your Kitchen Sink

Are you, on most days, faced with the problem of a clogged kitchen sink? Are you looking for ways through which you can tackle the problem on your own instead of having to call a plumber? Then this article is just for you. Read on and learn about ways through which you can quickly get rid of the problem all by yourself and much more.

How to Clean Your Kitchen Sink

Seeing your kitchen sink dirty with oil and grime sticking to its wall can make you go crazy. The very thought of having to clean up all the muck with your hands can make you feel yuck. But hold! Why does it have to be so hard? For people who struggle to keep their kitchen sink clean, here are few tips that may help.

1. Wash Utensils Immediately

Keeping dirty and unwashed utensils in the sink for too long can get bacteria to thrive on the utensils as well as the sink. Moreover, the oil and grease left behind from the utensils will form a thick coating which will be difficult to be washed off later.

2. Deep Cleaning

Every kitchen sink needs a thorough cleaning once in a fortnight. For this, you may use a mixture of baking soda, borax, salt and lemon juice. Simply scatter the powder on the sink and leave it for few minutes. Then give it a good scrub off all the dirt and oil using a steel scrub. Lastly, rinse the sink well using hot water.

3. Clean the Sink after Using

Spending a little time on cleaning the sink every time you use it can save you from the arduous task of having to deep clean your kitchen sink. Just a gentle rub with soap and scrub after doing your dishes and your kitchen sink is again good to go.

4. Lemon and Salt Scrub

This is a simple and easy scrub made of lemon juice and salt. Lemons are readily available in every household and salt too. Just sprinkle some salt in the sink and scrub half of a lemon in the sink squeezing the juice while scrubbing. Both the ingredients help to take off the oil and grime from the sink, and the use of lemon gives a fresh smell.

5. Scrubbing with Dishwashing Soap

This is perhaps one of the best everyday sink cleaning method for a metal sink. Just take your utensil cleaning bar and a metal scrub and give it a thorough scrub. Then rinse it with water. You will get a shiny clean metal sink in a matter of a few minutes. However, this method of cleaning is for sinks which are cleaned every day, and as a result, there is very little dirt or grime to be washed.

6. Spray Cleaner

This is for the days when your kitchen sink does not need much of cleaning; just a gentle wipe. For this, mix vinegar and water in equal proportions with some lemon juice. Give it a good shake and spray it on the sink and the counters. Then wipe the area with a soft towel. However, the spray has a short shelf life; therefore, make it in small portions.

7. Flour as a Cleaner

This cleaning method is exclusively meant for sinks which are made of stainless steel. Wipe off moisture from the sink with a kitchen towel. The sink should be made absolutely dry before you sprinkle flour otherwise it will turn into a paste. Once you have sprinkled flour, start rubbing the sink surface in circular motions with a cotton towel. Keep on rubbing until your sink turns sparkling clean.

How to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink Drains?

It is not just the kitchen sink that requires a thorough cleaning up but also the drain. If the sink drain is clogged and there is an obstruction, after a point of time there will be standing water in the sink. To unclog the sink drain, you either call a plumber or try out the below listed do-it-yourself methods.

1. Unclogging with Hot Water

This method is inexpensive and the easiest to unclog sink drains. Keep some water to boil and remove as much of the standing water as possible. Once the water comes to a boil, pour it down the sink drain. You may have to repeat this many times until the drain gets unclogged.

2. Unclogging with Salt and Hot Water

Salt and hot water together work great to unclog drain pipes. Take about ½ a cup of table salt and pour it into the drain pipe. Let it sit there for a few minutes. Then pour boiling water into the sink drain pipe.

3. Unclogging Manually

Although this method may seem to be downright yucky for some, it is effective. Pull out the sink drain pipe and push the clogged stuff out with a stick. Then put the sink pipe back again.

4. Unclogging with Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

After the standing water is removed from the sink, take 1-2 cups of baking soda and pour it through the sink drain. Then pour the same amount of apple cider vinegar. Once you do so, it will bubble and fizz. Once it subsides, put the sink stopper and let it be so for the next 15-20 minutes. Then pour hot water. However, if it does not unclog, you may repeat the method.

5. Unclogging with Table Salt and Baking Soda

These two ingredients work well to unclog sink drain pipes. Mix baking soda and half the amount of table salt. Pour the mix into the sink drain pipe and let it sit for few hours. Then pour boiling water down the drain to flush out the blockage. You may have to repeat the procedure if required.

6. Unclog with a Plunger

If your other methods fail, you may try out a plunger. However, before that seal the other outlets with a wet cloth or a stopper. Put the plunger on top of the drain opening and see to it that it covers the drain pipe opening completely. Then plunge it several times forcefully. Once the clog is flushed out, pour in hot water.

7. Unclog with a Metal Hanger

For this, you need to take an old, not-in-use metal hanger. Open it up and unbend it to make a long metal wire like a plumber’s snake. Use it to pull out the clog or push it out. Then pour hot water.

8. Unclog with a Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum somewhat works like a plunger. However, this method can be accomplished only with the help of a wet and dry vacuum cleaner, and you will also require assistance. First, you have to cover the area near the sink with rugs since the water may splash. Then, like you would place a plunger, place the vacuum hose firmly (put a plunger cup on the opening of the hose). Then switch on the vacuum cleaner. In the case of a clog, the sound will be different than when the drain pipe is empty. Keep on vacuuming until the sound changes. If the sound does not change for quite some time, stop the appliance for some time and restart again. However, be careful not to damage the pipes. Once the pipe unclogs, pour a good amount of hot water into the drain.

FAQs

Listed below are answers to few frequently asked questions.

1. How Do I Clean A Ceramic Sink?

Listed below are few of the ways by which you may clean a ceramic sink.

• Fill the sink with water and drain all the water out. Then sprinkle baking soda all over the sink. Leave it for some time. After about 15-20 minutes, scrub the sink with a wet sponge (wring out the excess water properly). Know that your cleaning is going in the right direction if the baking soda forms small lumps.

• Cut 2-3 lemons in two halves each. Take one half of a lemon and start rubbing the basin squeezing the juice. In case of dark spots or stains, rub them with the outer skin of the lemon. Allow the lemon juice to sit for some time and then rinse the sink with hot water.

• Mix equal amount of bleach and water in a spray bottle. Shake it well and then spray it inside the sink. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wipe the sink with a coarse rug.

2. How Do I Remove Acid Stains From The Kitchen Sink?

• Firstly, try washing the acid stain by spraying water on it. However, if the acid is there since long, water won’t be able to wash away the stain.

• If the above solution does not work, apply this method. Mix equal amount of baking soda and water to make a paste. Apply it over the stain.

• If water and baking soda do not work, add ammonia to baking soda and apply it over the stains.

• Once the stain is gone, with a wet towel, wipe the surface.

3. Can I Pour Bleach Down the Kitchen Sink?

Though bleach is good at cleaning and works well as a disinfectant, it does not clear up the clog. Most importantly mixing it with ammonia or other acids which can be found in household products which can end up in the drains, could be harmful. Therefore, it is advisable not to pour bleach down the sink drain.

4. How Do I Unclog A Sink with Standing Water?

To clean kitchen sink drain pipe with standing water can be quite a herculean task. There are various ways by which you can unclog steel sink in the kitchen. To unclog a double kitchen sink without a garbage disposal, you may use a plunger after you have sealed the other outlet with wet rags or a stopper. However, the best way to avoid clogs in the drain pipe is to avoid throwing food particles, peels etc. in the sink and to clear the drain pipes and clean the kitchen sink with baking soda, once a week.

These simple steps can save you hours of exhausting cleaning work and give you a hassle-free kitchen.

Also Read:

How to Clean Kitchen Electronic Appliances?
Simple Hacks to Clean Microwave
How to Clean a Washing Machine at Home?