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A clogged drain or a clogged kitchen sink can be very problematic. The more sinks you have, the bigger the problem becomes. But don’t worry – it is fairly easy to unclog a clogged sink even if you are not an expert.
We have listed the most powerful agents that can deal with clogs in single and double kitchen sinks. Read on to find out how to unclog a double kitchen sink.
Why do double kitchen sinks clog?
If the water doesn’t flow anymore and it smells weird, it is obvious – you have a clogging problem. You can depict this issue and deal with it at an early stage if you notice the water doesn’t drain easily, and debris remains in the sink.
What causes this kitchen sink problem?
Food Residue
Almost every kitchen sink problem begins with food particles. As we clean up the utensils, residue just keeps layering until it clogs the sink. Therefore the garbage disposal unit should always be clean.
Small objects that got stuck on the way
We may not have noticed it, but tiny objects fall through and get stuck in the sink all the time. It may happen with a coin, an earring, or any other object that surpasses our visual boundaries. As a result, even the cleanest kitchen sink clogs sometimes.
Oil and grease
Greasy food ingredients are the number one enemy of every sink. There is a huge chance that they have clogged your draining system.
Mineral buildup
Sometimes, we have nothing to do with our sink being clogged. Hard water contains lots of minerals that don’t easily pass try sink pipes. If this is the problem, you should consult a plumber for help.
How to unclog a double kitchen sink
Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to unclog your household sink.
Reset the garbage disposal
The garbage disposal is very important to every kitchen. They collect and dissolve all food scraps to make sure no damage is caused to the sink. But if we want them to do their job properly, we shouldn’t fill them in with eggshells or coffee grounds.
Our sink may get clogged because the disposal is jammed or overheated.
The first thing to try here is to turn the blades manually until the disposal can function on its own. For your safety, make sure it is disconnected before you proceed. A simple reset on the button may also do the job.
You can also try to put a wrench at the bottom of the disposal and twist it until you feel there is no resistance anymore. Test the disposal system afterward, and the kitchen sink drain should be fine.
If your disposal inspection didn’t uncover any issues, try some of the other methods on this list.
Remove the clog manually
There are many DIY ways on how to unclog a double kitchen sink. For starters, get a flashlight and look down the drain. If you are lucky, you will spot the clogging item right away and you can pull it out yourself. Remember to use rubber gloves while doing so.
Test the drain by letting water flow for at least a minute. If there are no delays, the method has succeeded. If there is still standing water, scoop it out and dry this ink carefully.
Dissolve the clog with a plunger
Here is another classical solution you can try out – the plunger. You can unclog a double kitchen sink in no time.
Plungers only work through water pressure, so make sure you remember this. If you are trying to unclog a double sink, take a rag and block the unclogged drain first. In this way, you are redirecting pressure to the other side.
By that time, you should have removed all standing water from the clogged sink. You should leave just as much water as to cover the plunger cup so that you know whether the method worked.
Now take the plunger and hold it over the clogged drain with a tight seal. Push it up and down at least six times, and ensure the pressure remains the same all along.
Remove it and observe whether the standing water drains. If it is still there, repeat the process or try some of the upcoming tricks.
Put in hot water water and salt
Sometimes, we only think we have a clogged kitchen sink. A couple of strong blasts of hot water could be enough to unclog the sink and get rid of standing water.
If you put salt and then hot water, you can even push stoppages formed by grease and soap scum. You can apply this solution even before the clogging happens as soon as you notice the water is gathering up.
First, pour salt down the drain (approximately half a cup). Follow with a full kettle of hot water and give the solution a couple of minutes to work. The stoppage should loosen and dissolve very fast. Since this solution is completely natural, you can use it on regular basis to keep the drain clean.
Here is an important pointer: if the drain is attached to PVC (plastic) pipes, hot water can cause them to melt. Please check this in advance.
If salt doesn’t work, move on the baking soda mixtures.
Vinegar and baking soda
These two ingredients are not only cooking superheroes, but also the perfect cleaning helpers. They can assist you to unclog your double sink much better than hot water or any other natural agent.
Combine ½ cups of each and mix them. As soon as the vinegar starts reacting (you will hear a fizzy sound), pour the mixture into the drain and let it work for a couple of hours. If it didn’t work the first time, repeat as much as necessary.
Vinegar will not only solve the clogging problem, but also clean pipes from all grease assembled over the years. Baking soda will help push remains down the drain. It will be like installing a new plumbing system out of the blue.
Salt and baking soda mixture
Here is another household alternative you can use to unclog the sink. The trick is again baking soda.
Dry the clogged sink out before you proceed.
To ensure success, prepare the mixture first and pour the ingredients at the same time.
Keep in mind that baking soda solutions need at least five hours to work, and you can test it with a little bit of water over the plunger. If our tips so far didn’t help you, you may need to do some heavy lifting as well.
DIY Plumbing: How to unclog a double kitchen sink with a plumber’s snake
Persistent clogs cannot be dissolved with natural agents. You may need to drill through them, and the perfect tool for the job is the so-called plumber’s snake.
The plumber’s snake has usually pushed down the garbage disposal after removing the P-Trap. You can also push it directly down the drain, but remember to use a bucket under the U-Pipe to prevent dirt from falling out.
You will also need a wrench to loosen the pipe nuts on each side. Attach a plastic rod or a metal wire to the snake, and it will either pull or break the clog. A push-and-pull method might be necessary to reach the clog and to get it out.
To prevent the stoppage from dissembling inside the pipe, pull it slowly and with clockwise motions. When done, take the snake out and reassemble the U-Pipe. Don’t use the water that comes out the first few minutes – it may contain some of the debris too.
Prevent clogged double kitchen sinks with the following tips
The problem is solved now, but you also need to learn how to prevent clogs from happening again. Your sink drainage system should be functional at all times.
Keep the drain clean
Remember – the less residue that reaches the sink, the fewer problems you will have with it. If possible, don’t throw any coffee grounds, grease, or oils inside. Keep also your garbage disposal clean and don’t overload it.
Maintain the drain with boiling water
You may not be able to eliminate clogs, but you can at least slow them down. Pour some boiling water inside the drain here and there, especially after cooking. Water will clean up and catch on the residue, so there will be no risk of clogging.
Clean the sink
Be safe rather than sorry and keep the drain snake clean and dry. This is a very easy and very helpful tip that can keep your double kitchen sink functional.
Dispose of grease and oil elsewhere
For grease not to cause any harm to your drain, let it cool out first. You can then transfer it to an adequate container, such as a glass jar or a plastic box. This is much better than pouring it in the sink and building a habit out of it.
Grease stains are not only difficult to clean, but they build upon each other and cause serious damage to the pipes. They are the worst enemies of the kitchen sink drain.
If you enjoyed reading this article about how to unclog a double kitchen sink easily, we also wrote about subjects like how to accessorize a kitchen counter, how to get rid of cockroaches in kitchen cabinets, and what is the effect of oven cleaner on the kitchen countertops.
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