Bathroom sink blockages are sometimes easy to clear.
If you've ever been brave enough to pull the drain stopper completely out of the bathroom sink, you have a pretty good idea of all the gunk that can get down the pipe and plug your drain. The main culprit is hair. Add toothpaste to hair and you've got a solid, cemented mass of hair. Then, add children, and anything could be down there. Since living with a clogged bathroom sink isn't an option, there are several methods you can try to remove the blockage.
Commercial Drain Cleaners
You can always visit your grocery store and pick up a can or jug of drain opener. Pop the top, pour it down the drain and wait for however long the instructions tell you to wait. Most of these products are caustic and can cause problems should they come into contact with skin or eyes. Read the label instructions. If you have any product left over, be sure to store it where children and pets can't get into it.
Plunge It
Most people think of their plunger as more of a toilet tool, forgetting that it works just as well on sink and bathtub drains. You can purchase a small, sink-sized plunger or just use the big one that's sitting next to your toilet. If the sink is full of water, remove as much as possible by bailing it into a bucket. Leave an inch or so of water to help create suction. Stand back as you work the plunger, though, because the water may splash out of the sink.
Boiling Water
If there is standing water in the sink, bail it out into a bucket. Then, slowly pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain, stopping as the water backs into the sink, and then continuing when it starts to clear. This can be tedious but often it will work.
Volcanic Action
Pour a cup of baking soda down the bathroom drain, followed by a cup of vinegar, either white or apple cider. Let this solution bubble for 15 to 30 minutes and then pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain.
Coat Hanger
Untwist the top part of a wire coat hanger and straighten out the metal so that you have one long wire. With pliers, create a slight bend, or hook, in one end of the wire. For this method you will need to remove the stopper, also called a pop-up, from the drain. Sometimes they can just be twisted and removed. Other styles have a screw-on cap. Once you've removed either the stopper or the cap and have access to the drain, insert the hook-end of the wire down the drain until it stops. Slowly pull it out, twisting as you do so. After repeating this procedure several times the drain should be pretty clear. Run some hot water for a few minutes to clear whatever might be left behind.
Tags: down drain, boiling water, boiling water down, into bucket, pour boiling, pour boiling water