Here's Exactly How To Clean Your Kitchen Sink Drain

Every now and then you may notice an unpleasant odor coming from your kitchen sink. Food particles, fat, liquids like milk or gravy, and soil from watering plants can all end up down your sink drain and can create a blockage that builds up and starts to smell. You also may have noticed that your sink is emptying too slowly, or perhaps not emptying at all.

If you need to clean and possibly unblock your kitchen sink, what are the best methods? According to Big bathroom inspiration, when it comes to a blocked or slow draining sink the easiest option is to use a plunger. Place the plunger fully over the plughole and pump the plunger up and down a few times until the water starts to drain again. However, if it doesn't clear the blockage then you may need something more heavy-duty to pour down the drain that will break up the blockage before attempting to use the plunger again.

Most kitchen sink clogs are from fatty, oily deposits that line the sides of the pipes. Eventually, this builds up so much that it blocks the water from draining away, says Insider. Ideally, prevention is best and a good idea would be to clean your kitchen sink drain once a week as part of your weekly cleaning schedule.

Conventional drain cleaners are effective but heavily chemically laden, and for some people, a natural homemade alternative would be preferable. There are lots of methods to naturally clean your drain and most of them involve good old baking soda. Insider suggests a method to clear your pipes of oily build-up and make sure they are always draining effectively with only 2 ingredients. They recommend half a cup of baking soda and a kettle of boiling water. Pour the baking soda down the sink drain and let it sit in the pipes for 5 minutes. Pour the boiling water down the drain and that should do the trick, but you can repeat if necessary. Doing this once a week should keep your kitchen drain clean and clear of any build-up.

If you need something a little more heavy-duty than simple baking soda and hot water, there are other methods you can try. BDS drainage has a method for clearing most tough blockages by combining baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water. Mix one-third of a cup of baking soda with one-third of a cup of vinegar in a jug. While the mixture is fizzing, pour quickly down the blocked drain. The fizzing reaction will cut through most build-ups if you let it sit for 24 hours. After, pour plenty of boiling water down the drain to flush it all away. 

If you have a blockage that requires more invasive treatment, BDS drainage also suggests using a wire coat hanger. Straighten out the hanger as much as possible and create a small hook at one end. Use this to clear out any stuck debris while being very careful not to push it further down into the u-bend. Finally, repeated the steps already stated to fully clear any leftover blockage and leave your kitchen sink drain clean and in perfect working order.