How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink With Standing Water
The sink is the heart and soul of your kitchen, perhaps one of the reasons search engines deliver thousands of queries from people asking how to unclog a kitchen sink.
With that in mind, you enjoy greater versatility by installing a double kitchen sink, especially on the busiest days in the sacred space. However, a double kitchen sink means double the mess and trouble when it clogs, often making your kitchen highly susceptible to germs and bacteria.
Before we guide you on how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water, we will first enlighten you about the most common causes of clogging in your sink. Read on to learn more.
What Causes Clogs in Your Kitchen?
It would help to keep your kitchen clean and free from germs and bacteria.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to do so with a clogged sink with standing water, a common issue in most homes. But what causes clogs in kitchen sinks?
Food Waste
Throwing food waste is one of the major causes of clogging your double kitchen sink. Most food wastes are insoluble and thus end up clogging the drain. To avoid the latter, always scrape excess food off your utensils and dishes clean into the trash before putting them into the sink. Do not be fooled by the waste disposal units on the sink.
Oils and Grease
Grease, fats, and oils do not directly block the drain. They work by reducing your sink’s drainage capacity, which worsens as you clean up with cold water. Fortunately, you can get rid of these residues easily using hot water, among other strategies, which are discussed later in this guide.
Mineral Buildup
It is one of the most challenging blockage agents to deal with. It is common in places with hard water. The mineral residues build up over time before causing blockage of your drain. This problem can only be fixed by a plumber. So, you should always have one on standby for emergencies.
Tiny Objects
It is common for small objects such as rings, earrings, and coins to get stuck in your kitchen sink, causing a blockage. Anytime these objects get into the drain, you should act fast to avoid compromising the system’s efficiency.
Tips on How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink
Like most people, you can get frustrated when your kitchen sink clogs. Fortunately, there are some simple tips on how to unclog a double kitchen sink, depending on the cause. Here are some of the most popular techniques:
Using hot or boiling water
Boiling water is the cheapest and easiest secret on how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water. It is the most viable solution for blockages caused by fat and grease residues and works by dissolving the culprits until the pipes are sparkling clean.
However, you can’t use this technique directly with your sink full of water. It would help if you first improvised how to remove the standing water – using a small bucket, mug, or pot – before pouring the hot water into the sink.
Besides, you should use the hot water a little at a time to prevent another buildup. Repeat the process on both sides of the sink until the whole residue is cleared.
Using a plunger
Your kitchen plunger plays a vital role in unclogging your double sink. Most double sinks come with a garbage disposal unit on the side. Plug the sink on the side with the disposal unit and use the plunger on the other sink. Repeat the process until the water drains.
The plunger creates pressure within the sewer system, pushing out small particles and residues from the pipes. If it works, run boiling water through the drainage to dissolve any remaining grease and oil buildup. If the water doesn’t drain, you can change the position of the plug and plunger and repeat the process.
Remove and check the trap
This is another effective tip on how to unclog the double kitchen sink. It entails clearing the cabinet underneath the sink and removing the pipe to examine it for debris or particles. Since a plunger can’t remove the vast mass of clogged matter in the pipe, you should use a plumber’s snake or wire coat hanger to remove the blockage.
Once you remove the clog from the pipe, you take the trap to the cleaning area or outside to wash it up. Once clean, run through boiling water repeatedly to remove any remaining particles. After reinstalling it, run through more hot water to confirm no remaining clog.
If the drainage works perfectly past five minutes, it is fixed. To avoid spilling the standing water on the sink all over the kitchen, place a bucket underneath to hold the dirty water before you start working. You can also use a wrench to loosen the pipe while easing it off.
Use vinegar and baking soda
If you are wondering how to unclog a kitchen double sink, you should know how powerful a vinegar-baking soda combination can be. You can make the mixture using 1/3 cup of baking soda and an equal amount of vinegar.
Put the two into a dish and once it starts fizzing, pour it down the drain and wait for 15 minutes to one hour. As the mixture fizzes down the drain, it clears up the clogging agents leaving your drainage clean.
Instead of mixing the components in a dish, you can start by placing a large amount of baking soda into the sink, followed by the same portion of vinegar. Allow the mixture to settle for a while as it fizzes, and then run hot water down the drain. The mixture is ideal for cleaning pipes and is as effective as other drain cleaners.
If you don’t have vinegar, a mixture of salt and baking soda is another effective tip on how to unclog a double kitchen sink.
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Wrapping Up How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink With Standing Water
A double kitchen sink offers great versatility for busy kitchens. But when it clogs, tasks such as cleaning and cooking come to a standstill. Your kitchen may also harbor germs and bacteria, especially when the sink has standing water.
Fortunately, you can apply these tips on how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water. Tools such as plungers, plumber’s snakes, and a wire coat hanger should be handy when unclogging your sink. That way, you don’t have to call your plumber anytime the kitchen clogs, saving you time and money.
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