Every day, you stand over your bathroom sink to scrub your teeth, spit out the toothpaste, brush your hair, wash your hands, and do it all over again the following day. On a good day, your bathroom sink drain absorbs all of these substances into your drainage system. On a bad day, your bathroom sink drain slowly absorbs these substances. Slow drainage is a pet peeve amongst homeowners, and for good reason. If it's not draining, the water and debris just sits there, staining your porcelain sink and creating bad odors in your bathroom.
Unfortunately, if you're experiencing slow drains in your bathroom sink, it's likely because a clog is forming in the drain line. Bathroom sink clogs are exceptionally common and not necessarily something to panic about. Our Detroit plumbers will teach you how to clear a slow bathroom sink drain. While there are many ways to unclog clogged sink drains, our plumbing experts will teach you methods that don't involve chemical drain cleaners.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Detroit can be your first call when your DIY drain cleaning methods do not work. While we do believe that you will be able to unclog your bathroom or kitchen sink after reading this guide, we're one phone call away if you can't. Continue reading as we explore our drain-safe methods for unclogging and clearing a slow bathroom sink drain.
Why Do You Have a Slow Bathroom Sink Drain?
So, why are you learning how to fix a slow-draining sink in the first place? How did you get here? Well, bathroom sinks are among the most common plumbing fixtures to develop clogs. That's because there's a lot of traffic at your bathroom sink. Over time, your daily habits of flushing, brushing, and scrubbing can accumulate in your drain pipes. Debris, such as hair and soap scum, can become stuck way down the drain, preventing normal water flow and leading to frustratingly slow sink drains.
When you completely neglect the drains in your plumbing system, your drain lines develop stubborn clogs. These clogs have the potential to wreak havoc on both your system and your home, so investing in annual professional drain cleaning services will benefit both you and your system. Keeping bathroom sink drains clear of debris is essential for preventing clogged drains and maintaining proper drainage. It also ensures that you won't deal with any type of drain issues, including slow bathroom sink drains.
However, you're currently dealing with a bathroom sink that drains slowly. So, what do you do? Before we move on to how to clear a slow bathroom sink drain, let's take a look at the tools and supplies you will need for this task.
Tools and Supplies You Need to Clear a Clogged Drain
Luckily, you won't need much when it comes to learning how to speed up a slow bathtub drain or sink drain. DIY methods are great because most of the tools and supplies are items you likely already own. For this task, you will need:
- A plunger
- Hot water
- Vinegar
- Half a cup of baking soda
- Drain snake
- Gloves
- Facial mask (optional)
Steps and Methods for How to Fix a Slow Drain
1. Drain Protection: Remove and Scrub the Drain Stopper Clean
The first step in learning how to clear a slow bathroom sink drain or bathtub is removing the drain stopper. Debris can accumulate in mesh sink stoppers, making it a common reason for slow drainage at sinks. So, remove the stopper from the drain opening and give it a scrub and rinse to remove hair, soap scum, toothpaste, and other cooties that have built up over time.
2. The Universal Solvent: Boiling Water
If removing the sink stopper didn't do the trick and your fixtures are still slow, the next step is to try using boiling water to remove the clog. Hot water can sometimes dissolve minor clogs that aren't deep in the drain pipe. So, with some luck, this trick should work. Slowly pour the boiling water down the drain. Make sure to do this in intervals, allowing the water to effectively work the clog for a few minutes before adding more. Consider safety first, and skip this step if you aren’t able to carry and pour the boiling water safely. If this solution works, great! If not, we have a few tricks up our sleeves for slow bathroom sink drains.
3. A Homeowner's Remedy: Baking Soda and Vinegar
Since you have vinegar and half a cup of baking soda handy, grab it. Start by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the same measurement of vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz and react for approximately 15 minutes. Once the time has passed, fill the sink with hot water and see if this chemical reaction clears the clog. While this sometimes works on minor clogs, it’s not always effective.
4. A Plumber's Sidekick: Use a Plunger
Now, if you are still dealing with a slow bathroom sink drain, it's time to bring out the big guns: a plunger. Remove as much standing water as possible from your sink or bathtub, and if you have a drain cover, remove it as well. Place the plunger over the drain and create a tight seal. For about 30 seconds, plunge vigorously up and down, and make sure you're maintaining a tight seal. If this doesn't work, we have one more tip for how to clear a slow bathroom sink drain.
5. Friendly Household Snakes: Use a Drain Snake
Our last DIY method for how to clear a slow drain is by using a drain snake. Insert the tool into the sink to pull out whatever is clogging the blockage. You may want gloves and a facial mask for this task because the debris is slimy and stinky. Once you've dug out the clog, run some hot water to see if this method worked and to flush the drain out of any remaining residue.
Sink is Still Slow to Drain? Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Detroit for Backup!
Sometimes, sink and bathtub drains need a little more than your own DIY efforts. While we can teach you how to clear a slow bathroom sink drain, there are times when a more thorough approach is required. If your drain is still slow, let Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Detroit take a look at what is going on. Our plumbers will be able to effectively remove the blockages in the drain and keep your drain flowing freely. Contact our exceptional customer service team today if you need an appointment with our plumbers.
