Did you ever think what the inside of the drain on your bathroom sink looks like? Well don't, it's definitely not a pretty site.Where do you think all that hair and soap scum goes?Most of it goes no further than your U bend so don't be surprised when your sink starts to drain slowly or worst still, becomes blocked completely. You may even notice a certain aroma emanating from your sink.If you're not sure how to deal with the problem, then follow our tried and tested quick and dirty fix and if that's not successful (some sinks really are bunged up) then our Not Quick But Still Dirty solution will get your sink water water flowing again for you.All the Tools and Materials You Need For This: White VinegarBaking sodaLemon juiceBowl and towelFlashlightDrain cleanersBottle cleanersSealant tape The Steps to Unclogging Your Bathroom Sink When it comes to unclogging your bathroom sink there are really two ways to get things unblocked properly.You can choose the "Quick and Dirty" way or you can choose the sure-fired "Not Quick But Still Dirty" way.We'd suggest you start with the "Quick and Dirty" and if that doesn't work, move onto the second of the two methods below. For details, here goes….The ‘Quick and Dirty’ Way Start by getting the stopper of your sink out of the way. If the stopper is threaded it will probably be a left hand thread. Some stoppers just rest in place and can be simply removed. Avoid the temptation to take anything else out, especially the drain cover.Next get stuck in with the cleaning agent by filling the drain in your sink. We're using baking soda, it's a great cleaner, it's quite natural so has no unpleasant chemicals involved. Make sure you've got baking SODA and not baking POWDER as unlike your buns, the powder is a pale imitation when it comes to cleaning. You should aim to fill your sink with half a cup.Take half a cup of distilled white vinegar and pour it down the drain. Then step back and wait for the fun to start. The vinegar and baking soda react with each other (remember those volcano experiments at grade school?). As the mixture fizzes and splutters it should dislodge and soap scum and hair that is blocking your sink.If your sink runs free but leaves your bathroom smelling like a British Fish and Chip shop, a few squeezes of lemon juice (see - all natural and green here) will leave things altogether fresher. If your sink is still blocked it's time for Plan B, the Not Quick But Still Dirty Method. The ‘Not So Quick But Still Dirty’ Way Preparation is all important as you'll have dirty water and other unpleasants to deal with. Start by clearing under the sink completely. Don't leave anything behinds or it is bound to become soiled as you work. Next lay an old towel on the bottom of the vanity cupboard and place a plastic bowl under the U bend. You could use a pail but it might make it a bit difficult to work. At this stage, you might find a flashlight helpful as there's often not a lot of light under a sink. Rubber gloves will also help but if you've a strong stomach they aren't absolutely necessary.Start by removing the Ubend. There are two nuts on the top of either side of it. Start with the first, at the sink end and try to undo it slightly by hand. If this doesn't work use a wrench and turn the nut counterclockwise slightly. Then repeat the same for the other side of the pipe. You should now be able to complete undoing the nuts and gently release the Ubend itself. Watch out for water and whatever else might be waiting for you. Don't say you weren't warned!You can now clean the pipe thoroughly making sure you remove any blockages of soap scum and hair. Remove any blockages using drain cleaning tools, they are readily available, cheap and very effective. Once all the blockages have been removed, complete the cleaning with very hot soapy water and your U bend will look like new.Next up you need to clean the sink drain pipe, that's the piece of the pipe that sticks down from the sink. Start by finding the plunger rod, it comes down from the back of the faucet. Then locate the clip that holds the plunger rod in place connecting it to the sink stopper (got that?). Then find the nut on the side of the drainpipe and try to remove it by hand. If you're lucky it will budge, if you're not not you may need to go back to the clip and squeeze the ends together to release the pressure and then undo the nut. This will release the rod that holds the sink stopper in place. You can then remove the sink stopper.Clean the stopper with a combination of baking soda and white vinegar, and old toothbrush is great for getting into all the nooks and crannies. You should also clean the inside of the pipe thoroughly. An old fashioned bottle cleaner will really make this part of the job easy. Complete this part of the job by replacing the clean sink stopper and reconnecting the mechanism underneath the sink. Check that once connected the sink stopper raises and falls correctly.Next, reconnect the Ubend. Just push one end over the sink drain pipe and gently screw the nut to hold it in place. Then attach the second to the drain pipe and pinch the nut so it holds in place. Then return to the sink end and tighten fully and finally tighten the nut on the drain pipe side of the Ubend.Almost done now - a little gentle testing and we're there. Run the warm tap for a few minutes to see if there are any leaks. If there are, undo the Uben nuts and wrap pipe sealant tape around the threads before retightening the nuts. The sealant tape should stop any minor leaks effectively.Finally you can clean up any residue that missed the bowl - there's always some. If you are a keen gardener any solids you have can be added to your compost heap. Once you have cleaned your sink, routine cleaning with baking soda and white vinegar, say monthly, should stop the problem recurring. BUY ON AMAZON BUY ON AMAZON BUY ON AMAZON Now, How Proud Do You Feel?Solving a problem such unblocking a bathroom sink so that it runs clearly and smells fresh and lemony should you feeling as proud as punch. Who knows, perhaps this could be the first step in a distinguished DIY career.If this is your first foray into do it yourself or even if you are a lifelong DIYer we'd love to hear about your experience.Tell us how well it went, even how it all went wrong and we'll try to get back to you with lots of tea and sympathy. We'd also love to hear any valuable tips and tricks you've got to add – who knows, we may just feature them on Bathroomzz net time!
How to Unclog Your Bathroom Sink Find more on: Bathroomzz.net
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