How to Unclog a Sink & Garbage Disposal

Unclog a Sink

• 1

  Remove the sink's stopper. Place a wet washcloth into the opening of the overflow if your sink has one. Place the plunger over the opening, and pour in a few inches of water. Pull up and down on the plunger vigorously with small and short strokes, with the plunger maintaining contact with the sink's basin.

• 2

  Dry the area around the sink drain. Pour 1 tbsp. of baking soda down the drain. Slowly begin to pour ¼ cup of vinegar down the drain, and allow the two to sit in the sink for 30 minutes. Rinse the drain out with hot water.

• 3

  Create a brine solution for the sink. Add ½ cup of salt to 1 ½ gallons of water. Pour the brine solution into a saucepan. Place the saucepan over low heat, and remove the saucepan once it steams. Pour the brine solution down the drain slowly.

• 4

  Pour 1 cup of bleach into the sink drain. Make sure the kitchen stays well-ventilated before using the bleach, and wear gloves to protect your hands.

• 5

  Use a commercial drain-cleaning product. If no simple remedies work, follow the directions on the back of the drain-cleaning product and pour it down the sink to unclog the drain.

Unclog a Garbage Disposal

• 6

  Turn off the power on the garbage disposal.

• 7

  Use a flashlight to look inside the disposal. Use tongs to remove any large foreign objects.

• 8

  Find the hex wrench that came with the disposal. If you do not have a hex wrench, you will need to buy one that fits the hole in the bottom of the garbage disposal. Ask a home repair store for help if you are unsure about the size.

• 9

  Place the hex wrench into the hole. Turn the wrench back and forth to free the flywheel in the garbage disposal. Stick a wooden spoon handle into the disposal. Use a flashlight to see inside the drain, and turn the flywheel until it moves.

• 10

  Turn the power back on to the disposal. If this does not work, you may need to unclog the disposal drain. Plug the sink drain on the opposite side of the garbage disposal with a stopper. Sit the plunger over the garbage disposal opening, and press down firmly. Repeat this motion three to four times to force air into the pipe. Remove the plug and try the disposal. Continue to plunge the drain until it becomes unclogged.