Quickly unclog kitchen sink before Lunar New Year with this clever trick

1. Remove grease buildup with baking soda, salt, and vinegar

Pouring excess grease down the drain after cooking can cause clogs in the pipes. To unclog the drain, you will need:

– Take 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of salt. Mix them together and pour into the drain.

– Heat a cup of vinegar until it just boils and pour it into the sink.

– Quickly cover the sink to prevent the foam from escaping.

– Wait for 15 to 30 minutes, then flush with hot water to unclog the drain.

2. Unclog the drain with salt and boiling water

If the clog is not severe or just starting to form, you can choose simpler remedies. Salt will clean the pipes from the inside, while eliminating bacteria and unpleasant odors. Because its effect is gentle, you may have to repeat this process several times — especially if the clog is larger than you think.

– Take half a cup of salt and pour it into the drain.

– Take a kettle of boiling water and pour it over the salt. Be careful not to let the hot water splash back on your hands or other body parts.

– Flush with hot water to clean the drain.

Repeat if necessary.

3. Unclog the drain with lye

Sodium hydroxide is a magical chemical that can turn some solids into liquids. It is used as a component in unclogging measures. To use this magical ingredient, you will need:

– Take a bucket and fill it with 3 liters of cold water.

– Add 750 ml of liquid lye to the bucket and mix well (do not touch it with bare hands!)

– Wait until the water starts to bubble and heat up due to the chemical reaction.

– Pour the mixture down the drain and let it sit for about 20 minutes.

– Finally, flush it with a kettle of boiling water.

4. Clean the P-trap

If chemical reactions do not work, you may need to perform some physical removal. The P-trap is a curved pipe under your sink where you can collect grease and small debris. Because of its shape, it has become the cause of most clogs in your kitchen.

First, you need to be prepared for the cleanup action, as it will be messy. Place a bucket right under the trap, wear gloves, lay a towel on the floor, and then start.

– The P-trap is attached to the 2 pipes by screw clamps and you need to remove it to clean it.

– Once you have removed the trap, you can clean it. It will likely be full of food scraps, grease, and other debris. Clean the hard debris by hand and with a brush, then rinse with hot water to dissolve any other grease stains.

– Once you have finished, repeat as usual.

Some traps have a P-trap that can be easily cleaned without removing it, but it is better to remove it and clean it with hot water.

5. Unclog the drain with a coat hanger

A coat hanger is basically a substitute for a drain snake if you don’t have one or if the clog in your drain is not too deep. This method is very simple and inexpensive:

– Take a wire hanger and pliers.

– Unfold the wire hanger straight by hand and pliers.

– Finally, thread the straightened coat hanger into the pipe and twist continuously to unclog the debris.