How to Unclog Kitty Litter in a Drain

Many people make the mistake of pouring cat litter down the drain. Often, the litter will dissolve under a stream of hot water, but in some cases, more elaborate methods are required to unclog the litter from a sink. The best way to prevent a drain from being clogged with cat litter is to purchase biodegradable, flush-safe litter that is designed to degrade and will not clog drains or toilets. There are a number of different ways to remove clogged cat litter from a drain, depending on the size of the clog and the materials you have available.

Things You'll Need

• Dishwashing liquid Wet/dry vacuum Bucket Coat hanger Drain auger (or plumber's snake) Adjustable wrench

Instructions

1. Use a wet/dry vacuum like a Shop Vac to remove the solid pieces of cat litter from the drain. Stick the hose attachment close to the drain (or into the drain, if possible) and switch on the wet/dry vacuum. It should suck out the larger pieces of litter and clear out any other solids that have been stuck in the drain. After removing those particles with the wet/dry vac, turn on the hot water and let it run through the drain for about 2 to 3 minutes. This will allow you to confirm that the drain is clear, while dissolving any remaining litter.

2. Mix 2 cups of hot water and 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid. Slowly pour the mixture down the drain. The combination of hot water and detergent should dissolve the litter, as well as wash it away. If it is a large clump of litter, you may need to straighten a wire coat hanger and jab at the clump until it breaks apart.

3. Place a bucket beneath the drain pipe of the sink. Using an adjustable wrench, remove the drain pipe below the sink. This will clear any clog and backed-up water that is caught in the drain pipe. The drain pipe is also called the trap, and is usually a "U"-shaped pipe where most clogs form. Be careful when removing a drain pipe, as backed-up water can be in front of the clog in the trap, as well as behind it.

4. If the clog is particularly large or the above steps do not work, you will need to use a drain auger or plumber's snake. A drain auger is a long, thin metal cable with a corkscrew-like attachment at its end and a crank at the other. Plumbers use drain augers to clear clogs from sink drains by using the corkscrew attachment to either break up the clog or remove it from the drain. Removing a clog from a drain can be messy, so you will need to wear gloves and have an empty bucket or other receptacle nearby for the clog. Slide the drain auger into the drain while turning the crank clockwise. Once you feel the corkscrew reach the clog, keep turning the crank and move the auger back and forth. If you feel the clog dislodge, pull the auger from the drain without turning the crank. Pull the auger completely from the drain and drop the clog into a bucket. If you cannot remove the clog, simply continue cranking the auger and moving the it back and forth until the clog is broken up enough to be washed away.

Tips & Warnings

• Before doing any work on a sink, it is wise to consult a plumbing or home-improvement professional. Wrapping a cloth around the wrench before using it to remove the drain pipe will prevent the wrench's threads from marking the pipe.

Resources

• Shopvac.com--Vacuum Finder Tool
• How to Use a Drain Auger
• Bathroom Sink Diagram