Things You'll Need:
- Plunger
- Snake
- Drain cleaning liquid
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Step 1
Perform maintenance on your drain. You might already be cleaning around the sink area to keep it looking nice on a regular basis, but you must also remove the stopper, and clean out any hair and debris about once a week to avoid clogging. Clean he stopper itself with regular white vinegar if it has soap buildup on it. Pour hite vinegar down the drain once a month or so to keep it clean.
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Step 2
Purchase a drain cleaning liquid. There are several different ways to clean your drains. Stores sell commercial drain cleaning liquids and foams, but these are often full of harsh chemicals. They can be hazardous to your skin and can also corrode your sink and drains if used improperly or used very often. Try some alternative methods first, and resort to chemical drain cleaners if other methods don't work well enough. These work because the chemicals break down the debris that causes the clog, which are usually things like hair. Wear rubber gloves when using these products to avoid getting them on your hands because the chemicals can cause burns. If it can disintegrate hair clogs in your drain, it can also damage your skin if you're not careful with it.
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Step 3
Pour the drain cleaning liquid down the drain.
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Step 4
Try a plunger if you cannot unclog the drain. Plug any overflow drainage openings so that you can create a vacuum, then put the plunger over the sink drain. Add a bit of water to the sink to cover the head of the plunger, then try plunging the sink.
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Step 5
Try using a snake. This is a flexible metal device, sometimes with a small brush-like end, which you can feed down the drain and turn it until it grabs the hairball or other debris causing the clog. The snake grabs the clog, and you can pull it out. If it doesn't get all of it, try again until the drain is completely cleared.
