How to Clean Out a Slow-Draining Bathroom Sink
Few things are more frustrating than a slow-draining bathroom sink because the sink is where you must shave, brush your teeth and wash your hands. A slow drain is usually caused by gunk buildup in the pop-up stopper. Once you learn how to clean out a slow-draining bathroom sink, you can remove the stopper and clear the drain. The project requires only a couple of tools, and you can accomplish it within 30 minutes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Open the cabinet door under the sink and find the sink stopper mechanism. A metal rod, known as the pivot rod, is connected to the sink drain tailpiece. A metal bar, called a clevis, is connected to the stopper lever behind the sink. Both of these are linked together by a thumbscrew.
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2
Place a bucket under the sink trap to catch any residual water that may still be in the pipe. Turn the thumbscrew counterclockwise with your fingers to disconnect the pivot rod from the clevis.
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3
Locate the threaded cap that secures the pivot rod to the back of the sink drain tailpiece. Use a pair of pliers to turn the cap clockwise to remove it from the tailpiece. Carefully pull the pivot rod completely out of the tailpiece after the cap is unscrewed. The end of the pivot rod will have a small ball on it that connects to the actual sink stopper.
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4
Go above the sink, and pull the stopper out of the sink drain. Most likely this is where your clog is located. Remove any hair and grime from around the stopper. Remove any hair, debris and grime with your fingers that is within the reachable top portion of the drain.
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5
Go back under the sink, and screw the pivot rod cap back into the drain tailpiece temporarily. Go back up to the water faucet, and turn on the hot water. Use a small stiff bottle brush, and push it in and out of the drain with the hot water running to loosen and remove any residual grime and hair from the tailpiece. Turn off the hot water after you have the drain running clear.
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6
Insert the stopper back into the drain and go back under the sink. Unscrew the pivot rod cap from the tailpiece, and allow the stopper to drop. Insert the ball into the hole on the end of the stopper and reattach the pivot rod cap. Tighten it with the pliers.
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7
Reconnect the pivot rod to the clevis using the thumbscrew. Go above the sink, and check the operation of the stopper.
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