It’s one of those unspoken gross jobs that we do in our homes. Clearing the kitchen sink. Naturally, bits of food are collected as dishes are cleaned or soaked. After a while, it builds up and either prevents proper drainage or it begins to smell. It happens to us all, so let’s stop pretending it isn’t one of those disgusting must-do jobs and let’s start sharing our best tips for clearing it.
First things first, put on them marigolds. Where there’s food there are bacteria and who knows what’s lurking around your sink plughole! When you’ve popped your rubber gloves on it’s time for the worst part. Scooping out the dirt. Anything you can see and get your hands on, grab it then pop it in your kitchen food waste bin. If you don’t have one, then your regular kitchen bin will do.
There are multiple methods to clearing a kitchen sink. Depending on how it’s functioning may depend on which one you use. Take a look at the options below and pick the one that suits your situation best.
Method 1 - The regularly top-up
If your kitchen sink seems to be clearing like normal and doesn’t necessarily smell but you’re aware a lot of unwanted items may have crept into the drain lately, this is the one for you. It’s important to note that absolutely nothing should go down your kitchen drain except for water. So bits of food and cooking oils should be included in the list of ‘unwanted items’.
You may be surprised at cooking oils, but in fact, they’re often the culprits of blocked drains. They go into our drains as a liquid in a hot state, but as soon as they cool down they solidify creating blockages. It can be hard to avoid them creeping into your drains when washing cooking trays which is why this method is the perfect top-up.
Step 1 - One step wonder
Simply fill your kettle, let it boil, then pour it down the sink. You might want to do this two or three times to fully clear it. But you’ll be surprised at the effectiveness of the boiling water. It will loosen and dislodge most of the debris.
Method 2 - Something’s wrong
If your kitchen sink looks clean and clear, but you're noticing slow drainage, there’s probably something lodged in the drain along the way. This is the perfect time to grab your plunger. No chemicals are needed.
Like we previously said, you should try to avoid putting anything unwanted in your drain, this includes harmful powerful chemicals. They’re difficult for water companies to filter out and can sometimes end up being put back into the ocean, harming wildlife.
A plunger is fairly powerful at removing items. So before you skip to more powerful stuff, see if a bit of good old fashioned hard effort works.
Method 3 - Bringing out the big guns
Many people will reach for this method first, but it’s important to try lesser harsh ideas first. This method is for the people who can see the dirt and grime around their kitchen sink, there’s a bit of an odour and it isn’t draining as normal. It sounds like a big smelly blockage that has built up over time.
Step 1 - Grab your ingredients
Bicarbonate soda and vinegar is a powerful combination. You might remember it from when you were in primary school making erupting volcanos. While a kitchen sink isn’t the same, the explosive properties can benefit you when it comes to dislodging stubborn dirt and grime. You don’t necessarily need specific measurements of these items, but try to use a little bit at a time and repeat the process if needed.
Step 2 - Get mixing
Sprinkle some of the bicarbonate of soda on the top of the sink, specifically on areas where there’s a lot of grime. Then, use your white distilled vinegar and pour it over the area. Repeat this a couple of times and you’ll notice the grime start to fall away. Use a damp cloth on the top of the sink to scrub if needed.
Step 3 - The most important step
While the two ingredients are great at fizzing up and removing visible dirt, they can cool down in the pipes and create further issues. So, it’s essential that you now fill up your kettle and pour boiling water down your drain. This will remove the final bits of dirt and grime and help to clear the odour of the vinegar.
As you can see, none of these methods requires harsh and powerful chemicals. No expensive cleaners. Just items that you more than likely already own, and products you can find in any local shop. Save your money, protect your drains and use natural cleaners instead. Once you’ve done a deep clean, keep on top of it all using method 1 and you’ll never have to do that dreaded food scoop again.
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