My bathroom sink takes forever to drain. I don't want to pour harsh drain cleaner. What works?
How do I unclog a slow bathroom sink without chemicals?
Concerns & risks
You're brushing your teeth and the sink fills up like a bathtub. The water drains, but slowly. Hair and toothpaste have formed a team.
Standing water, smells and grime around the sink.
Causes & evidence
Hair and soap scum tangle around the pop-up stopper and just below it.
What to do
- Pull out the pop-up stopper (some lift out, some unscrew under the sink at the pivot nut).
- Clean the gunk off the stopper. Yes, it's gross.
- Push a plastic barbed drain snake down, twist and pull up.
- Flush with hot water for a minute.
Common mistakes: Don't jam a wire hanger down, which can scratch or push the clog deeper. Avoid mixing drain chemicals. If you already used a chemical cleaner, don't plunge or open the trap until you've rinsed. Wear gloves when cleaning the trap and keep a bucket under it.
Speed Man tip: Still slow? Put a bucket under the U-shaped trap, unscrew it by hand and clean it out.
Wrap-up: Slow bathroom sinks are usually hair on the stopper. Remove the stopper and use a plastic drain snake. Clean the U-trap if it's still slow.
⚡ Speed Summary
- Slow bathroom sinks are usually hair on the stopper.
- Remove the stopper and use a plastic drain snake.
- Clean the U-trap if it's still slow.
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