Remember when you were a kid and didn’t have to think about the dirty dishes piling up in the sink? Yeah, we all reminisce about the good old days whose value we took for granted.
Washing the dishes is definitely not one of the most enjoyable experiences of our daily schedule.
However, it is a necessity in our adult lives and having a clean kitchen sink makes the chore easier for us. So how frustrating would you feel to see a clogged sink whose water is not draining at all?
Fortunately, we can be your plumbing guide for the day!
Let us walk you through the possible agents causing such a clog and how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water. In the end, you will surely be a master at adulting!
What Causes A Double Kitchen Sink To Clog?
Food Residual
One of the most common causes behind a clogged kitchen sink is residual food particles. All the utensils you clean up there come with some amount of residue like that.
Although it is pretty negligible on its own, the amount of such leftover accumulated over time becomes large enough to clog the sink.
Tiny Objects
Sometimes we don’t realize what tiny objects may be getting into our sink. These are usually items we use on a daily basis.
They could be eartops, coins, rings or similar objects which are small enough to go beyond our visual boundaries and drop into the sink.
We may also not be paying it enough attention and lose them within these narrow spaces.
If you do notice any of them gone and later observe the clog in your sink, you should act as fast as possible to prevent the draining system from suffering any further.
Grease And Oil
There are hardly any dishes which don't need some help from oil or other greasy food ingredients. So it should come as no surprise that they can get inside your sink and clog the draining system.
Even though they are not solid objects, they can significantly reduce the draining capacity and eventually cause obstruction.
Mineral Buildup
If you are living in a hard water area, your clogged sink may be a result of mineral buildups.
These are caused by the high volume of minerals present in hard water which stay behind during or after passing through the sink pipes. The easiest and most efficient way to solve this issue is calling a plumber.
Ways To Unclog A Double Kitchen Sink With Standing Water
Hot Water
If you have been struggling with your monthly budgets and would like to solve the clogging issue with zero expense, water can be your aide! Boil the water to reach a high enough temperature for unclogging the sink.
This works especially well to clean up agents like oil, grease, fat, or similar residue from the pipes.
However, if it is any of the other agents we discussed previously, you will need to get a little creative to make the most of this hot water.
That is because the standing water in your sink will make it harder for the boiling water to enter the problematic area.
So you will need to first remove the standing water using a mug, pot or bucket. Then add the hot water in portions to see if it drains eventually or builds up. Repeat this part a few more times to get rid of all the clog agents.
Plunger
You can use a plunger as well to remove the floating water. To do so, you will first need to plug one of the two sinks. It is better to choose the one with a garbage disposal unit for this.
After plugging it, apply the plunger to the other sink and observe whether the water gets drained. If it doesn’t drain, then you can plug this sink and plunge the other one.
The plunger is supposed to force the clogged up particles to go away from the pipes by creating pressure within this system.
For best results, you can pour down boiling water into the sink after all the clog has gone away. This will remove the remaining solid or greasy particles from the entire system.
Check Trap
There is a P-shaped or S-shaped trap under every kitchen sink that stops dirty water from getting into the pipes.
It may hold water sometimes and might be the reason behind your clogged sink. So you will need to check it for possible clogged materials.
To do so, first you need to place a bucket under those pipes so that the released water gets contained in a closed space and doesn’t spill all over.
Then loosen up the pipe using a wrench and detach it. Check for any particle that could cause the clog.
If you find any, remove easily and immediately using a plumber’s snake or a wire coat hanger. For tougher buildups, you may need to take the pipe outside and wash it well.
At last, run water through it repeatedly to check if any dirty water still comes out on the other end.
When it releases clean water several times, you can put it back on the sink drainage system and do another test run just to be sure. Repeat it a few times at intervals to ensure proper plumbing.
Plumber’s Snake
If the previous option didn’t work out for you and the clog is further down the trap, you can try out this method for which you will need a common plumbing tool called plumber’s snake or drain snake.
It should be available online or in any hardware store near you and is considered to be an upgrade to a plunger.
Just use it for removing the content still residing within the pipes, put the trap back again and flush hot water through the system to remove any residue. Turn on the faucet and see if it drains as well as you would like.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
The two superheroes of household cleaning with baking soda and vinegar - can come to your assistance to relieve you from the stress of a clogged double kitchen sink with standing water.
First, prepare the mixture by combining ⅓ cup of each in a dish. They should mix automatically while creating a fizzy sound.
As soon as you hear it, you can pour your mixture down the sink drain and wait for up to a few hours.
If you don’t want to put it in a container, just pour them one by one on the sink itself in equal portions!
The cleaning solution should be able to remove all the clogging agents present within the pipes including build-ups or grease. At last, run hot water through the drains to make it fully functional again.
Baking Soda And Salt
Another easy and homemade cleaning solution for unclogging a double kitchen sink is combining baking soda and salt.
The latter is in fact a very effective agent in removing any clog including grease, buildups and similar substances. Its power is enhanced if you combine it with boiling water.
Get rid of the standing water at first. Then take half a cup of salt in a bowl and add a cup of baking soda to it.
Mix them together and then pour it into the drain. Let 4 to 6 hours pass by and then run hot water through it. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary until you are satisfied with the result.
Final Words
As you can see, there are many answers to the question of how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water.
You can take the easiest road of pouring in boiling hot water or learn to manipulate a plumber’s snake to erase all the clogged up substance inside the drainage pipes.
The right choice from all these options depends upon your preferences, comfort zone, and expertise level. If they fail to meet your requirements, you can always call a reliable plumber to remove the clog.
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