A blocked bathroom sink can be easily fixed through simple plumbing methods and techniques. Home bathroom sinks are prone to be clogged with soap scum, hair and other items. Blockages often are not major with bathroom sinks but can cause standing water and slow drain issues. Here at Optimised Plumbing Services, our Blocked Drain professional plumbers are here to reliably unclog bathroom sinks around Sydney.
The best ways to unclog a blocked bathroom sink are:
- Pouring boiling water to dissolve and weaken inside blockages
- Utilising natural solvents, such as baking soda and vinegar
- Pouring chemical drain cleaners down the bathroom sink
- Using a plunger with the bathroom sink drain
- Using a plumber’s drain snake to reach and remove clogs
- Utilising the wet and dry vacuum method
How Do I Unblock a Bathroom Sink?
When unblocking the bathroom sink make sure to wear gloves and place towels to catch any potential water leaks. To know if there is a blockage inside the bathroom sink the water will often drain slowly or not drain at all. Hair build up, soap scum and large debris are the most common cause for a blocked bathroom sink.
Boiling Water
Pouring boiling water down the drain can be an effective and easy way to clear a bathroom sink blockage.
- Wait until the sink has been completely drained before pouring the hot water
- Carefully pour a pot of boiling water down the bathroom sink drain
- Make time for the water to drain and repeat the process if needed
Natural Solvent
Another effective and easy way to clear clogs in bathroom sinks is to combine baking soda and vinegar. These two react and will dissolve any clogs inside the kitchen drain.
- Pour a quarter of a cup of baking soda down the bathroom sink drain, use a funnel to make it more accurate
- Pour one and a quarter cup of white vinegar into the drain while using a funnel to make it easier
- Cover the drain through a sink stopper or similar object and wait 20 minutes
- Remove the sink stopper after 20 minutes and pour some boiling water down the sink slowly
Chemical Drain Cleaners
Purchasing a chemical cleaner made to specifically dissolve blockages or even sink clogs is an effective drain cleaning method. Often they can be purchased at the local hardware store and are often easy to use. Make sure to follow the instructions listed on the cleaner as each one will be differently used. Most times slowly pouring it into the bathroom sink, waiting some time and rinsing the drain is needed.
Plunger
Plungers are great at clearing a blocked bathroom sink and smaller plungers are recommended for these types of blockages.
- Remove the stopper or any item blocking the sink to easily access the drain
- Fill the bathroom sink of around 1.5cm to cover the drain but ensure to not overfill the basin
- Place the plunger over the centre of the drain and apply some force to create a seal
- Perform up and down movements with the plunger over the bathroom sink drain for 15 seconds
- Remove the plunger and the water will drain quickly. Run water down the drain to determine if the plunging method has worked. Perform the plunging method a few times if needing to remove the clog effectively
Plumber’s Drain Snake
This tool can be purchased from local hardware stores and works to grab blockages further down drainage systems. When the previous methods are not effectively clearing out the blockage then the clog might be further down the pipe. The plumber’s snake tool is an efficient way to grab these deep clogs and remove them from the bathroom sink.
- Place a bucket underneath the P-trap and remove the P-trap slowly to catch the water
- Inspect the P-trap to see if the clog is inside it. If there is a blockage then a coat hanger can be used to grab the clog out of the P-trap.
- If the clog is not in the P-trap but further down the drainage then the plumber’s snake tool is needed. Insert the tool down into the pipes until the tool has been stopped, often because it has found the clog
- When the clog has been located twist the snake to have it grab the clog and pull it out of its position. When there is no resistance that means the clog has been removed
- Reassemble the P-trap and rinse water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed correctly
Wet Dry Vacuum Method
A blockage can be extremely difficult to remove without the help of a professional plumber at times. The wet dry vacuum method is often one of the last methods to try to clear the blockage.
- Place a bucket underneath the P-trap and remove the P-trap to get access to the pipes
- Connect the wet dry vacuum hose to the pipe which runs underneath the basin and goes in a vertically down direction
- Cover the sink with a stopper or use a towel or other item to cover up the drain and make a seal
- Switch on the wet dry vacuum and have it suck out the clog or at least weaken it. If the clog was not completely removed manually take it out, such as with the wire hanger method
Most of these methods can be applied to a kitchen sink if it has been blocked, read our blog ‘blocked kitchen drain – what to do’ for more information.
Reliable Blocked Bathroom Sink Removalists
Optimised Plumbing Services promises that our fully qualified plumbers are the best at handling a blocked bathroom sink. We utilise expert, efficient and professional techniques to completely clear the bathroom sink of any blockages. The Emergency Plumber will operate at any time to help clear the bathroom sink clog in the shortest possible time.
Each blocked drain specialist will work across all of Sydney, from the Eastern Suburbs to Greater Western Sydney, and clear bathroom sinks.
No matter the blocked bathroom sink issue we are always here to help – contact Optimised Plumbing Services on 02 8074 1475!
Plumbing Specials and Offers!




Why Choose Us Over Other Plumbing Companies?
Same Day Service Guarantee

24/7 Emergency Service

Upfront and Honest Pricing

Quality Workmanship
We clean up after ourselves
