How to Unblock a Kitchen Sink with a Force Cup Plunger
Kitchen sinks are prone to developing clogs, especially if you wash your dishes by hand. The clogs are most often caused by little bits and pieces of food that just seem to have an uncanny way of slipping past the strainer. If you are faced with a clogged kitchen sink, you may want to attempt correcting the problem yourself. I have unclogged many kitchen sinks over the course of my lifetime. Here’s how to do it:
Supplies Needed
In order to unclog your kitchen sink, you will need to obtain a force cup plunger ($3) and a jar of petroleum jelly ($1). The force cup plunger may be purchased through a hardware or home improvement store. I’d recommend that you purchase a short-handled plunger.
Prepare the Work Area
Examine the amount of trapped water in your sink. If the kitchen sink is more than half full, you will want to remove some of the water. Leave just enough water in the sink to cover the rubber portion of your force cup plunger.
Afterward, inspect the kitchen sink for air gaps. Examples of air gaps include overflow openings, dishwater attachment ports and garbage disposal openings. Depending on where the openings are, seal them with either old rags or duct tape. The goal is to create an air-tight environment that will allow the force cup plunger to work with maximum efficiency.
Use a Force Cup Plunger
Once that task is complete, lightly coat the rim of the force cup plunger with petroleum jelly. Then place it firmly over the center of the clogged drain. Without breaking the air-tight seal between the plunger cup’s rim and the bottom of the kitchen sink, apply quick spurts of up-and-down pressure. Continue to apply the up-and-down pressure for 10 to 12 spurts. After the final spurt, forcefully pull the plunger straight up into the air. Doing so should cause the clog to break free from the pipe. If it doesn’t, add more petroleum jelly to the plunger’s rim and try again.
If the Plunger Method Fails
If the plunger method fails, you do have several other options that you may want to try. For starters, you could purchase a drain-and-trap auger and try to unblock the drain with it. Instructions for using a drain-and-trap auger are available online. There are also natural and commercial drain cleaners that may prove helpful. Options include household vinegar, MegaMicrobes, Liquid Plumber and Draino. Just make sure that the chemical or natural method that you choose won’t harm your kitchen sink’s surface or your septic tank.
Source: Personal Experience
Killeen Gonzalez has a history of completing DIY home improvement projects with her family.
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