A slow or blocked sink is usually a lump of grease, food or hair sitting just out of sight. You can clear the vast majority yourself, and you should try before reaching for harsh drain chemicals.

Work through these in order

  1. Boiling water. For grease blockages, a kettle of boiling water down the drain often does it (skip this on PVC/plastic pipes — use hot tap water).
  2. Plunger. Block the overflow hole with a wet cloth, then plunge firmly a dozen times.
  3. Baking soda + vinegar. Half a cup of each, leave 15 minutes, flush with hot water.
  4. Clear the trap. Put a bucket under the U-bend, unscrew it, empty the gunk, reattach.
⛔

Go easy on chemical drain cleaners

They're harsh on pipes and dangerous if they don't clear — you don't want caustic water sitting in a sink you then have to bail out. Try the mechanical methods first.

💡

Prevent the next one

Never pour cooking grease down the drain — let it solidify and bin it. Use a sink strainer to catch food and hair.