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How to clear a kitchen sink clog
1. Plunge it properly
Use a flat cup plunger. On a double sink, seal the other drain with a stopper or wet rag, and if a dishwasher drains into the sink, clamp its drain hose. Keep some water in the sink so the cup is submerged, then plunge firmly 10–15 times.
2. Clean the P-trap
- Put a bucket under the trap.
- Loosen the slip nuts by hand or with pliers, and remove the U-shaped trap.
- Clean it out, check the washers, and reassemble hand-tight plus a little.
3. Hand auger the branch line
With the trap off, feed a ¼-inch hand auger into the pipe going into the wall, crank, and withdraw. Grease clogs often sit a few feet in.
Avoid
- Pouring boiling water into PVC traps repeatedly
- Chemical drain openers, especially before plunging or opening the trap
- Putting grease, coffee grounds or fibrous scraps in the disposal (prevention)
If other drains back up too, the problem is further down the line. Stop using water and call a pro.