A clogged drain in your bathroom sink can be incredibly frustrating, and trust me, it’s a common issue that every homeowner faces at some point. As a mother of two spirited daughters who have navigated their teenage years, I’ve encountered my fair share of strange items blocking the bathroom sink—from stray pencils to toilet paper and clumps of hair. After a recent home renovation, we opted for a non-removable stopper in the girls’ bathroom, believing we had left those chaotic clogging days behind us. However, we soon found ourselves dealing with the all-too-familiar sight of water draining at a snail’s pace.
Determined to fix this ourselves, David and I donned our plumber gloves and set out to unclog the drain.
Essential Steps to Unclog a Non-Removable Stopper Bathroom Sink:
- Start by turning off the water supply. Clear out everything beneath the sink, place a bucket underneath to catch any excess water, and ensure the stopper is closed completely.
- The next step involves removing the stopper from the sink. To do this, get underneath the sink and gently squeeze the spring clip to detach the pivot rod from the clevis strap. Once the pivot rod is free, the stopper should easily come out.
- Brace yourself for a slightly unpleasant task. With the stopper now loose, pull it out of the drain. This is the time to thoroughly clean the stopper mechanism of any dirt, hair, and debris. IMPORTANT: Do not turn on the water during this process! If you need water, use another sink to rinse it off. Consider using bleach or rubbing alcohol for effective cleaning.
- After the stopper is clean, grab a wire hanger and bend it into a hook shape that can effectively catch hair and gunk—think of it as a makeshift backscratcher or fishing hook. Carefully lower your hook into the drain, and when you feel a blockage, twist and maneuver the hanger to snag as much debris as possible.
- Continue to extract as much gunk as you can with the wire hanger. An old toothbrush can also be useful for scrubbing the insides of the pipes. Any additional hair or debris might be accessible through the area where the pivot rod was removed.
- If you suspect a significant clog in the P-bend of the pipe that the hanger can’t reach, you may need to unscrew that section of the pipe. This step is dependent on the severity of the clog.
- Once you’ve cleaned out the drain, reassemble everything. Run some hot water down the drain to test the effectiveness of your efforts. While you’re at it, check for any leaks or corrosion in the reassembled components.
To Ensure Your Bathroom Sink Drain is Completely Unclogged, Gather the Following Supplies:
Required Materials:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
Instructions:
- Start by pouring a pot of boiling hot water down the drain.
- Add about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain and let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic.
- Next, pour a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of very hot water down on top of the baking soda.
- Quickly close the stopper to contain the reaction beneath the drain’s surface and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Finally, release the stopper and flush the drain one last time with another pot of boiling water.
By following these steps, you can effectively tackle a clogged bathroom sink and reclaim the functionality of your space.