How To Clean A Kitchen Sink Drain With Boiling Water & Dish Soap, by 1 Tom Plumber on YouTube. 1 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Check that your sink is only partially clogged. Water should still drain, even slowly. If the sink holds standing water and will not drain at all, use a plunger or a baking soda and vinegar treatment instead.
Fill a kettle or large pot with water and bring it to a full boil. Boiling water is the main cleaning agent here, so use enough to fill the drain and trap.
Squeeze a good amount of dish soap into the drain opening. The soap helps break up the grease coating the inside of the pipe.
Pour the boiling water slowly and steadily down the drain. Pour in stages so the water does not splash back at you.
Let the hot soapy water sit in the drain for a few minutes. This gives the soap time to loosen the grease and debris.
Run the hot tap for 30 to 60 seconds to flush the loosened grease through the pipe. Watch the water level to confirm the drain is flowing faster.
Repeat the soap and boiling water pour once or twice if the drain is still slow. Most light grease clogs clear after one or two rounds.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour boiling water into PVC pipes without care, since PVC starts to soften around 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not use this trick on a fully blocked sink, because the hot water will just sit there and may overflow.
Skip this method if you have a garbage disposal full of food scraps, and clear the disposal first.
Wear gloves and keep your face back when pouring, since boiling water can splash.
Questions
Will boiling water damage my pipes?
PVC begins to soften near 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so pour slowly and do not use this on thin or old plastic pipes. Most metal and standard drain pipes handle a quick pour fine.
Why did nothing happen after I poured the water?
The drain is probably fully clogged rather than partly clogged. Try a plunger or a baking soda and vinegar treatment, or call a plumber if it stays blocked.
Can I use this on a bathroom sink too?
Yes, the same soap and hot water method works on bathroom drains that are slow from soap scum and hair, but remove visible hair first.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
