How a $5 plunger can fix a plugged sink in the bathroom, by Jay that drain guy on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pull out the pop-up stopper or drain plug. Hook out hair and soap scum with tweezers or a bent wire before you plunge, so you are not pushing debris deeper.
Stuff a wet rag firmly into the overflow hole on the back or side of the basin. Without this seal the plunger pushes water straight out the overflow and does nothing.
Run a few inches of hot water into the bowl so the plunger cup sits fully under water. Add a squirt of dish soap to help break down grease.
Set the plunger cup over the drain and tilt it slightly as you press down to let trapped air escape. Then seat it flat over the hole.
Plunge with quick, firm push and pull strokes about 15 to 20 times. Keep the cup sealed on the drain and do not lift it off between strokes.
On the last stroke, pull the plunger up sharply to suck loosened debris back towards you. Lift it off and check whether the water starts draining.
Repeat the plunging in rounds of 15 to 20 strokes, up to five rounds. Flush hot water down between rounds to wash the loosened clog away.
If the water still drains slowly, feed a hand drain snake down the overflow or the drain opening. Stop plunging and call a plumber if nothing shifts.
Tips and common mistakes
Use a cup plunger for a sink, not a toilet flange plunger, which will not seal on a flat basin.
Never pour chemical drain cleaner in and then plunge, and wear gloves because dirty water can splash back.
On a double sink, block the second drain with its stopper or a wet rag so the suction acts on the clog.
Plunging works best on soft clogs like hair and soap; a hard blockage deeper in the pipe needs a snake.
Questions
Why is my plunger not clearing the sink?
The overflow hole is usually the reason. Seal it with a wet rag and make sure the plunger cup is fully under water and sealed around the drain. If it still will not clear, the clog is probably further down the pipe and needs a snake.
Can I use a toilet plunger on a bathroom sink?
A standard toilet plunger has a flange that will not seal on a flat sink bottom. Buy a cheap cup plunger, which is the right shape for basins and tubs.
Is boiling water safe to pour down the drain?
Hot tap water is safer for most sinks. Boiling water can damage some plastic pipes and trap seals, so use the hottest water from the tap instead.
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.
