Are you like me who finds too many food particles stuck in the sink, especially during festivities? Well, we are in the boat. Or shall we say we are in the same sink? I experience such and let’s explore how to fix it.
You can easily remove food stuck in the sink by using a bent wire, pouring hot water and cleaning the pipes. You can also use chemicals like chlorine bleach, baking soda, and vinegar to dissolve any stubborn food particles stuck in the kitchen sink. Let’s discuss each in detail.
When you mishandle your kitchen sink with some foodstuffs, similarly, be ready for the underlying consequences.
How to remove food stuck in the kitchen sink
1. Use a bend Wire
Improvise a regular wire by bending its end to create a hook.
If you cannot, you can buy an unclogging wire that you can use to feel the food clogged in the kitchen sink.
One of the best ones I commonly use is the Omont Drain Clog Remover Tool.
You can get a 3 pack drain and hair clog remover tool. If well used, it is a good sink drain clog remover with 20 inches.
Then push it beyond the drain cover as you begin fishing out any nasty materials and hair.
After that, run hot water to clear the remains in the pipe system.
2. Using Hot Water
Boil in a kettle and pour it down the drain in stages. Let the hot water work for a few seconds between the steps. Slowly, the water will unclog the drain.
3. Cleaning the pipe
Begin by placing an empty bucket underneath the trap which is beneath your sink.
Loosen the nuts at both ends of the tube with the help of the plumber’s wrench.
Remove the trap and empty all the contents in the bucket. To learn more about this, check this article on unclogging a double sink, and apply the same tips.
Fish out any clogs and debris in the pipe. Wash it and reconnect it back to the sink.
How to Dissolve Food Stuck in the Drain
1. Use Baking soda and Vinegar
Mix 1/3 of the cup Vinegar with 1/3 of a cup of Baking Soda in your measuring cup.
The mixture will start fizzling. The fizzling is useful in the removal of gunk, grime, and hair which may be accumulating in the pipe.
Leave the sink rest overnight and then flush with hot water.
2. Use Chlorine Bleach
- Begin by plugging the sink and let ½ gallon of hot water into the basin. Pour one teaspoon of liquid chlorine.
- Disconnect the plug as you wait for the solution to drain. Take precautions since the solution can cause skin irritation.
- Complete the process by pouring two cups of hot water down the drain.
Common causes of Sink Clogs or food sticking in the sink
1. Food particles
Food is the primary cause of the clogging of sinks in most households.
As one washes plates and dishes after meals, food remnants and particles close the sinkhole.
Most of them manage to go down the drain and get trapped under the sink trap while in the pipe system.
The J-trap under the sink usually traps large particles within the pipe system.
The food bits will accumulate to form a clog later, especially after a long period of doing the same day in day out.
2. Grease in the sink drain
The grease usually makes a sticky surface that traps other items in the pipe to form a clog. The clog is usually challenging to remove.
Most of the disposals will not eliminate liquid grease since it can develop again. If not checked, this can cause gurgling sound when you other sinks or toilet are flushed.
3. Hair and fiber
The hairs which may be in the sludge can get trapped and accumulate with time.
Later, it may form a solid mass in the pipe which may require skill to remove.
How to Prevent food from clogging the kitchen sink
You can prevent your sink from clogging and let your drain to flow freely. Take advantage of the following tips:
- Install a drain strainer in your sink to block food particles. Be keen not to let food scraps to go down the drain. Have garbage disposal to put any food remains.
- Make it a routine to pour hot water in the sink once per week. Pour it slowly to prevent any splashing. The same water will melt down any accumulated grease or fats within the pipe.
- Avoid pouring fat or grease down your sink. Grease is usually a stubborn substance that will give you a hectic time when it sticks within the sink pipe.
- If your sink lacks garbage disposal, use a kitchen granules clog remover to enable a smoother flowing drain. The facility will create heat and melt any grease, and it dislodges any clogs.
Water Coming Back Up in the Kitchen Sink
Water will back up in the kitchen because of various reasons. Most importantly, it is an indicator that there is poor drainage within the system.
As a result, you should have a right to believe that there is a blockage somewhere.
When such a challenge knocks at the doors of your house, fret not. You can quickly get a clue from the drainage fixtures within your home.
Once you locate the source, it will be easier to approach the matter conclusively.
Causes of Water Coming up in a Sink
1. The Dishwasher
When the pipes accumulate food, hair or grease, the opening will grow narrower, making water flow to be confined.
When a dishwasher discharges water, the amount is large to cause the water to come up into the sink.
The narrow pipes will not be in a position to handle a high volume of water as before.
In addition, the presence of gunk in the water pipes can contribute to the reverse motion.
For instance, a new dishwasher usually has a strong pump, which lets a high amount of water to pass through the pipes.
2. A Clogged Drain Line
There is always a master drain line that collects all the wastes from other pipes.
This master line feeds a septic tank.
As a result, the master line collects all the hairs, sludge, grease and dirt leading to their final destination.
After that, the accumulated solid will form a coat in the line confining the passage and eventually causing a blockage.
This arrangement will affect the water flow. If the water gets resisted until it can’t pass, it will back up into the sink fixtures.
3. A Clogged sink trap
The sink has a trap beneath it which can accumulate grease, sludge, and other particles.
These substances will build up to restrict water from flowing.
As the trap fails to allow the water from flowing out of the sink, water will begin backing up into your sink.
4. A Clogged Vent Pipe
The purpose of the vent is to enable the system to draw adequate air.
This air is useful in aiding the plumbing line to flow smoothly.
Unfortunately, the squirrels, birds, and bugs can develop nests in the vent should it come from the roof.
If the vent pipe is partially clogged, it may affect your sink by causing it to drain slowly
In some extreme cases, it may fail to drain completely and the entire drain is affected up to the sink.
How to fix water Coming back up in the Sink
1. Use declogging Chemicals
One eco-friendly way of unclogging the pipes is by using the baking soda and Vinegar with the water solution.
The purpose of baking soda and a solution of hot water is to loosen up accumulated materials within the line.
Furthermore, Vinegar will trigger a chemical reaction, leading to the movement of sludge down the drain.
2. Clean the Waste Pipes with a Powder Solution
Powder solution is less corrosive and has Sodium Hydroxide, which will unclog drains quickly. The powder is always affective as it takes only a short period.
Before you use the powered solution, let some hot water to pass through the pipe for at least 2 minutes.
For better results, use two cups of powder and later rinse it with water.
How to Prevent water from coming Back Up in the Kitchen Sink
1. Clean Your Pipes at least monthly
There will be a build-up of grease, hair or gunk over time. One measure is to apply a non-corrosive cleaner to clear away the grime and grit.
At the same time, baking soda and hot water will clear the line and keep off every odor.
2. Fix all the Recurring Problems
It is reasonable to fix the underlying blockage issues immediately than dealing with the cost of frequent backups. The recurring issues may result from structural challenges in the pipes.
Let the expert inspect the line and fix any complications. If you can, think of installing an offset kitchen sink, that has a more optimized use and lessor cases of clogging.
Final Word
Be observant to notice any food clog Precisely, warnings may start to indicate slowly, but if you are not vigilant, the problem might escalate further.
Firstly, be on the lookout when the water in your sink takes a while before draining, followed by unpleasant odors.
Also, if the sink blocks and you leave it without drastic action, the pipe might burst!
As a homeowner, I am specifically keen on home improvement. I am passionate about homes, yards, and home improvement. I blog on home ideas and reviews on solutions that make homes better.