Blocked drains are a common issue in many households, and can occur in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry.

Let’s discuss household solutions for blockages in sinks and basins.

For this maintenance project, you will need:

• A plunger
• Baking soda
• A kettle
• White vinegar

If you have a pop-up waste, simply remove by turning anti clockwise, inspecting the catch for debris. Remove any material causing the block.

If this does not solve the problem, or you have a traditional plug waste, try using a plunger to dislodge the block. If this is unsuccessful, pour 1 litre of hot water down the waste, allowing this to sit for 5 minutes before pouring 1 cup of baking soda in.

Let this sit for a further 5 minutes before pouring one cup of vinegar down the waste. This will cause a chemical reaction, hopefully unblocking your sink. Follow this up with more boiled water.
If this method successfully cleared your sink, allow hot water to run for 5 minutes, to clear any remaining debris.

If this method did not work, a chemical drain cleaning solution can be used, after ensuring the product is suitable for the application.

Chemical products should be used as a last resort and will often clear a blockage. However, in some extreme cases, there will be too much material for the chemical to clear. In this case, plumber is needed.