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Are you tired of dealing with clogged sinks in your kitchen? If so, you’re not alone – but if you think a single sink is bad, just wait until you experience the frustration of a double kitchen sink clog. With twice the trouble, it can be a real headache for any homeowner.
But don’t worry – in this article, we’ll show you how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water and make your kitchen experience more enjoyable. From simple DIY solutions to powerful drain cleaners, we’ve got everything you need to know to keep your double kitchen sink running smoothly.
So, if you’re ready to say goodbye to clogs and hello to hassle-free kitchen cleanup, keep reading and discover the secrets of double kitchen sink maintenance.
How To Unclog A Double Kitchen Sink With Standing Water
Below are the many things you can try to unclog a double kitchen sink.
- Press the reset button on your garbage disposal device
- With a plunger, try pushing down the clog. This is also another way of dissolving it
- Make use of naturally produced drain cleaners
- Take out the p-trap, then use the plumber snake
- Get an experienced plumber to get it fixed
Let’s get down to explaining all the options!
Press The Reset Button On Your Garbage Disposal Device
Isn’t it funny that the answer to this seemingly huge problem may happen to be with a button – the reset button, to be precise?
Frankly, all your troubles may soon be over at the press of a button. So many things may cause a clog, including your garbage disposal needs to cool off and reset.
Devices, just like humans, can overwork themselves so much that they begin to malfunction due to stress. Sometimes, when you notice that your garbage disposal is not working, before going for any of the advanced options or seeking the help of a professional, try giving it a reset.
To reset, switch off the device, wait for a few seconds, then switch it back on again. Doing this simple exercise may clear the clog, but if it doesn’t, do not lose hope now. There are other options that you can try out.
Let’s check them out:
Use A Plunger
When using a plunger, block the drain, which isn’t clogged with a rag or something.
Plunger is one tool that needs water pressure to work. Blocking the unclogged drain will see that the pressure applied for works and does not just go down the drain. This is particularly so because we are dealing with a double kitchen sink.
Before applying pressure, remove the standing water from the sink, which is clogged but ensure you leave some that would be enough to cover the plunger cap.
Here is how you use a plunger effectively:
Put the cup on the affected drain and ensure it latches well to establish an airtight seal.
Once that is done, begin to push the plunger up and down. Make sure you do so evenly, and do not let go of the pressure in the cup.
Once you have done that upward and downward push with the plunger about six times, remove it to see how well it worked.
If you notice that water is still in the sink, then it means you need to give this exercise another go. But, if the water drains, congratulations, then; your mission was successful.
Remember the saying “so many ways to kill a rat”? In this case, the clogged kitchen sink is the rat, and the plunger is just one way out of the ‘many ways’ tried.
If it does not work, there are other options that you can still try out.
Let’s check out the next:
Natural Drain Cleaners
It is essential to use only natural drain cleaners to unclog your kitchen sink always.
The reason is simple: asides from being equally effective, they pose no harm to the plumbing accessories.
We cannot say the same for other non-natural drain clog dissolvers as we have seen firsthand the damage they cause to the drain pipes, significantly when misused. There are so many natural drain clog dissolvers that you can try out, but we recommend baking soda and vinegar.
Here is how to use it to unclog your double kitchen sink.
The first step would be to take out the standing water. Measure a cupful of baking soda and pour it into the drain. Do the same for the vinegar. You can use apple cider or white vinegar; they are both mighty.
Leave the solution to sit on the clog for about an hour at the very least. If there is no urgent need for the kitchen sink, allow it longer. Once the time has elapsed, use some temperature water to rinse off your kitchen sink.
Give it another go if the clog does not dissolve. Asides from baking soda and white vinegar, there is another combo that has been tested and proven to work on clogged double kitchen sinks. It is the baking soda and salt combo.
The procedures are as follows:
Before anything it will be best to create the mixture beforehand. You are to measure a cup of baking soda into a bowl and add half a cup of salt. Lastly, stir them together. Now that we have gotten that out let us get to the steps.
Take out standing water from the clogged kitchen sink. Pour in your prepared mixture of baking soda and salt. Unlike the baking soda and vinegar method, where you allow the mixture to sit for an hour at least, the baking soda and salt will need even more time.
For it to work perfectly, you must wait at least four hours. If you do not need the kitchen sink, allow the solution to sit in for up to six hours. This would allow enough time to soften the clog and push it down. The clog should be out on or before the time elapses, but if it doesn’t, there is still one more option left to try.
Roll up your sleeves for this time around; it’s about to get even more technical.
P-trap Method
Cleaning the P-trap should be the next resort when all other options fail. Before cleaning out the p-trap, put on some gloves and have a bucket on standby. You will need some tools like slip-joint pliers too.
To clean out the place, you will need to dismantle it, but ensure there is no standing water in the sink before you do. Alternatively, you can put your bucket under the sink for the dirty water to enter, or you will make a mess of the whole place.
Once the dirty water must have flown out, unscrew the slip nut that can be seen on the trap arm. The trap arm, by the way, is the pipe that joins the p-trap to the drain within the wall. When the trap arm is loosened, tug at the waste tee nuts to set the trap free from the clog. Do this very carefully, so you do not cause any damage to the trap assembly.
Once you have successfully dismantled the p-trap, clean out any debris that you find there. Before assembling it back, observe the trap arm and p-trap for cracks or damage. If found, endeavor to change it before coupling it back.
When it is all assembled, do a test run with warm water to see if you are free from the clogging issues. A plumber snake should be your next port of call if all the options above fail. Drill through the clog using the plumber snake. For those who do not have a garbage disposal device, use the plumber snake directly into the sink drain.
We know that not everyone will have a plumber snake handy at home. However, it can be rented at a very affordable rate.
Conclusion
Clogging a kitchen sink, much less a double one can destabilize. You can, however, avoid issues like this by being mindful of what you throw down the drain. Egg shells, cooking oil and grease are just a few of the items that may cause a clog.