Five Easy Ways to Clean Your Kitchen Sink Drain

We’ve already talked about how to prevent and manage clogs in your kitchen sink, now it’s time for us to give you a few simple drain-cleaning tips so that your sink stays clog free and smelling fresh!

1) Run very hot tap water through the drain every few days.
This helps eliminate foul odors and can also melt some materials that may be causing drain backup. However, always remember to avoid running warm water when using the garbage disposal and never dump fatty liquids into the sink. See our previous blog on Preventing Clogged Drains for more details.

2) Use baking soda and lemon juice to eliminate odors.
Pour a tablespoon of baking soda and a 1/4 cup of lemon juice down your drain and let stand for half an hour about once a week to help absorb and destroy odor. Run hot water for several minutes afterwards to clear out the debris and wash away any smelly residue.

3) Use baking soda and vinegar to break up unpleasant clogs.
Follow the same steps as before except replace the tablespoon of baking soda with a 1/2 cup of baking soda and the 1/4 cup of lemon juice with a 1/2 cup of white vinegar. The chemical reaction caused by mixing the basic baking soda with the acidic vinegar is a cheap and natural way to help break down simple clogs.

4) If natural solutions don’t work, try a store bought drain cleaner.
For tougher clogs a store bought drain cleaner may be the only answer. Make sure to avoid any chemicals that will harm your sink’s enamel or plastic piping. See our blog on Kitchen Sink Care for more information about preventing sink scratches and stains.

5) Finally, if all else fails, call a plumber.
If you’ve got a clog that can’t be broken or an odor that can’t be tamed, give your plumber a ring. That’s what we’re here for after all!