Specially FriedKitchenHow to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Standing Water
Published on
Last updated on

How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Standing Water

FACT CHECKED BY EXPERTS
Immad Amir
Written by
Immad is a talented home cook and editorial director at Specially Fried. With his culinary expertise, love for gadgets and creative flair, he brings a fresh perspective to the world of food blogging.
Reviewed by

Harper is an appliance and kitchen cleaning expert. With a passion for spotless spaces, she meticulously reviews and ensures that the content on Specially Fried maintains the highest standards of cleanliness.

How to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. It is best to consider any link directing to a product page as an affiliate link. Learn more on how we use affiliate links.

Having to unclog a double kitchen sink surely is an annoying task but everyone needs to do it at some point in life. It is difficult to get hold of a plumber instantly and ends up being expensive sometimes too. For times like these, you should know how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water. So without any further delays, I will answer all your queries and shower you with all the dos and don’ts of how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water.

Usually, kitchens have two sinks, one for washing the dishes and the other for vegetables. Often it gets clogged while water is standing in it. Before you wrack your brain with home remedies make sure that your other sink is completely shut or clogged. A cloth or even the sink’s stopper can also clog your sink so make sure to inspect your double sink before following the tips in this article.

Following are some remedies you can try.

How to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water – Easy tips and tricks

how-to-unclog-a-double-kitchen-sink-with-standing-water

1. Pour boiling water into your clogged double kitchen sink with standing water

The go-to remedy when your kitchen sink gets clogged is to pour some boiling water into the sink. Start by using a bowl and emptying the standing water that’s in the sink so that there’s space for the boiling water. While you remove the standing water bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water starts to boil take it off the heat and pour the water into the sink. Adding boiling water creates pressure and all the particles that were clogging the drainage wash away with it.

2. Garbage disposal check

If pouring boiling water does not unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water, then it is time to check the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal is supposed to work. If by any chance the garbage disposal gets blocked, then this may also affect the sink draining the water. Overheated disposal will mean that you need to turn the switch on the bottom of the sink.

3. Salt mixture can help fix your problem

Another common DIY you can do at home is to add half a cup of common salt and then pour boiling water on top of it. You might need to add some extra boiling water to it for some drastic results. This is a famous DIY tip that can help solve your problem.

4. Vinegar and baking soda combo 

One of the most famous hacks for unclogging your sink is to use baking soda and vinegar. This combination is a pretty tough one and should unclog your kitchen sink.

  1. Start by removing the water collected in the sink.
  2. Then add a cup of baking soda into the drain.
  3. Now add a cup of vinegar, and pour it over the soda, down the drain.
  4. You will start to observe some bubbling in the sink as soon as the vinegar comes in contact with the baking soda.
  5. Let the bubbling end before you replace the sink stopper.
  6. Now let it sit for approximately 15 minutes.
  7. Finally, wash it down with lots of hot water until you get an unclogged kitchen sink.

5. Use the salt and baking soda duo to clear your sink

This method is only applicable if you have a lot of time on your hands. It is also one that works for many.

  1. Create a mixture by combining 1 cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt.
  2. Pour the mixture into the drain after you have completely gotten rid of the standing water.
  3. Let the mixture sit in for a few hours (approximately 4-5)
  4. Now pour some boiling water down the drain.
  5. You can repeat the process until your sink is functioning again.

6. Plunger

The next hack you can try is using a common plunger designed for at-home use. Create a tight seal on the edges around it so a vacuum occurs. Set it in a way that no air can pass through it. Now plunge it a few times. Once it starts to work there is an audible cleaning sound of the drain. Now remove the plunger and dip it in some hot water.

7. The P-trap

Out of all the solutions, this is the simplest, and easiest trick in the book. Check the P-trap. This is a curved pipe fixed along the drainpipe and is designed in a way that can capture dirt. There’s a high probability that some waste collects into the drainage which prevents water from passing through it.

Place a bucket right below the drainpipe. Now carefully remove the P-trap and make sure it is clean. Clear anything that might be blocking the path of water and then replace it. Pour some hot water on top for a test run.

8. Plumber’s snake

This is a proper tool that is used by professional plumbers. It can do wonders if all the above hacks have failed to provide you with the expected results. For plumbers, this is the first method when unclogging sinks. You can buy yourself a plumber’s snake from a plumber supplies shop if you want to save some time and money. When you dismantle the drainpipe and the P-trap below the sink this will get the job done.

Once you can go through with it you will now be able to stub the pipe which is fixed behind the cabinet wall. Now place the snake in the drainage pipe and let it sit there until the sink is unclogged.

9. Coat hanger (the last resort)

This might sound absurd, but the coat hanger has yielded quite some proven results. It works just as well as the plumber snake. This is as close to a professional tool as you can get from a hack. It may not be just as good at reaching far-out spots, but it gets the job done. This will work in the best way possible to unclog the kitchen sink.

Some “don’ts” to keep you from messing up

how-to-unclog-a-double-kitchen-sink-with-standing-water

1. Don’t hesitate to call your plumber

If the methods mentioned above don’t seem to work for you then it might be possible that the clog is somewhere else in the home drainage system. If such is the case, then it’s time that you call the plumber without any further hesitation. He has the right professional tools such as the powered auger. 

Trying to fix it on your own may further damage the drain lines as you might not be qualified enough. Hence do not hesitate to call for backup when you’re stuck with such uncertainty.

2. Don’t add water to standing water

The immediate task that you should perform is to shut that faucet down. You don’t need any more standing water. The sink is clogged which means no water is flowing into the drainage. The additional water barely ever creates pressure to wash out the blockage. In the end, you will add more work for yourself and find no solution.

So, before you pour more water into the sink, make sure to remove the standing water first.

3. Don’t ignore the stopper/drainer

Strainers and stoppers are the hotspots in any sink. Vegetable peels, food particles, and leftovers often make their way down and end up clogging your basin. To loosen up such sort of a clog try using a bendable wire to create a hook on one side. Remove the strainer or stopper by pulling it out and carefully inserting the wire into the drainpipe while twisting and turning to move the clog.

4. Don’t plunge with excessive force

The plunger hack is mentioned above but while you try to attempt it make sure you do not use excessive force when trying to plunge it. Apart from that, avoid using a drain bladder which is also known as a blow bag. The garden hose attachment fixes directly onto the drain and with the help of water pressure clears it.

Unlike the shower drain traps or the bathtub ones which are permanently fixed, these can be disconnected by a simple twist. Excessive pressure can cause damage to the drain connection line resulting in a leakage problem.

5. Don’t jam the auger into the drainpipe

If the auger comes into contact with a blockage do not force or pound at it. Such a motion can damage the connectors and pipes which can result in leaks. Clogs that do not fix with a simple auger require a different method to fix. One that does not damage it.

It’s time to implement these tips and unclog your double kitchen sink with standing water!

Sink clogs are a normal happening and to fix these you need to know your drainage system well enough before you attempt a DIY solution to it. This guide tries to cover all the basics about how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water.

To further expand your knowledge on housekeeping read our following articles.


Immad Amir
Written by
Immad is a talented home cook and editorial director at Specially Fried. With his culinary expertise, love for gadgets and creative flair, he brings a fresh perspective to the world of food blogging.
Reviewed by

Harper is an appliance and kitchen cleaning expert. With a passion for spotless spaces, she meticulously reviews and ensures that the content on Specially Fried maintains the highest standards of cleanliness.

Leave a Comment


Speciallyfried.com © 2020-2023 HACKIVA, LTD. All Rights Reserved.