My Dad Taught Me How to Clear a Clogged Drain, and Now I’m a Pro at It

With all the personal grooming habits you do at the bathroom sink — washing your hands and face, brushing your teeth and hair, applying makeup — it’s understandable that the area can become cluttered and dirty fast. Bathroom sinks often pull double (and sometimes triple) duty, which can lead to all sorts of things (like hair and makeup, combined with soap residue) falling right down the drain and causing a clog over time. 

To avoid a clog altogether, the best thing to do is wipe the sink out consistently after use. My dad, who was a master plumber, would always remind me to “just take a quick second to wipe out the hair and products. Don’t wash it down into the sink pipes.” Apparently, I forgot his tidbit of wisdom one too many times for my own bathroom sink, and one day I noticed a wretched sewer-type smell coming from it and the water had begun to drain really slowly. After a few days, I knew there must be a clog.

I first consulted my husband. His response was, “Call your dad.” It was good advice. We had enlisted my dad’s plumbing expertise on more than one occasion. He had helped us renovate two kitchens and three bathrooms. Along the way, with each process and plumbing job, he would educate me about using certain products, which ones to avoid, and why you needed top-notch work regarding plumbing in your home. 

I anticipated his response to this small clogged bathroom sink scenario. Ever the talker and advice-giver, I knew he would readily supply knowledge, but he would likely have me fix this small clog job myself. He never handled something for me that he knew I could handle myself with a bit of coaching. So I rolled up my sleeves, listened to his directions, and got to work on this annoying clog.

First, he said I needed to dislodge and pull out the clog. He recommended using a simple drain snake like this one that easily removes hair clogs. Most times this type of tool can be found at a local hardware store in the plumbing section, or you can shop for one online.

It was easy enough to use, with directions included. I’ll spare you the details of the moldy, black, long muck of hair that I extricated from my bathroom sink drain. The small snake worked great and does the trick for clogs just below the surface of the drain in a bathroom sink. It is an invaluable tool to have on hand if you have long hair, shed a lot, and use your bathroom sink as a vanity. 

To finish the job, I knew from experience with other clogs that I still needed to “chase” the clog with hot water and vinegar. There was likely still a buildup of gunk and soap inside the wall of the pipes even though I had extracted the more significant part of the clog. I ran the water as hot as possible to break down the gunk. Then, I poured about a cup or two of vinegar directly into the drain and repeated the process a few times. The components of the vinegar, along with the hot water, break down the soap, allowing water to flow more freely down the pipes. Additionally, the vinegar neutralizes any lingering smells from the clog. 

Remember that prevention is the best medicine to stop these types of minor clogs. Wipe sink debris and hair out of the sink as much as possible. Avoid washing it down the sink and into the pipes, because it will likely lead to issues over time.