Unblocking the kitchen sink

anniestar

Hi thank you for reading this. I have looked at the thread on unblocking sinks and went to ASDA and bought 3 bottles of white vinegar and bicarb. Anyway have followed the instructions and the sink is still totally blocked. The problem is that the kitchen is falling apart(sadly not exagerating) and as a result we can't open the cubboard door to try to unscrew the u bend as the door is holding the unit together. For the same reason am a bit worried about using caustic soda. Can anyone of you clever people come up with any ideas of what we can do. I just dont have a clue. Again many many thanks for your time and(hopefuly)advice. Have a great evening. Annie XX p.s. have bought a sink plunger from B&Q-USELESS.

mrs_mix

Have you tried washing soda, vinegar and boiling water

pam

hardpressed

Sorry to state the obvious but when you use the plunger did you block the overflow? I've found that with a plunger you have to press really hard and you need some water in the sink to get a seal round the rubber bit.

dannahaz

I know you are reluctant to use it, but this sounds like a job for caustic soda. It's very easy to use and safe - as long as you follow the instructions. It'll clear the blockage in no time.

elona

If you go to an ironmongers there is a sink or drain unblocker that is a sort of coiled springy wire thing that you can feed gently down the pipe to unblock it.

heather38

try a wire coathanger and try and push a hole through the blockage then give the soda, vinagar and boiling water a go

anniestar

Thank you all so much. We are going to get some caustic soda this morning but try the coat hanger and unblocker before we attempt the caustic soda. Again many many thanks we are really grateful for your help particularly at this busy time of year.

culpepper

You can get plastic sink squirters which are a sort of cyclindrical concertina with a handle at one end and a hole at the other.You fill it up by collapsing it then hold the hole underwater and expand the cylinder,then you hold the hole against the plug hole and push hard,it will squirt water hard down the drain.You can also hold it colapsed against the plughole and expand it to suck out whatever is blocking the drain (assuming it will budge).
DIY places will have one.
Failing that,have you thought of holding the sink unit up with something else while the door is open(someone holding it for instance or a small table and planks) just so you can undo the ubend and remove the blockage. If you do,remember a bucket to catch the water and sludge.

Garetha

culpepper wrote:

... just so you can undo the ubend and remove the blockage. If you do,remember a bucket to catch the water and sludge.

But don't then tip the bucket down the sink!:D

anniestar

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone that helpes us in our hour of need! We got some caustic soda from B&Q we now have a sink that actully drains. So a huge thank you. Its funny I hadn't realised just how slowly it had been draining until we got it sorted. Thank you all so much. Have a very happy Christmas.