How to Prevent Your Kitchen Sink from Clogging

Discovering a clogged garbage disposal after a tiring day at work and cooking dinner is a frustrating experience. When the drain fails to let any food particles pass through and both sides of the sink are filled with stagnant water, it can be extremely inconvenient. However, this issue can be avoided if you make a habit of regularly maintaining your sink drain.

Cleaning Your Sink

Establishing a routine of cleaning your kitchen sink plumbing is crucial for its optimal functioning. Fortunately, this can be accomplished easily without resorting to harmful cleaners or chemicals.

What You Need

• Liquid dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Sea salt
• Lemon (or lime)
• Ice
• Old toothbrush
• Soft sponge

What to do:

When cleaning your sink on a daily basis, it is advisable to utilize a nylon sponge or rag with soap. However, avoid using ammonia, bleach, or other abrasive cleaners on stainless steel, as they can cause damage and tarnish the sink’s finish.

For deep cleaning:

1. Wash your sink thoroughly and sprinkle baking soda over it.
2. Scrub the sink until the baking soda forms a paste.
3. Allow the paste to sit for 20-30 minutes to settle in, then rinse it off with warm water.

Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal

It is essential to clean your garbage disposal on a regular basis to eliminate any accumulated food particles, particularly grease and pasta, which can lead to a clogged kitchen sink. Taking this preventative measure can help you avoid the inconvenience of dealing with such an issue.

What to do:

1. Pour half a cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the sink and let it sit until it starts to fizz.
2. Boil water on your stove and pour it down the sink while the baking soda and vinegar are fizzing.
3. Add ice to the sink and run the garbage disposal until the ice is fully ground. To help break up the ice, you can add some salt.
4. Some people prefer to add chopped lemon or lime halves to the sink while the disposal is running. This can help freshen up and clean your sink’s scent.

Prevent Your Sink from Clogging

You can take several measures after each use to avoid future clogging of your sink.

Be careful what you put down there!

Avoid putting the following items down your drain: cooking grease, coffee grounds, stringy food waste such as banana peels and raw meat, as well as potatoes and pasta, which can expand in water.

Use cold water!

In addition, it is recommended to run cold water while grinding food waste in the garbage disposal, and continue running it for a few seconds after turning off the disposal. The cold water helps to solidify any grease in the sink and break it into smaller pieces. As for grease, a useful tip is to store it in an old coffee container and dispose of it in the trash. Whatever you do, do not pour grease down the sink!

Clean every night!

It is advisable to make it a habit to clean your sink regularly, even when you are tired. Avoid leaving any waste in the disposal overnight as it can cause an unpleasant odor and lead to a buildup. By following these tips, you can maintain a fresh-smelling garbage disposal and ensure it runs smoothly, which can help extend its lifespan and prevent the need for kitchen plumbing repairs.

However, if you do encounter a clogged sink, it is best to seek help from a plumbing company. We understand the inconvenience and hassle of dealing with a clogged sink and can assist you with this plumbing repair quickly and efficiently.