Skip the plumber: Here's how to unclog your sink with kitchen staples

You're not expected to fix every home appliance, and it's fine to call professionals for assistance. However, if the problem is relatively minor and you can resolve it yourself, then why spend money? When faced with a clogged sink in the kitchen or bathroom, seize control of the situation. It's easier than you think.

Blockages are most often the result of neglect or improper use of the sink. The kitchen sink usually becomes clogged when you allow food scraps, fat, and coffee grounds to travel down the pipes. These items accumulate over time, causing a back-up so severe that water cannot drain through. The bathroom sink typically gets clogged by leftover cosmetics and hair, but the mechanism of clog formation remains the same. To avoid having to call a plumber, make sure to install a strainer to collect waste in the drains.

Gurgling, stagnant water in the sink, and an unpleasant smell are all sure signs that your sink is clogged. But don't rush out to buy caustic soda from the store. There's a better, natural, and very effective method to clear the blockage. All you need is vinegar and baking soda, two household staples almost everyone has on hand.

Prepare about 2 cups of vinegar and 4 tablespoons of baking soda. First, pour the vinegar into a large bowl, then add the baking soda. This will trigger a chemical reaction, producing foam. Don't delay and pour the mixture into the drain immediately. This fizzy solution should effectively eliminate the blockage. Finally, boil some water. When it starts to boil, pour about 1.6 quarts into the sink.

Sometimes, the blockage is so significant that typical unblocking measures prove ineffective. Your initial reaction may be to call a plumber. But, don't hurry! Calling a professional should be your last resort. For now, forget about his number. Instead, find a rubber plunger. It's an age-old but effective method of dislodging deeper blockages in the sewage system. The only thing to remember is to cover the overflow hole.

Even if the plunger fails, you still have a chance to unclog the sink yourself. However, you'll require a slightly more specialized tool: a sewer snake (also known as a drain snake). This tool can be found in any hardware store. Although not complicated to use, you might require someone's assistance. One person must hold the snake while another pushes it into the drain and deeper into the pipes. This action should hopefully dislodge the obstruction.