Identification

• Sinks clog for many reasons, including having too much food stuffed down the drain (or liquid products such as hair conditioner in too large or thick chunks). Figuring out the reason for the sink clog is the first step to clearing it. A sink clogged by a nondegradable item, such as a spoon, for example, requires a much different path (turning off any electricity and reaching in to pull out the offending item) than a sink clogged with food and other materials.
  
  

Significance

• Clogged sinks can really clog up cleaning chores. Instead of getting dishes clean, they become even dirtier in the messy water, and you run the risk of the sink eventually breeching the basin and overflowing, damaging countertops and floors. Clogged sinks may also produce bad aromas in a house as food decomposes in the drains.
  
  

Solution

• The type of sink clog will determine its vehicle for solution. For food and other soft-based clogs (such as clumps of hair or wet paper towels), position a plunger, such as the rubber-headed kind used on toilets, over the drain; press in to invert the plunger head and pull up repeatedly to look for the clump inside the plunger head. Other options include a special tool called a drain auger, which works like a snake to hook and pull the blocked drain matter free. Grocery stores and hardware centers sell a variety of sink unclogging chemicals, such as Liquid Plumber although these are advised for sinks that drain slowly, not for ones that are completely clogged.
  
  

Warnings

• Always disconnect any power to the sink, such as a garbage disposal, before reaching into the clogged area even if you're using a tool to reach in. Put on thick, protective gloves to prevent corrosive chemicals from getting onto the skin, and wear safety glasses. Websites such as Home Tips advise against looking directly into a drain after pouring in unclogging chemicals as there may be splashback or fumes.