My bathroom sink has been draining slower by the day, and plumbers are fully booked until after Christmas. What can I try first?

A slow-draining bathroom sink can be a frustrating problem to encounter, especially during the busy holiday season when professional help is hard to come by. With plumbers booked solid until after Christmas, many homeowners find themselves in a bind, needing to address this common household issue on their own. Fortunately, there are several do-it-yourself methods that you can try to restore your sink’s drainage without needing specialized tools or chemicals.

Before you start, it’s important to remember that tackling a slow drain requires patience and a bit of trial and error. While some clogs are simple and easy to remove, others may be deeper within the plumbing system and require more effort. In this guide, we’ll explore ten practical steps you can take to fix your slow-draining bathroom sink, using items you likely already have at home.

Before diving into the process of unclogging your sink, check if the problem is isolated to just one sink or if it’s a more widespread plumbing issue. Turn on the faucets in other sinks around your home to see if they are draining slowly as well. This can help you determine if the problem is with your sink’s individual drain or if it’s part of a larger plumbing concern.

If only one sink is draining slowly, it’s likely the problem is with that particular sink’s plumbing. However, if multiple sinks are affected, it might be worth checking your main plumbing lines or considering that there might be a blockage further down the system. This initial test can save you time and effort by ensuring you’re addressing the right issue.

Bathroom sinks often have pop-up stoppers that catch hair and soap scum, which can quickly lead to a slow drain. To check this, remove the stopper from the sink. This may require unscrewing it or lifting it out, depending on the model. Once removed, clean off any visible hair or gunk that may have accumulated.

After cleaning the stopper, run water through the drain to see if the flow has improved. This simple step is often all it takes to restore proper drainage, as hair and soap scum are common culprits of slow drains.

If removing the stopper didn’t solve the problem, the next step is to try using a zip tie or a small drain snake to remove any hair buildup that’s deeper in the drain. A zip tie can be transformed into a makeshift tool by cutting small notches into it, creating hooks that can snag hair clogs.

Gently insert the zip tie or drain snake into the drain, twisting and pulling up to catch and remove any debris. This method is effective for catching hair that the stopper missed and can often clear minor blockages without needing to disassemble the plumbing.

Boiling water can be a surprisingly effective solution for clearing minor clogs caused by soap scum and grease buildup. Boil about a gallon of water and carefully pour it down the drain in stages, allowing each portion to work its way through the clog.

This method works best if the pipes are metal, as boiling water can damage PVC pipes or loosen their joints. Always check your plumbing material before proceeding. If effective, you should notice an improvement in the drainage speed as the hot water melts away the clogs.