How to Clear a Kitchen Sink Clog? | Step-by-Step Drain Fix

For the full breakdown, see our best Clog Remover For Kitchen Sink guide.

Standing water in a kitchen sink is one of the most frustrating household slowdowns. You run the disposal, nothing moves, and the gray water just sits there. The fix usually starts with the simplest tool in the house — a plunger — and only reaches for a snake if the clog is deeper. Here’s the order that works, from the sink basin to the branch drain.

Start With the Plunger

Before anything else, remove as much standing water as you can with a cup or a turkey baster. The plunger needs water to form a seal, but you want the water level to be about 1 to 2 inches above the plunger cup.

For a double sink, seal the second basin’s drain with a wet rag or the built-in stopper, or the plunger will just push air between the two sides. Cover any overflow opening in a single sink the same way. Food Network’s guide recommends pumping the plunger 10 to 12 times firmly, keeping the seal the whole time. You should feel resistance break as the clog moves — then the water starts draining.

If the sink drains slowly but doesn’t clear, repeat the plunge two or three times. Some clogs need a second push to break completely.

Hot Water or Baking Soda and Vinegar

If plunging didn’t work, try hot tap water cautiously. Home Depot advises running hot water for several minutes and checking if the flow improves. Drano’s notes say to use hot water (not boiling) in stages, letting it sit for 15 seconds between pours.

If the sink still doesn’t drain, do not reach for a chemical drain cleaner yet.

Clean the P-Trap Under the Sink

The curved section of pipe under the sink — the P-trap — is where solid debris often stops. Place a bucket directly under the trap, then loosen the two slip nuts by hand or with pliers. Gently remove the trap and dump its contents into the bucket.

Look inside for food scraps, grease, or small objects. Clear the obstruction with a wire or a stiff brush, then rinse the trap in the other sink or a separate bucket before reassembling it. Tighten the slip nuts by hand until snug — overtightening with a tool can crack them.

Run a Drain Snake Into the Branch Line

If the trap is clean and the sink still won’t drain, the clog is deeper in the wall pipe. A manual drain snake (or auger) is the right tool here. Feed the cable into the pipe opening beyond the trap connection while turning the handle. When you meet resistance, crank the snake forward to break up or hook the blockage, then pull it back out.