Bathroom sink clogged with hair: How to Unclog

The sink is the most commonly used fixture in the bathroom. Over time hair can collect in the clog. This can lead to a slow draining sink. The water might even stop flowing completely after a while. Let’s take a look at how we can get this fixed to unclog the drain.

You can a metal wire or hair removal tool to fish the hairs out of the sink. This only works with small clogs though.

It is not recommended that you use chemicals as they can corrode your drains. The best way is to use a plunger (more on that later). If that doesn’t work, you might have to climb under the sink and inspect it. Let’s discuss this further.

The chemicals that you get in the store are often not strong enough either and will probably not work. It also makes it harder to work on the drain if you have used this. Plumbers have access to strong chemicals but these are too dangerous for the general audience. Furthermore, they can’t be used in a lot of drains as it would break them down. Therefore not a lot of plumbers use chemicals to unclog a drain.  

For bigger clogs, we will have to use stronger tools. Let’s take a look at this.

Use a plunger to unclog a sink drain full of hair

Let’s take a look at how we can fix more stubborn clogs. With the right tool, we should get this fixed in no time. In some cases, more work will be needed.

Step 1: Check if other sinks drain well in the house. It is possible that the city system or your main system has a problem and blocks up your whole house (we have discussed how to clear the main sewer here).

If there is only a problem with one sink, it is time to get a plunger. The plungers for sinks are different for toilets. In some instances, you can fold the plunger so that it can be used for both. Fill the sink with water (you might have to remove nearby electric appliances).

Once this is done, you place the plunger over the outlet of the sink. You give it a few pushes and see if this removes the clog.

Plungers push water and oxygen down the drain. This can push the clog away and get it flowing again.

If this didn’t work, we will have to take a look under the sink. Grab a bucket and gloves before you start. There are different types of drains:

-Let’s start with the P-shaped part (this is often in plastic). If you are lucky, you can unscrew a part of this as there is a plastic piece that can be turned loose. You might need a tool to do this as it can be tightened quite hard. Place a bucket under this and check if something comes out of it. 

If the drain is made out of PVC, you might have to cut it open or unglue it. Once this has been done and the repair is done, you will have to use PVC glue to install a new part.

-If it is a bottle-shaped part (this is often in metal), it might be possible to get the lowest part loose if it is metal. Simply turn on the metal parts. You might need to use quite a lot of force to do this so support the other parts of the drain. Check how everything fits together so you can reinstall it afterward.

Opening up the drain can already solve a lot of problems. If the clog is located further down the drain, we will need more advanced equipment.

Using an auger or water pressure to unclog the drain

If this didn’t work, the problem is probably further in the pipes. We can use a plumbing snake or auger to reach this. You need to remove the S or P-trap before you can do this as it might get stuck there otherwise. This snake should be gently pushed down the pipes that go in the wall. Wear eye protection and gloves when you do this.

Plumbers generally use a camera to check what is going on before they use an auger or water pressure. This allows them to locate the problem. Once this is done, it is generally quite easy to remove the clog. All of this equipment can be rented in your local hardware store.

There are also attachments that you can use on your pressure washer. This is only for handy people. Be careful with this though as it is quite difficult to control the sprayer head. If you have a septic system, you shouldn’t use water pressure as it can affect your septic tank. Most people should just call a plumber at this point.

Drain cleaner to dissolve hair in a bathroom sink: does it work?

In a gist, yes drain cleaners such as Drano can dissolve hair and other organic matter. Any type of soft matter like grease and scum build-up can be easily tackled with the help of Drano. Within a span of 30 minutes, Drano can clear up clogged kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, shower drains, and garbage disposals.

This is why Drano has received wide acclaim from various reliable sources. In the year 2020, Drano Max Gel Clog Remover was hailed as the Best Overall Drain Cleaner by several magazines.

The most impressive quality about Drano, as noted by these critics, is its ability to dissolve clogs even in standing water. While it does sound magical, please note that Drano has its limitations. Certain kinds of clogs will inevitably require professional assistance. But in most cases, Drano works like a charm. Toward the end of this article, you will also learn some tips on keeping your drain pipes clear.

Given that Drano is quite strong, it is important to use gloves and other protective equipment. This makes sure that you stay safe while using this product.

To understand how Drano works in dissolving hair, you should know a little about the types of drain cleaners. Caustic, acidic, and enzymatic are the three types of drain cleaners available in the market. Each tackles the problem of clogged pores in its own way.

For those looking for a milder cleaner that does not use strong chemicals, enzymatic cleaner is the way to go. This cleaner uses real live bacteria which slowly eats away the organic clog. Depending on the brand, this method may consume more time while being less effective on more stubborn clogs.

The next category of drain cleaners includes caustic and acidic cleaners. These cleaners make use of harsh chemicals like acid or sodium hydroxide to get the job done. Since it contains sodium hydroxide and lye, Drano is a caustic drain cleaner.

Using the unique combination of its ingredients, Drano quickly dissolves the clog. This way the nasty clog falls off the pipe, freeing up the drain. When it comes to dissolving hair, Drano has come up with a product specifically for this purpose.

Avoiding future problems with your sink: water coming back up

There are some things that you shouldn’t put in the drain: grease, long hair, and crumbs. These can lead to buildups and block drains. There are some drain stoppers that hold hair out of the drain. Hot liquids can deform your drains and shouldn’t come in contact with them. 

Some plumbers recommend that you use special products to maintain the drains but this is generally not needed. Just makes sure that you don’t flush items in them. 

Unclogging drains can be very satisfying and there are Youtube channels that follow plumbers as they fix clogs in drains across the country (yes, people are weird).

To conclude, it can be stated that a lot of clogs can be fixed quite easily by working around the sink itself. From using a plunger to checking the traps, a lot of issues can be fixed there. It is also possible to remove clogs further down the drain.