How to Clean a Kitchen Sink Drain & Keep It Clog-Free

Are you tired of calling the plumber repeatedly just because your kitchen sink has been rendered useless? If that’s the case, you probably are overlooking the most important thing.

Most kitchen sinks nowadays come with premium manufacturing and craftsmanship so that they can last for several years. However, not caring about its maintenance can render the sink unfit for any further kitchen use.

For instance, you cannot use it if water starts pooling around the drain pipe all of a sudden. Similarly, your kitchen’s hygiene will be stake if the kitchen sink drain pipe starts emitting bad odor and smell.

So, it’s crucial you understand that a kitchen sink drain is vulnerable and requires proper maintenance from time to time.

If not, you may end up with severe problems, clogging being the most common one. That being said, we have crafted a comprehensive guide to walk you through about the ways of keeping the sink and its connected drain pipe clean.

With this, you won’t have to worry about ringing up a plumber every now and then. 

What Leads to a Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain?

The key to keeping the kitchen sink drain clean and functional is to know what may lead to its sudden blockage. It will at least help you to prevent the circumstances from occurring easily.

• You often pour oily and greasy liquid in the sink, and that’s common. However, what you don’t realize is that these oils and greases go down the drain pipe and solidify with time. As a result, a thick layer builds up inside the drain, narrowing its width and potentially blocking the passage after a couple of months.
• Eggshells, coffee grounds, rice, and other such micro objects often pass into the kitchen drain along with the water. Most of the times, it happens without your notice. Although this won’t cause any damage overnight. But if this continues, you may end up with a blocked kitchen sink drain eventually.
• Sometimes, sponge pieces or small utensils may enter the drain pipe accidentally. Owing to their large size, they do not pass through completely and get stuck somewhere down the length. As a result, your sink’s pipe will get clogged, not allowing water to pass through properly.
• Residue buildup inside the drain pipes is a common instance in most houses. It usually happens when soap scum accompanied by fats accumulate inside the drain pipe and narrow its width. Over time, the residue hardens, causing it extremely difficult for the water to pass through.
• Hard water can make kitchen sink drain more vulnerable to severe clogs and damage from within. That’s because of the excessively high mineral content, especially those of iron, calcium, and magnesium. These molecules form a thick residue layer and gradually narrow the pipe’s diameter.

Why It is Important to Keep a Kitchen Sink Drain Clean?

• Frequent drain pipe cleaning routine will keep it safe from residue buildup and mineral deposition. As a result, the diameter won’t be narrowed any further, and water from the sink will get drained off easily.
• Cleaning of the kitchen sink drain is also important for hygiene. When you leave it unattended for weeks, the residues inside can cause bad odor and smell. Also, there will be bacterial and fungal growths inside, which will further put your kitchen’s hygiene at stake.
• Regular and proactive maintenance routines can make the drain pipes long-lasting. These will prevent the pipes from being corroded or damaged due to severe clogs. On top of everything, costly repairs and replacements can be avoided for months to come.
• Food bits stuck inside the drain pipes often attract pests, especially ants and rodents. So, if you keep the pipes clean, you won’t have to worry about sudden pest invasion in your kitchen.
• Cleaning the kitchen sink drain is important for maintaining unrestricted water passage. As there won’t be any blocks inside, water won’t stand still or start pooling around the pipe’s opening in the sink.

How to Clean and Maintain a Kitchen Sink Drain?

Daily Cleaning

• Do not leave the sink as it is once you are done cleaning all the dishes for the day.
• Rather, pour hot water into the pipe for approximately 30 seconds to a minute. It will help flush down the oil and grease molecules and prevent residue buildup.
• Also, ensure you place a strainer on the opening of the kitchen sink drain before you start using it.
• A metal strainer will be best since it won’t get damaged if you pour hot liquid in the sink. Also, it’s better to use a mesh strainer with smaller perforations so that bit-sized food particles can be caught.

Weekly Maintenance Routine

You should try this hack at least once in a week to keep the kitchen sink drain clean and free from residue buildup.

Take about half a cup of baking soda and pour it straight into the pipe, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Ffizz will soon start erupting out from the pipe due to the chemical reactions between these ingredients.

Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes so that the hardened residue and grime buildup can be broken down. Wash everything off with hot water.

Monthly Maintenance With Deep Cleaning

• Dish soap contains different types of alkali that can help break down greasy layers formed on the inner walls of the kitchen sink drain. So, mix a little amount of the soap solution with hot water and pour it into the pipe.
• Repeat this for a couple of times so that the inside walls of the pipe is absolutely clean and free from any greasy layer.
• Sometimes, blockage can be present deep inside the pipe, and removing it using simple hacks won’t be easy. So, use a plunger to dislodge any solid buildup that has restricted the water passage completely.

Closing Words

Keeping the kitchen sink drain is your responsibility. Although it might sound too much effort-consuming work, you can at least save yourself from smelly kitchens, overflowing sinks, and costly repair afterword.

Besides, a proactive pipe cleaning schedule will extend the sink’s longevity for years to come.