A sink drain needs to be cleaned almost every time. It can be blocked easily by soap scum and other substances such as fats. Frequent cleaning ensures that such elements are prevented from accumulating in the drain.
Failure to observe such hygienic procedures may cause the bathroom sink to block or even drain the water at low volume. A blocked drain will cause the bathroom to stink and even have an unpleasant feeling.
This, therefore, calls for closer care of the drain. How then does one undertake this work? For more information, please read through this article. It has all the information necessary for this work.
What causes the bathroom sink drain to get dirty?
There more you use the bathroom, the more the drain gets dirty. The major causes of dirty drains are:
- Toothpaste.
- Long hair.
- Other solid matter which may get in the drain accidentally.
All the above matters are usually compounded by soap scum. The scum causes the above matter to stick to the wall of the drain. This eventually causes it to clog or to block. The phenomenon happens when the sink drain is neglected for long without cleaning.
How to clean a bathroom sink drain?
Regular cleaning of the sink drain is highly recommended. This helps in preventing clogging. There are two major ways of keeping the sink clean. These are:
- Regular cleaning to avoid blocking.
- Unclogging to clear the matter which causes it to block.
⇒ Regular cleaning.
To clean the drain, there are several methods that one can use to do it daily or even weekly. There are three methods for this cleaning.
∞ Clean the sink by use of non-corrosive material.
This helps in fighting off things such as bacteria and other agents which causes the drain to smell bad. Vinegar is harmful to such bacteria but does not harm the lining of the drain.
Read through the manual carefully so that you avoid agents that are harmful to both the drain and your hands. Such agents do contain chemicals that are not user-friendly.
With this, you will need to pour a measured amount of solution down the drain. Give sufficient time for the solution to act on the dirt. Rinse the drain by use of clean running water.
You can fill the sink with water before letting it flow down the drain in large quantities. This process can be done once or twice a week. The sink drain should not be left unattended for more than a week.
∞ By the use of household products.
Some of the household products which can be used while cleaning include:
- Vinegar.
- Salt.
- Lemon juice or even
- Baking soda.
Whichever the element present in your house, prepare a solution of one cup or even more. Pour the solution on to the sink and down the drain. Provide a good amount of time for the solution to do some effective work.
You can leave the drain to be cleaned for about an hour. After an hour, rinse the drain by use of hot, clean water. Hot water dissolves the tough or stubborn matter which is refusing to leave the drain.
Since this process is quite vigorous on the dirt, it can be done once a month. Using any of the above elements, coupled with the use of hot water will cause the toughest stain to be removed.
You can, hence, revert to the regular cleaning methods. This can be done until such a time when you will need to do some thorough cleaning again.
∞ By removing the debris regularly.
In the sink, just where the drain begins is a metal or a stopper which traps solid matter when going in. It is also useful in preventing the elements from flowing down the drain.
However, when the stopper is fully loaded, some material escapes down the drain. This can be avoided by regularly taking out the stopper and getting rid of the debris. When taken out, wash it with clean water.
Warm water will even be better. This method can work well if the debris is removed weekly. If you let it hold on to the debris for more than a week, chances are high that it will let it flow.
⇒ Unclogging the sink drain.
This process is applicable when there is a significant buildup of the dirt in the drain. The process is more than cleaning; rather it is about getting rid of tough stains. Procedure is:
√ Plunging the drain.
By use of a plunger, fill the water to the sink before introducing a plunger. The water should cover the entire head of the plunger. Bring the plunger over the sinkhole and push it up and down for about ten times.
This will either suck out the dirt or even push it down the drain. When you realize that the water has started to flow at a fast rate, then the drain has been cleaned.
√ By use of hot water.
To dissolve the most stubborn dirt in the drain, boil a good amount of water. Hot water can break down any element in the shower drain. It will be able to clear the blockage immediately.
This is because all the chemical components are broken down. You will notice that hot water flows down the drain without hesitation.
√ By use of vinegar and baking soda.
Make a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. One cup would be enough. Pour the solution down the drain and cover the sinkhole. This will cause more reactions in the sink drain by making foam.
The foam is good in dissolving the dirt agents. Leave the solution to act on the dirt for about one hour or so. Rinse the drain with hot water. Hot water will further break down the tough components while washing off the dirt.
Add more hot water to clean the drain completely. You can also add salt to this solution for it to act tougher. However, salt is not necessary since the two elements will still form a strong solution.
Contrary to this, you can as well begin by putting baking soda into the drain. Leave it there for a few minutes. This is to allow it to break down the components while at the same time absorbing the smell.
You can then introduce vinegar to make the foam which will further cause the tough stains to be broken down.
This, consequently, means that:
- You can prepare the solution in a cup and pour down the drain or,
- Pour some baking powder to the drain, and then add some vinegar later.
In either way, the solution will work well in removing the dirt from the sink drain.
√ By use of a metal hanger.
When the stains are really tough, push in a metal hanger and physically disrupt the stain. The dirt may have become so stubborn hence requiring this physical intervention. This is the last resort process when all the other processes have failed.
Conclusion.
Continuous use of the sink will cause it to get dirty. This dirt has to be gotten rid of in any way possible. Regular cleaning will help in keeping the sink safe of stubborn stains. There are those cleaning processes that can be undertaken on a weekly and monthly basis.
Also, cleaning can be undertaken daily. Over time, tough stains do build up in the drain; this will call for more tough action to be taken. Such actions are as explained above in the article.