Kitchen Sink Not Draining

[albaqwerty]

Anyone any ideas for a substitute plunger please?
Tried a plastic cup and rumbled up and down.
Plumbers were in next door this morning and would love to blame them.

[Old_Geezer]

Cover up the overflow with one hand, use your palm on the plughole and pump up & down ensuring a airtight seal as you do so.

[albaqwerty]

Thanks OG, I'll give that a try, forgot about the overflow thing.
Will report back in a while

[The Builder]

I like OG's idea :o)))

If no luck Alba, then get under the sink and unscrew the bowl of the trap and empty the stuff out. (U-bend)

[ladyalex]

If you do what The Builder suggests, remember to have a bowl either in place under the pipes or very handy when you unscrew the trap......sad personal experience prompts this suggestion.....

[albaqwerty]

the while is shorter than I thought, yippee!!

Thank you kindly, got the kettle on to put the boiling water on down it now, just in case.

[ladyalex]

Well done!

I'd put some soda crystals down too.

[albaqwerty]

Ladyalex, I went one better once. I took the bowl of yucky liquid and fired it down the disconnected sink!

Thank you all kindly. If the bicarb and boiling kettle don't fix it, it'll be a while before I use that technique again.

[albaqwerty]

No offence meant to other most helpful AB'ers.
Thank you all.

[ladyalex]

Not bicarb!

Washing Soda, not Baking Soda.

(Bicarb won't hurt, but Washing Soda , sodium carbonate, will do a much better job.)

[BlueToffee]

Turn the water off, undo the pipes under the sink and de-clog them, it's a filthy job, but extremely satisfying once done.

[albaqwerty]

kick me, please.
Soda crystals.
The grey box with the plastic bag inside.

Don't ask, my bicarb of soda is safely tucked in a completely different cupboard!

[Alston]

Most important to have a bowl underneath the U-trap. I remember the occasion when I removed the trap and, having cleared out the gungy mess, filled the sink with hot water and gave the item a good cleaning with a small paint brush. However, I forgot that the trap was no longer in place and pulled out the sink plug and ended up with a cupboard flooded with dirty water which also spilled onto the kitchen floor.

Best of luck with your efforts....Al.

[albaqwerty]

Hi Blue xx

Al, I think we've all done that ghastly thing at some point, I reckon it's in our make-up.
Why, when is there a power cut I suggest we watch the tv?

[Alston]

Cheers alba. :-).....Incidentally,I have had success with Bi-carb and vinegar. Put a quantity of Bi-carb down the plughole and then pour down some vinegar and see it all froth- up into the sink.

Al.

[B00]

Then do what I do, every few days pour a kettle of boiling water down sink to keep it unblocked, I've learnt that after getting sick of the "oh Christ, what have you tried to bung down there now? yells from Mr Boo!

[yogi-bear]

Hi alba

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=251590774

Try some of this stuff at regular intervals ( maybe once every couple of months ).......pour the whole lot down the plughole.....leave for a while, about 10-15 mins i'd say, but at least 5 minutes, to work through....then pour down some hot running water from the tap to clear.......presto....hopefully blockage sorted.

Next time young lady, I wouldnt put a pair of your frilly knickers down there, eh?.

Hope you get it sorted, alba, my little bakewell slice. :0) xx

[excelsior-1]

good afternoon alba

only just noticed this thread .. glad to see your problem is sorted