Hair and dirt accumulate in the sink trap over time.
If the drain is clogged, often the only thing that helps is grabbing a pipe wrench so that the water drains away again.
If the water in the sink no longer drains, the siphon is usually clogged.
That's the name of the U-shaped pipe that runs under the sink.
Some water always collects here, which serves as a natural barrier against odors from the sewage system.
Unfortunately, this is also where most of the dirt and especially long hair is deposited, which is why the water can no longer drain away unhindered.
In the case of heavy soiling, the only thing that often helps is to unscrew the siphon.
Clean the siphon with home remedies: Vinegar and baking soda loosen dirt
First you can try to get the siphon free again with natural home remedies.
Baking powder and vinegar have proven themselves for this.
Pour 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar.
The mixture collects in the water in the pipe bend and dissolves dirt there.
Rinse with hot water after a few minutes – done.
Pömpel cleans the siphon mechanically
Also a classic: to mechanically loosen the blockage with the suction cup.
Many also know them under the term Pömpel or Pümpel.
And this is how it works: First, mask off the overflow of the sink (which should also be cleaned more often) or stuff a cloth into it.
Then fill the sink with some water and a dash of washing-up liquid, place the plunger on the drain and quickly move the wooden handle up and down.
This creates a negative pressure that can loosen hair, soap residue and fat deposits.
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If the drain is already clogged: This is how you unscrew the siphon
On the other hand, if the blockage is very deep or really stuck, there is usually only one thing that can help: unscrew the siphon and see if everything is in order.
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If the drain in the sink is clogged, the siphon must be unscrewed and thoroughly cleaned.
© Monkey Business 2/Imago
To remove the siphon, all you need is water pump pliers or pipe wrenches and a bucket to catch the water.
Place the bucket under the siphon and use the pliers to loosen the union nuts on the drain pipe.
Then you can take a closer look at the removed siphon.
Sometimes there is also an object hidden in it that accidentally went down the drain.
Usually, however, a large hairball and dirt clog the pipe.
Try to unclog the blockage with your hand or a long wire.
Or you can try the bottle trick, which often works wonders for clogged toilets:
Fill an old PET bottle with tap water.
Hold the bottle in the opening of the tube and forcefully squeeze the water out.
The water pressure loosens the blockage.
You forget these spots all the time when cleaning
You forget these spots all the time when cleaning
Then place the siphon in vinegar water or a solution of water and a cleaning agent and scrub with a bottle brush if necessary.
This will loosen the last bits of dirt and the siphon will then be sparkling clean again.
If the drain in the shower stinks, there is usually dirt behind it as well.
Rubric list image: © Monkey Business 2/Imago