Removing and cleaning your bathroom sink drain is easier than you might expect—simply take out the stopper, clean the drain, and place the stopper back in your sink.

A sink that won’t drain properly is nothing short of a nuisance. If your drain is clogged, you have even more work on your hands.

A dirty or clogged drain can cause your sink to smell terrible and harbor bacteria, so it’s important to deal with it as soon as you can.

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Tools to remove your bathroom sink drain

You’ll first have to remove your bathroom sink stopper to access your drain. You’ll need several items to complete the removal and cleaning process:

Wrench/pliers

Hair clog removal tool

Flashlight

Bucket

Bathroom cleaning detergent

Vinegar

Drain cleaner liquid

Signs you need to clean your bathroom sink drain

If you’re unsure whether your bathroom sink drain needs a good cleaning, check for the following signs:

Water is taking a long time to drain

Water isn’t draining at all

There’s a smell emanating from the sink

The drain is making sounds

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Home insurance terms you need to know

How to remove your bathroom sink drain

To remove your drain and make it good as new, follow these steps:

Remove the stopper. Use your hand to lift and turn it out of place

If you can’t remove it by hand, do the following:

Clear the area under the sink and put a bucket down to catch any water that may spill

Find the horizontal plunger rod—it’s a metal rod with holes in it, connected to the vertical strap

Remove the clip attaching the rod and strap

Unscrew the pivot nut

Remove the stopper

Place the stopper in a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water to remove any gunk or dirt

Use the hair clog removal tool to clear the sink of any built-up hair

Pour the drain cleaning product into the sink. Carefully follow the instructions on the box. It usually has to sit for at least 10 minutes before you turn on the faucet

Put the stopper back in place

If you removed it from underneath the sink, you’ll need to:

Put the stopper back in

Screw the nut back in place

Using the clip you removed earlier, reattach the rod to the strap

Test the stopper to make sure it’s working normally and run the sink to make sure it’s draining properly

Tips for dealing with your bathroom sink drain

Keep these general tips in mind when you have to deal with your bathroom sink drain:

If you need to replace any parts, take the old pieces to a hardware store to get help finding a perfect replacement

Wear gloves—you never know how much dirt can build up in your sink!

Use a tray to keep track of all your tools and small parts

Fix the problem sooner rather than later, as your sink drain will only get worse over time

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How to bundle home and auto insurance to save money

How to save money with Jerry

Removing and cleaning your bathroom sink drain can be a nuisance, but it’s all the easier if you know what you’re doing. Similarly, shopping for home and auto insurance is easiest if you know where and how to look.

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Jerry can even help you bundle

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The best part? The average Jerry user saves nearly $900 a year on insurance payments. No hassle, no stress, just savings.

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FAQs

How much does it cost for a plumber to clean my bathroom sink drain?

It’ll change depending on where you live, but the average cost for a plumber to remove and clean a bathroom sink drain is between $100 and $200.

Do I have to use a store-bought drain cleaner?

If you’d rather use a homemade, non-chemical cleaner for your bathroom sink drain, there are a ton of recipes to use!

One method is to mix ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar, or ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup lemon juice.

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