How to Get Rid of Black Gunk in Sink Drain (6 Easy Steps)

Do you want to know how to get rid of black gunk in sink drain? A lot of people have slime build up in their drains, but this can be prevented or cleaned up with the right tools and techniques.

With the help of a plunger or drain snake, you can easily get rid of black gunk. You can also remove the black gunk using baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, boiling water, and drain cleaner. 

What exactly is that clumpy substance? What cleaning products are ideal for this particular cleaning task? Ideally, this tutorial will be helpful in answering your queries.

Also read: How to get rid of sink smell

What Causes the Black Gunk in the Sink Drain?

Have you ever asked what the source of the black mold in your sink drain is? Despite the fact that it’s unpleasant, most of it comes from things we use on a daily or regular basis.

The black sludge that accumulates in kitchen sinks is caused by germs from food and sticky lipids that get entangled in the sink drainage system.

Concerning bathroom sinks, the buildup of germs from various sources on the drain walls is to blame for the black sludge that appears. All of this causes the water to flow more slowly and suggests that the sink drain needs to be washed.

Hair is generally the most common cause of clogs and slime in bathroom sink drain, whereas grease and oil are the most common causes of blockages and gunk in kitchen sinks.

Also read: How to clean sink grid

6 Methods: How to Get Rid of Black Gunk in Sink Drain

1. Plunger

Sink gunk may have accumulated in a blocked pipe; thus, flushing the line will remove the blockage and unclog the sink. You’ll need a cloth, a sink plunger, and a basin in order to attain the best results.

Follow these easy steps to get started.

• The cloth should be used to plug the overflow opening in the sink.
• Next, you should put the sink plunger above the sink drain.
• Fill the basin with that much water to completely seal the plunger cup.
• Strokes should be short and swift, tumbling up and down to force as much air as possible into the sink drain.
• Finally, you have to take off the plunger and the cloth.
• This will help the leftover water in the sink drain out.
• If it takes an excessive amount of time to drain, repeat the operation or try another technique of draining the water.

2. Drain Cleaner

Drain cleaner is a powerful chemical that is designed to dislodge any blockage in a sink or toilet.

You should take precautions when putting these chemicals into your sink drain since they may be abrasive on certain surfaces, like plastic or acrylic.

Make a point of wiping up any droplets that may have remained on the sink‘s surface as soon as possible to avoid any discoloration or staining.

The following materials are required:

1. Rubber Gloves
2. Warm water
3. Drain cleaner

• Before you start, make sure you have read the directions on the drain cleaning container.
• As per the package, this product should not be used with any other substances.
• Put on your rubber gloves and sprinkle the drain cleaner into the drain. To avoid spilling onto your sink, ensure that you focus properly into the drain.
• It usually takes 30 minutes to an hour for many drain cleaners to disintegrate the gunk or scum that may be obstructing your sink drain.
• As is usually the case, read and follow the directions on the container.
• During this period, do not flush any water into the drain.
• Once the awaiting time has ended, switch on the warm water and make it flow for the amount of time specified on the bottle.
• This process would wash out the drain cleaner and eliminate any lingering black gunk from your drain that may have accumulated over time.

3. Drain Snake

It is yet another efficient method for getting rid of the sticky, black gunk that has built up in your sink drain. Rubber gloves and a snake auger are required for the first few stages of the project. 

To unclog the blockage in your sink drain, follow the methods outlined below.

• First, you need to place the snake auger in the drain of your sink.
• Once the snake’s auger encounters turns, it is possible to feel resistance.
• Continue to rotate until you reach the clogs and sense them cracking apart.
• If the blockage does not break up on its own, take the auger out of the drain and manually eliminate it.
• Water should be flushed down the drain to ensure that the obstruction has been eliminated.
• If the problem persists, consider a different approach.

4. Vinegar, Baking Soda and Boiling Water

 

When vinegar and baking soda are combined, they produce a bubbling reaction that helps to break down dust and filth.

Vinegar contains antimicrobial properties as well as other benefits.

This mixture of components, when mixed with boiling water, may effectively clear away any remaining debris that may be blocking your sink drain.

The following materials are required:

1. Boiling Water
2. White vinegar
3. Baking soda

• Now, you have to place a pot of water on the stovetop to boil it .
• After that, pour the baking soda into the drain which has the black gunk.
• When dealing with severe clogs, you may use an extra portion of baking soda. Don’t be concerned if it starts to build up; the boiling water would wash it all away later.
• A little container of white vinegar should be poured into the drain.
• Once it comes into contact with the baking soda, it will begin to bubble and fizz, thereby removing the muck that has accumulated in the drain.
• Leaving this combination in the drain for several minutes until the water has finished boiling is recommended.
• Remove the pan of boiling water from the heat and slowly pour the contents into the drain.
• Along with the baking soda and vinegar, this cleansing process must be effective in cutting through the blockage and pushing it into the drain.
• Allow just a few minutes before putting a small amount of room-temperature water into the drain to check the drain‘s operation.
• This procedure could be repeated once or twice more.
• This procedure may not be sufficient to entirely remove the black gunk from your drain; thus, you should consider utilising a professional drain cleaner instead.

5. Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, And Boiling Water

Using hydrogen peroxide to unblock your sink drain may also be quite beneficial.

If you apply baking soda in the proper manner, your sink could be restored to working state within days.

Remove thick, black sludge from your sink drain by doing the below steps:

• In a mixing jar, combine a glass of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of baking soda to create a paste.
• Dump this solution into the clogged drain and allow it to bubble up to the surface. It will help to clear up  the gunk that has built up in the drain lines.
• The hot water should be poured down the kitchen sink drain with caution. Eventually, it will flush all of the gunk away into the drain.
• Check to see whether the sink drain is unblocked by running water at room temperature.

6. Manual Method

Even if all of the other procedures fail, you may physically clean out the thick black slime that has built up in your sink drain. It is quite efficient.

You’ll need a trash can, a wire hanger, paper towels, a bottle brush, and disassembling devices to complete this project successfully. In addition, you must have significant plumbing skills.

Make sure that all water faucets are turned off before doing any repair on the sink drain or sink pipelines. To acquire the correct results, follow the instructions outlined below.

• Unplug all of the pipes beneath your sink with the tools provided and the directions given in the sink care book.
• Check the interior of the pipes to see if any black muck can be found there.
• Clean out the pipe using a wire hanger or a bottle brush to remove all of the gunk.
• All of this should be thrown away in a trash container.
• Paper towels should be used to clean the pipelines and your hands.
• Reattach all of it and re-establish the water line connection.
• Pour some water into the sink drain to be sure that all of the gunk has been flushed away.

Also read: How to Tighten Moen Kitchen Faucet

Also read: How to Remove Sink Stopper

Video Guide: How to Get Rid of Black Gunk in Sink Drain

How to Prevent Black Gunk in the Kitchen Sink Drain?

Carefully discard cooking fat or oil by dumping it in the trash or emptying it outside to allow it to decompose naturally in the environment.

Grease contains fats that do not decompose in drains or drainage systems and hence tend to accumulate over time.

Fatty foods such as vegetables and meats are the most common cause of drain blockages.

Bear that in mind while you’re preparing with either, and be sure to wipe off your cookware with a clean paper towel before you put anything in the dishwasher.

This will help to limit the quantity of grease in your sink, which may lead to the formation of black stuff.

Also read: How to Tighten Kitchen Faucet at Home

How to Unclog a Sink With Standing Water

How to Prevent Black Gunk in Bathroom Sink Drain?

Hairballs are not simply a problem for pets; they may occur in people as well, particularly in sink drains.

Brushing or combing your hair before using your bathroom  sink can help to avoid hair from accumulating in your drain.

Incase you see any loose hair in the sink, collect them up with a paper towel and toss them out the window. Please do not flush them into the bathroom drain.

Hair may become entangled in your sink drain due to soap scum, which can also cause sticky sludge to accumulate in your drain pipe.

Maintain the cleanliness and removal of soapy scum in your sink at all times.

After you wash your hands, pump the water for a few more seconds or so to make sure that all of the soap has been flushed down the drain.

Also read: How to Remove Pop Up Sink Plug

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Conclusion

Now, you know about how to get rid of black gunk in sink drain.

The most effective way is to physically clear the muck out of the sink drain.

The alternative ways, on the other hand, are quite effective. Try them out first before you start disassembling the sink‘s pipework and attachments.

Incase your sink is still blocked after doing all of this, the problem may be farther into the drain line, needing the assistance of a professional plumber to resolve the problem.

Once you’ve utilised the suggestions above to clear out the thick black sludge from your sink drain and the liquid is streaming down, what would you do after that?

You must adopt a proactive approach in order to lessen the likelihood of your sink being blocked in the future.

It might be as simple as switching out your old sink stopper with a new one that prevents extraneous things from penetrating the sink drain.

It’s worth mentioning that, although some of the procedures listed above are time-consuming and entail pouring hazardous substances into your sink drain, you’ll be able to remove any stink coming from your drains even while protecting your family from infections.

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