How to unblock a bathroom sink?

[conversant]

Hello

The bathroom sink is overflowing since I moved into this flat. I have tried the Mr Muscle gel several times but it does not seem to do anything.

Any recommendation without having to pay for a plumber?

Thanks!

You could try pouring loads of boiling water down there first.

Have you tried a plunger? They shift quite a few blockages (be sure to cover up the basin overflow, in order to maximise the pressure change in the plughole).

Also, a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda down the plughole, followed by vinegar (this assumes the sink does empty in between uses). You will get lots of fizzing and bubbling, and it does often work.

If you're feeling brave and the pipes are accessible, you could try unscrewing the waste trap under the basin. Google how to do it first and don't forget a bucket to catch all the water!

Try a brush like this to remove the hair/gunge that is blocking it

Plunger. Also unscrewing the trap is very easy to do.

do you have a Henry vacuum cleaner? try using it over the plug hole to suck up the gunk that is blocking it.

BUT do not do this if you have used a load of caustic chemicals to try and dissolve a clog as it will also come right back up and might get on you or melt your Henry

Take the trap off , it’s pretty basic but be aware it will likely be grim.

Remove the trap under the sink. It may be something very simple.

Or something like this should work too

Plunger
Shoving wire brush cleaners down it

Combination of the above usually works for mine

If still no joy watch some Youtube videos on removing the trap.

Ours was blocked once, with a whole bunch of ear buds one of my kids posted down the plug hole when they were young.

Get a ‘Luigi’ plunger from Amazon … literally the only thing that worked with my blocked drain

Get a plumber's snake. Or there are similar long flexible brushes in shops like B&M etc that are only a couple of quid.

Caustic soda is the most effective and cheapest chemical cleaner. But it's very nasty stuff so be careful with it, wear gloves and eye protection.

I use net curtain wire to gently work down. Works every time. Pulls up loads of gunk.

Using this 'in reverse' as you would to suck water up worked for me once but I bet a plunger would be even better!