There are many topics that are passionately contested, yet most people can agree that vomiting up is unpleasant. And as soon as you get that impulse, time is running out for you to find a way to deal with it.
While most people prefer to use the restroom, there are instances when we are forced to settle with the kitchen or bathroom sink.
Unfortunately, cleaning up messes at the sink is a little more difficult than at the toilet, which can simply be flushed and cleaned.
To prevent a clogged sink drain in your kitchen or bathroom, properly cleaning afterward is crucial. Additionally, disinfecting correctly is crucial to stop the transmission of disease, especially if you’ve recently puked due to illness.
This article is for you if you’ve puked in your sink and need to know how to clean it up. I’ll go over a variety of techniques to make your sink even cleaner than it was before you became sick.
Despite the fact that this is a thorough list of tactics, you probably won’t need to use them all. You are welcome to cling to the ones that relate to your circumstance and to combine several ideas until you come up with one that works.
COLLECTING YOUR SUPPLIES
Assemble the necessary materials first.
Grab a trash or shopping bag, some paper towels, and some rubber gloves (it can be small, but you want absolutely no holes). A mask could also be useful if you’re shy.
You should grab a plunger or auger, if you have one, if the sink is clogged. If not, start a pot of water to boil later.
These supplies will get you started, but you might need some more later.
Put on the gloves after assembling your supplies and sweep any leftover puke gunk out of the sink into a garbage or shopping bag. You may pick up any liquid with the use of paper towels, hopefully preventing stains or the excessive spread of bacteria.
Simply seal the bag and place it in your outdoor trash to keep the stink outside of your house.
Most of the time, you should attempt to avoid washing chunks down the drain because they might cause clogs in the drain pipes, which can cause a slow drain.
If your kitchen sink is clogged and you’re fortunate enough to have a garbage disposal, you can just run the disposal as you empty the sink to avoid clogs and avoid the unpleasantness.
You might only need to do that. You will have more work to do, though, if the drain is plugged or if a stain or smell is still there.
WHAT TO DO AFTER VOMITING TO UNCLOG A SINK You can employ a variety of techniques to clear a blockage from your sink drain.
– BOILING WATER
The simplest method for clearing drain clogs is to just boil some water. Pour water that has been boiled down the drain.
To thoroughly wash off any buildup and release any soap scum that might be aggravating the problem, you’ll need a fair amount of water. You might also want to give several pours a try.
You really want the water to be boiling, not just hot enough to come out of the faucet. This implies that if there is already room temperature water in the sink, you should wait for it to drain or move on to a different fix because the boiling water will cool down before it reaches the clog.
White vinegar and baking soda
Try vinegar and baking soda if the boiling water is ineffective. Simply pour a little baking soda and about a cup of white vinegar down the drain.
The vinegar will begin to fizz when it comes in contact with the baking soda, which helps to release buildup. After letting it fizz for a short while, give it a thorough rinsing in hot (or even boiling) water.
You can try this a few times without being concerned about harming your plumbing, just like with boiling water.
PLUNGE THE SINK
The plunger you’ll use to unclog a sink or shower drain is referred to as an a cup plunger and is distinct from a toilet plunger, also known as a flange plunger. The plunger you currently own is likely the one you need because most people use cup plungers rather than flange plungers for toilet use.
You must confirm that your plunger can successfully seal a vacuum before you begin to plunge. To accomplish it, you must block the overflow drain since air can escape through it.
It should work if you cover it with duct tape or stuff it with a damp towel.
Next, take out any similar item in the drain, such as a basket strainer or drain stopper. Then add a few inches of water to the sink to aid in the plunger’s successful seal.
You’re finally prepared to begin diving. To ensure a tight seal, place the plunger’s cup over the drain and press down.
Then swiftly raise and lower the handle to try to force the obstruction out.
Watch the overflow drain during this process to make sure it remains covered. Your cover might need a hand holding it in place because the force of the air could cause it to come loose.
When you’re finished, run some water to help unclog the drain and make sure it is now functioning properly. If not, you can try the procedure once again, and if that doesn’t work either, proceed to the next.
In that case, proceed to clean the overflow drain and swap out the stopper or basket strainer.
USE AN AUGER
If none of the aforementioned remedies are working, an auger, if you have one, may be required (and if you dont, its worth picking one up ).
If you haven’t previously, remove the strainer or drain stopper. Once you notice the snake touching the obstruction, continue feeding it down the drain.
Once that has occurred, lengthen the snake by about another foot, then tighten the set screw to maintain the length.
The cable will rotate as you turn the handle, clearing the obstruction. If extra length is required, stretch it to help break up buildup farther down the drain.
Rotating the handle can help the snake navigate a bend in the pipe if you need it to.
Retract the snake after the entire clog has been dislodged, clean the tip, and run hot water through the drain.
STEER CLEAR OF CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANERS
We’ve discussed a few methods for clearing clogs that you should attempt, but I also want to add one that you should never do.
Although using a chemical drain cleaner like Drano may seem like the obvious fix, don’t. They are hazardous to use, terrible for the environment and your plumbing, and in many cases aren’t even all that effective.
Therefore, you can end up with the same issue you had before and a sink full of hazardous chemicals that you now need to deal with.
REMOVING LINGERING SMELLS OR STAINS
Is your drain operating normally yet there is still a strong vomit odor present? There are two potential reasons for this:
First, while a small amount of vomit is still lodged in your drain, it is not enough to significantly impair drain flow. Try some of the strategies above in this situation.
Considering that vinegar and baking soda are both natural odor eliminators, they may be very useful.
Second, the sink itself has become a part of the scene. You have a few options in this situation.
First, scrub the sink with a mixture made of baking soda and lemon juice. If it doesn’t work, you can try putting vinegar and water in the basin and letting it sit for a time.
You can use an enzyme cleaner to break up the vomit’s proteins if the odor is still present. If you don’t immediately have access to an enzyme cleaner, oxygen bleach like OxiClean can also be useful, although an enzyme cleaner will usually be more successful.
As a last option, chlorine bleach can be used, but you should always take caution when working with harsh chemicals. Before and after using bleach, always thoroughly cleanse surfaces to prevent combining chemicals or contaminating other products. Never purposefully combine bleach with other chemicals, and use it cautiously at all times.
The aforementioned remedies should assist you in removing any stains that may still be in the sink. However, you can also give a mildly abrasive cleanser like Soft Scrub , Bon Ami , or Bar Keepers Friend a try.
However, before using any product, always check the manufacturer’s directions to ensure that it is safe for the material of your sink. Before using a product over the entire sink, it’s wise to spot test it on a small, inconspicuous area.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
Dealing with vomit in the sink is the last thing you want to do, whether you’re ill or drunk. But if you follow these tips, you ought to have little trouble removing the vomit from your sink—barring any other problems.
It is quite acceptable to hire a plumber in that situation rather than attempting a do-it-yourself fix. Plumbing can be difficult, and if you don’t know what to do, you don’t want to make the situation worse.
And trust us, a vomit-filled drain won’t be your plumber’s first (or even second) encounter with something disgusting while on the job, and it’s likely not even the grossest thing they’ve ever seen.
Hopefully, though, it won’t come to that and the solutions we’ve provided here will be successful for you.
Good luck and speedy recovery!
