Drain Auger (Sink Snake)

Kitchen · Moderate

A coiled cable tool that bores through clogs past the trap — the fix for sinks that plunge but never fully clear. Grease clogs recur without it.

Tools you may need

• Drain auger (15-25 ft hand crank)
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves

Steps

1. 1Remove the stopper and feed the auger cable into the drain until it meets resistance.
2. 2Crank the handle to let the corkscrew tip bite into the clog.
3. 3Keep light tension on the cable and pull the debris back out rather than pushing it deeper.
4. 4Flush with hot water; repeat once if the drain still glugs.

Maintenance

Rinse and dry the cable before recoiling; oil the crank yearly. (Suggested interval: every 1 year.)