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Bathroom Sink Not Draining? Pull the Stopper, Then Try This

Hair and soap gum up the stopper first, then the pipe below it. Clean the stopper, then pull the rest out with a plastic barbed snake.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
20 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A white bathroom sink with standing water and a lifted pop-up stopper covered in hair and soap scum
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. How to fix a bathroom sink drain clog: the order to try
  9. Pull the stopper: the three common types
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

If your bathroom sink is not draining, the clog is usually hair and soap stuck on the stopper or a few inches down the pipe. Pull the stopper and clean it, plunge with the overflow blocked, then run a plastic barbed drain snake down the drain to pull out what is left. Skip harsh chemicals.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 15 minutes

Clean the stopper and plunge

  • Remove the stopper and wipe off the hair and slime
  • Block the overflow hole and plunge 10 to 15 times
  • Flush with hot tap water
  • Hair on the stopper shows what is below it

How long it lasts: Often clears a light clog. Hair left deeper in the pipe rebuilds the clog within weeks.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
Illustration

A plastic barbed drain snake

Sink clogs are mostly hair wrapped in soap film a few inches below the stopper. A barbed plastic strip grabs hair as you pull it out, so you remove the cause instead of pushing it along. It fits a narrow sink drain and will not scratch the pipe the way a bent wire hanger can.

What to get: Plastic barbed drain snake

How long it lasts: Cheap enough to use every few months, which keeps the hair from building into a clog.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Rubber gloves

    For handling the stopper and the hair

    You have it

  • Cup plunger

    The flat cup kind, not the toilet flange kind

    You have it

  • Bucket and pliers

    For opening the trap if you need to

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
    Illustration

    Plastic barbed drain snake

    Pulls the hair out instead of pushing it down

    Check price
  • Small hand-crank drain auger (illustration)
    Illustration

    Small hand-crank drain auger

    For clogs a plastic strip cannot reach

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Hair and soap on the stopper

A pop-up stopper and its pivot rod catch hair first. Soap film glues it into a mat that slows the water.

2

Soap film and toothpaste

Residue narrows the pipe a little each week, and a small amount of hair is enough to close it.

3

A clog in the P-trap

The U-shaped trap under the sink catches heavy gunk, and sometimes a lost ring or earring.

4

A stopper that will not lift

If the lift rod or linkage is out of adjustment, the stopper only opens a little, so water drains slowly even with no clog.

5

A blocked vent

Drains need air behind the water. A blocked vent makes sinks gurgle and drain slowly, usually in more than one fixture.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. 1. Remove the stopper and clean it

    Tool used: Rubber gloves

    Lift or twist the stopper out. Some pop-ups need the pivot rod nut loosened under the sink so the rod can slide out. Wipe off the hair and slime.

  2. 2. Check the linkage

    With the stopper in, pull the lift rod up and watch whether the stopper rises. If it barely moves, adjust the linkage so it opens fully.

  3. 3. Plunge with the overflow blocked

    Tool used: Cup plunger

    Stuff a wet rag into the overflow hole and add enough water to cover the plunger cup. Seat the cup over the drain and pump 10 to 15 times.

  4. 4. Snake the drain with a barbed strip

    Tool used: Plastic barbed drain snake

    Push the strip down 12 to 18 inches, twist it and pull slowly. The hair comes up on the barbs. Repeat until it comes up clean.

    Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Plastic barbed drain snake · Pulls the hair out instead of pushing it down

    Check price on Amazon

  5. 5. Clean the P-trap if it is still slow

    Tool used: Bucket and pliers

    Set a bucket under the trap, loosen the slip nuts by hand or with pliers, pull the trap, empty and rinse it, then reassemble hand-tight and run water to check for leaks.

  6. 6. Flush with hot water

    Run very hot tap water for a minute. Skip boiling water, which can damage plastic pipe and the sink.

When free fixes aren't enough

If the barbed strip comes up clean and the sink is still slow, the clog is deeper than about 18 inches, in the trap arm or the wall pipe, and a small auger reaches farther. If the sink fills when another fixture drains, the tub or toilet gurgles, or water backs up in more than one drain, the problem is the main line or a blocked vent, so call a plumber. For ordinary hair clogs the barbed snake is what you want, because it removes hair rather than pushing it along.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
Illustration
Plastic barbed drain snake
the hair-and-soap clog a few inches below the stopper Most sinks with a slow drain or standing water. Check price
Upgrade pick
Small hand-crank drain auger (illustration)
Illustration
Small hand-crank drain auger
deeper clogs that a plastic strip cannot reach People who clear the same sink several times a year. Check price
Best pick
Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
Illustration

Plastic barbed drain snake

Fixes: the hair-and-soap clog a few inches below the stopper

Look for: Long enough to pass the trap, around 18 inches or more; Barbs along both edges and flexible plastic; A multi-pack, so you can throw away a dirty one.

Who it's for
Most sinks with a slow drain or standing water.
Honest downside
Other drains are slow too, or the clog is past the trap. Use an auger or call a plumber.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Small hand-crank drain auger (illustration)
Illustration

Small hand-crank drain auger

Fixes: deeper clogs that a plastic strip cannot reach

Look for: A thin cable that fits a sink drain; A plastic or coated tip that will not scratch the pipe; A handle you can turn with one hand.

Who it's for
People who clear the same sink several times a year.
Honest downside
You have very old or fragile pipes. A plumber will treat them with more care.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on plumbing and drain-care guides, product instructions from drain tool makers and what owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

How to fix a bathroom sink drain clog: the order to try

  1. Clean the stopper and check that it lifts fully.
  2. Plunge with the overflow hole blocked.
  3. Run a barbed strip down the drain.
  4. Clean the P-trap.
  5. Use a mini auger, or call a plumber if other drains are slow.

Pull the stopper: the three common types

  • Lift-rod pop-up: the rod behind the faucet works a pivot rod under the sink. Loosen the nut under the sink to free it.
  • Push-to-close: press it down to close, press again to open. Twist it counterclockwise to lift it out.
  • Simple removable plug: it just lifts out.

What to skip

Chemical drain cleaners and boiling water

Strong cleaners can leave caustic water in the bowl that splashes into your eyes when you plunge, and they do little to a hair mat. If one has already been poured, wear eye protection and tell the plumber.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my bathroom sink draining slowly or not draining properly?
Hair and soap film are narrowing the pipe. It starts as a slow drain and ends with standing water. A stopper that does not lift all the way can slow it too.
Why is my bathroom sink not draining but not clogged, when the pipes look clear?
The stopper linkage may not be lifting it far enough, a vent may be blocked, or there may be a partial clog past the trap. Clean the stopper, check the linkage, then check the trap.
Why is my bathroom sink not draining after I used a snake?
The clog may be deeper than the snake reached, or the snake pushed it into the trap bend. Clean the trap, then try an auger.
Why does my bathroom sink keep clogging, filling up with water or backing up?
Hair and soap film rebuild the clog in weeks. Snake it every few months and clean the stopper regularly. If water backs up into other fixtures, the main line may be partly blocked.
When should I call a plumber?
Call if several drains are slow, the sink gurgles when other fixtures run, water comes back up in the tub or toilet, or you smell sewage. Those signs point past the sink.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Plastic barbed drain snake (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Plastic barbed drain snake

Check price