How to Get Rid of Black Sludge in The Sink Drain? [9 Methods]

Are you disgusted by the gross black gooey sludge that comes out of your sink drain and wants to get rid of it immediately? Let’s face it, the black stuff from the sink drain is not pretty.

The black sludge is an unpleasant accumulation of organic material, oils, fats, and soaps that form along the sidewall of the drainpipe. These buildups can arise, especially if the water is not drained correctly and come out of your sink.

You should know that this black sludge is typical. But, it means that it is time to clean the sink drains without letting it cling onto the sink drain for too long.

So, are there ways to get rid of this black sludge in the sink drain?

Yes, there are. We have compiled a list of the simplest and most effective methods which help you remove this black sludge from your sink drain and make it clean and shiny again.

What Is Black Sludge in The Sink Drain?

The black sludge in the sink drains isn’t any obnoxious creature coming out of your kitchen or bathroom sink, but you’ll find it just as disgusting. Further, besides being stinky and unattractive, this sludge is generally the source of poor drainage in the bathroom sink. And if not eliminated as early as possible can cause eye and sinus infection.

Hence, if you witness black matter coming out of the sink drain, stop the sink use as soon as possible. The black sludge is typically a bacterial buildup.

In bathrooms, black gunk in the sink is usually the accumulation of hair, toothpaste grit, phlegm, spit, hand lotion, soap scum, skin cells, shaving cream, etc. There are ways to clean a clogged shower drain as well.

In kitchens, the unpleasant black matter is a combination of food deposits, fats, oils, etc.

These deposits adhere to the drain pipes, trap the hair and other waste and delay the water draining, causing a clogged drain. As the water doesn’t drain correctly and swiftly, it comes back into the sink resulting in the black sludge coming out of the sink drains.

CAUTION -Clean the black sludge from your sink drain as soon as you witness it, as it is considered hazardous to health.

How to Clean the Black Sludge in The Sink Drain?

Cleaning the black sludge is easy, but you will have to bear with the smell and look of the black matter while cleaning it.

There are ways to get rid of this black sludge from your sink drain fast and quickly. These methods need products that are easy to use and readily available.

Want to know something interesting?

Well, use these methods to remove black sludge from your sink drain, and you might not need to hire a professional to clean this stuff for you.

Hot Water and Salt or Detergent

Using the hot water and salt method is one of the easiest methods to unclog and clean the black slime from your sink drain.

To use,

Take a generous amount of salt (1 cup) and pour it into the sink drain. And wait until the salt goes down.
On the other hand, boil around two liters of water and turn off the stove as soon as the water starts to boil.
Now, carefully pour the hot water down the sink drain.
Once the hot water is down the drain, run some more hot water from the sink drain to clear the pipe.

The hot water melts the fats, oils stuck to your drain pipes and cleans the drain pipes.

Furthermore, you can also substitute the salt with your favorite dish detergent to unclog the drain.

While using detergent,

Boil the water like we did before and add two spoons of detergent to the water.
Now, pour this soapy solution down the drain.
Finally, run some more hot water to clean the pipes thoroughly.

Once you have unclogged the drain, you can try different methods to clean the black sludge and decide which works the best for you.

Hot Water and A Plunger

Using a plunger is a traditional way of removing the black gunk in the sink.

For this,

Pour down enough hot water through your sink drain.
Take either a small handled plunger or a toilet plunger and plunge the sink at least five to six times.
Plunging the sink will help loosen the black sludge and unclog the drain.

Drain Cleaner Powder

A heavy-duty chemical such as the drain cleaner will help dissolve almost any clogs. You should use drain cleaners carefully as they act as abrasive materials on plastic or acrylic surfaces.

NOTE -The moment you notice a drop of this cleaner on your sink surface, wipe it away right away to avoid staining.

In this method,

Wear gloves and follow the instructions and steps as given on the product.
Begin by pouring the drain directly into the sink drain. Do not let the cleaner get on the sink surface.
Now, we wait. Generally, drain cleaners need 30 to 60 minutes to disintegrate the black sludge. Plus, do not run water through the drain during this time.
After 30-60 minutes, run-down hot water down the drain for some time.
The hot water will remove any traces of the drain cleaner and wash out the black sludge from your sink drains.

Drain Snake/Hanger

If your drain is still clogged, you can try using a drain snake. You can also use any old coat metal hanger, electrical wire, or power cord.

To use a drain snake,

Put the drain snake or hanger into the sink drain.
Now, start the up and down movement of the drain snake.
Once you pull out the drain snake, try not to put it back in the sink drain. Instead, clean the dirt from it and then use it again.

Drain snakes help you remove hair strands and clear your way for smooth draining.

TIP -You can always put a hair trap or sink stopper in your bathroom sinks, showers, and even tubs.

Boiling Water, Vinegar, and Baking Soda

In this method, the fizz is created by combining baking soda and vinegar that dissolve the dirt and clean the drain thoroughly. The hot water gets rid of any grease or oil sticking to the drain pipe.

To begin,

Bring the water to a boil and turn off the stove. And carefully pour it into the sink.
Now, take a cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar.
First, dump the baking soda directly into the sink drain.
Pour vinegar into two steps. Pour the first cup as soon as you put baking soda.
Wait until the fizzing goes out, and now, pour the second cup.
Once the fizzing is over, you will see that the combination has worn out the black sludge from your sink drain.
Lastly, again run some hot water to drain down the baking soda and vinegar to get rid of any residues.

Repeat this procedure if you feel like there is some dirt remaining. However, if this method does not eliminate the black sludge, in this case, use a commercial drain cleaner. You should wait for at least 15 minutes before you run room-temperature water down the sink drain.

TIP -Use baking soda and vinegar frequently to keep your sink smelling fresh.

Salt, Borax, and Vinegar

Another combination that can remove the black sludge from the sink drain is salt, borax, and vinegar. For this to work,

Combine ¼ cup of salt with ¼ cup of Borax, and now, add ½ cup of vinegar in it.
Pour this combination into the sink drain.
Allow it to rest for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
Lastly, rinse it off using hot tap water.
Repeat the process if necessary.

This combination removes the black gunk from the sink drain making the sink clean and fresh for use.

Baking Soda and Salt

Baking soda mixed with salt helps you eliminate tougher sludges from the sink drain.

To begin with,

Create a mixture with ½ cup of each salt and baking soda.
Dump this mixture onto the sink drain.
Let is sit for an hour or even overnight.
Then, pour enough hot water through the sink drain.
The tougher the clog, the longer it should rest.

Clean the Sludge Manually

If neither of the above methods work and you still have black sludge coming back in the sink drain, it’s time to clean it manually. Even though it might be an unpleasant method, it is incredibly effective in treating sink problems.

Now, gather the tools if you have made up your mind to get out this sludge yourself.

You will need –

Unscrewing equipment
Bottlebrush or wire hanger
Enough paper towels
Garbage bin

Steps to clean the sludge manually,

Start by cutting off the water supply before repairing any sink issues and getting under the sink.
Take your tools and unscrew the sink pipes carefully. Generally, the sludge gets trapped into the P-tube and produces pungent odors. Unscrew the drain pipes and take a look inside.
Put on gloves and after you’ve located the source, manually remove the sludge from the pipe using a wire hanger or bottle brush.
Take the waste out into the garbage bin and wipe the pipes clean with paper towels.
Reassemble everything caution. Start the water supply and verify whether the sludge has disappeared from your sink drain and everything is working.
If yes, you’re good to go!

BONUS TIP -Do not throw fruit peels, eggshells, oil, food directly into the sink. It will only do your job easily, and you won’t have to witness the unpleasant black sludge anymore.

And even after cleaning it manually, the black sludge still comes out of your sink drain –consider calling for professional help.

Happy cleaning! Safe cleaning!