Blocked Bathroom Sink London
Hair and soap scum block bathroom sinks in London — often faster thanks to London's hard water. We unblock bathroom basins same day across all 33 boroughs. From £65, no call-out fee, 24/7.
Try These First — DIY Unblocking for a Bathroom Sink
Unlike kitchen sink blockages (which need heat to melt grease), bathroom sink blockages are usually a physical hair mass that can be pulled or flushed out. Most are resolved in 10 minutes with these steps.
Pull out the hair
Remove the plug or drain cover. Use your fingers, needle-nose pliers, or a bent wire hanger to pull hair directly out of the drain. This alone fixes most bathroom sink blockages.
Plunge
Stuff a wet cloth into the overflow (usually a hole near the top of the basin). Fill the sink slightly with water, then plunge firmly over the plughole 10–15 times.
Clear the trap
Put a bucket under the P-trap beneath the basin. Unscrew it — usually by hand. The hair-soap mass will be inside. Clear it, rinse the trap, refit.
Flush with hot water
Run the hottest tap water for 2–3 minutes to flush remaining soap residue through the waste pipe and into the drain.
Why Bathroom Sinks Block in London
Bathroom sink blockages form differently from kitchen sink blockages — they're almost always a physical mass of hair and soap rather than a liquid grease deposit. London's hard water makes them form faster and cling harder.
Hair
The primary culprit. Hair tangles around the pop-up plug mechanism or catches at the trap entrance. Even short hair accumulates quickly in a shared bathroom.
Soap scum
Soap, shampoo, and conditioner leave a residue that binds hair into a solid mass. London's hard water means soap doesn't fully rinse — more residue per wash.
Toothpaste & shaving foam
Both can solidify when they mix with limescale in the trap. Toothpaste in particular leaves a chalky deposit that narrows the bore of plastic waste pipes over time.
Limescale (London specific)
At 280–320 mg/l, London's water is among England's hardest. Limescale deposits on the inside of the trap and waste pipe reduce flow — making hair blockages worse and faster-forming.
Blocked Bathroom Sink Prices — London 2026
| Job | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom sink unblock — hair/soap in trap | 20–30 min | £65 |
| Bathroom sink unblock — deep in waste pipe | 30–45 min | £85 |
| Drain jetting — bathroom sink waste | 45 min | £110 |
| Pop-up plug mechanism replacement | 20–30 min | £55–£75 |
| Trap replacement (cracked or corroded) | 20–30 min | £55–£75 |
| Overflow seal / waste replacement | 30–45 min | £65–£85 |
Fixed quote on arrival. No call-out fee. 7 days a week including Bank Holidays.
How to Prevent Your Bathroom Sink Blocking Again
| Prevention tip | Cost | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Fit a drain hair catcher over the plughole | £2–£5 from B&Q or Screwfix | Clean weekly |
| Pull hair from the drain by hand after each shower | Free | After every shower |
| Flush with a kettle of hot water | Free | Monthly |
| Pour white vinegar + bicarbonate down the drain | < £1 | Monthly (London hard water) |
| Use a Zip-It drain tool | £3 from Screwfix | Monthly or when slowing |
| Check and clear the P-trap | Free (5 mins) | Every 6 months |
We Cover All London Boroughs
Same-day response across all 33 London boroughs. Average arrival under 60 minutes.
Blocked Bathroom Sink FAQs
How much does it cost to unblock a bathroom sink in London?
Unblocking a bathroom sink in London costs £65–£110. A hair and soap blockage in the trap or first section of waste pipe is £65. If the blockage is deep in the pipe and needs drain rods or jetting, the cost is £85–£110. Fixed quote on arrival, no call-out fee.
What causes a bathroom sink to block?
Bathroom sinks block almost exclusively from hair and soap scum. Hair catches in the trap or on the pop-up plug mechanism and builds up over weeks. Soap, toothpaste, and shaving foam bind the hair into a dense mass. London's hard water (280–320 mg/l) adds limescale on top, further narrowing the pipe.
Can I unblock a bathroom sink myself?
Yes — bathroom sink blockages are usually near the top and accessible without tools. Remove the plug or drain cover and pull out the hair with your fingers or a bent wire. If that doesn't work, clear the P-trap under the basin. This resolves most bathroom sink blockages without any specialist equipment.
My bathroom sink drains slowly but isn't fully blocked — what should I do?
Slow drainage means a partial blockage is building, usually hair in the trap. Try pulling hair from the drain opening with needle-nose pliers or a zip-it drain tool (£3 from hardware shops). If it doesn't improve within a day or fully blocks, call us — a quick trap clean at £65 before it fully blocks is always cheaper than an emergency callout.
Why does my bathroom sink smell even though it drains?
A smelly bathroom sink that still drains usually means there's a partial hair-and-soap blockage decomposing in the trap, or the trap water seal has evaporated (common in guest bathrooms that aren't used often). Run the tap for 30 seconds to refresh the trap seal. If the smell persists, the trap needs clearing.
How do I stop my bathroom sink from blocking again?
Use a drain strainer or hair catcher over the plughole — they catch hair before it enters the trap (£2–£5). Remove and clean it weekly. Monthly, pour a kettle of hot water down the drain to flush soap residue. In London's hard water areas, a monthly dose of white vinegar also helps dissolve limescale build-up in the trap.
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Bathroom Sink Blocked? Fixed Same Day.
From £65 · No call-out fee · All 33 London boroughs
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