opening trap

Step-by-Step

Turn off the faucet firmly. As an extra precaution, turn off the supply valves. Position a bucket to catch the water that will spill out when you remove the trap. Loosen the slip nuts that secure the trap. Protect the nuts from scratches by wrapping electrical tape around the jaws of your wrench or pliers. After a half-turn or so, the nuts can be unscrewed by hand.

disassembling

The joints of the trap have a nut and a flexible washer. Keep track of these by pushing them up the tailpiece and elbow. Dump out the water that sits in the trap.

cleaning trap

Remove any gunk that has collected. Clean the inside of the trap with a small wire brush, or run a piece of cloth through it. Replace any washers that show signs of wear, and slide the trap back into position.

Wrap the male threads with Teflon tape or brush on joint compound. Position trap, slide washers into place, and hand-tighten the slip nuts. Use an adjustable wrench for final tightening. Test for leaks by filling the bowl then removing the plug. Tighten slip nut if necessary.