With mostclogged drains, theres no need to pull out your phone to contact a plumber.

In no time at all, youll be up and running.

A plunger forces water into the drain pipes, pushing the clog onward.

Baking soda and white vinegar in glass containers on corner of bathroom sink

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Plungers sometimes do not work on bathroom sinks due to the configuration of the sink.

The spikes are designed to snag hair in the sink drain.

Hair clog removers do not work on toilets or kitchen sinks.

Damp washcloth hanging off of the side of a tub

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

One of the best openers employs the everyday household items of vinegar, baking soda and water.

The user turns the drum to extend the cable up to 25 feet into the drain system.

A metal corkscrew-like end snags the clog.

Removing the drain plug from the sink

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

The cable is pulled straight out with the clog attached.

Be sure to wear waterproof gloves, a mask, and safety glasses.

Though hair clog remover tools are plastic, their spikes are still very sharp.

Adding more water to the sink

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Hold these tools only by the handle end.

Wear waterproof gloves and safety glasses.

Wet a Washcloth

Wet a washcloth thoroughly and set it aside for now.

Wet washcloth covering overflow hole in sink

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Remove Drain Stopper or Cover

Remove the pop-up drain stopperfrom the sink basin or bathtub.

For showers, remove the drain grate.

Lower Plunger

Lower the plungers cup into the water at an angle to fill the cup.

Plunger cup placed over sink drain with water in sink

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Push Plunger Down

Push the plunger down firmly and then up again.

Run Hot Water

spin up the hot water for a few minutes after the drain is clear.

You may purchase a simple tool that lowers straight into the drain and pulls straight up, clog attached.

Plunger pushed down over sink drain at an angle

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Remove Stopper

Remove the pop-up drain stopper from the basin.

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Insert Tool

Push the spiked end of the tool into the drain.

If the tool hits a block, push it up and down several times.

Running hot water down sink drain after plunging

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Remove Tool and Clog

Remove the tool slowly.

The clog should be on the tool.

Use the paper towels to remove and dispose of the clog.

Pop-up drain stopper removed from sink basin

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Use Handle (Optional)

Put the handle to work if the tool has a rotation feature.

Push the spiked end of the tool into the drain.

Hold the center of the handle with one hand and the crank with the other hand.

Spiked end of hair removal tool inserted into sink drain

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Turn the crank several times.

Pull straight up to remove the tool and the clog.

Get a Bucket

Place a bucket under the sink centered directly under the currentP-trap.

Hair removal tool being cleaned with paper towel

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

You may need to use a rag for better grip.

Water should pour out of the bend when removed.

Set the piping in the bucket.

Rotation tool being turned on hair removal tool inside sink drain

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

What is a P-Trap?

A P-trap is a plumbing fixture intended to create a seal between the drain pipe and the floor.

Set this in the bucket.

Bucket placed under sink P-trap arm pipe

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

If the pieces are overly greasy and dirty, discard them and use a new P-trap.

Secure all slip nuts.

Test P-Trap

Test by running water and checking underneath for leaks.

Curved P-trap portion removed by turning slip nut

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Before pouring boiling water down your drain see to it you know what your pipes are made of.

Many homeowners have drain pipes made of PVC plastic.

In this case, follow the instructions given carefully.

Clearing Sink Trap

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Add Boiling Water

Pour a small amount of boiling water down the drain for a second time.

If this is not possible, you’re free to snake the drain through standing water.

Tighten the thumbscrew on the drum.

Curved P-trap portion cleaned with water from sink faucet

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Rotate Snake

Rotate the drain snake by turning the handle.

Most consumer-grade drain snakes reach to 25 feet.

For clogs that extend beyond 25 feet, have a plumber scrub the drain.

P-trap replaced to trap by turning slip nut

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Zehbour Panossianet al.Corrosion of carbon steel pipes and tanks by concentrated sulfuric acid: A review.Corrosion Science, vol.

58, 1-11, 2012. doi:10.1016/j.corsci.2012.01.025

Running water down sink drain for testing P-trap

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

pouring salt down the drain

The Spruce / Lacey Johnson

Repeating the process to eliminate a clogged drain

The Spruce / Lacey Johnson

Boiling pot with hot water poured into kitchen sink drain for unclogging

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Drain stopper removed from sink

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Cup plunger placed over drain opening in water-filled sink

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Auger cable inserted into sink drain opening

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Auger handle turned clockwise applying pressure to cable

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Auger cable extended to work clog in drain

The Spruce / Kevin Norris