A clogged sink can throw off your whole day — dishes piling up, water draining slowly, or worse, standing water that won’t budge. The good news? You don’t always need a plumber right away. Here are five easy steps you can try at home:

1. Boiling Water Flush
   Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Sometimes grease buildup softens and clears out with just heat.

2. Baking Soda & Vinegar
   Pour ½ cup of baking soda, followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This natural fizz can break up minor blockages.

3. Plunger Power
   A sink plunger (smaller than a toilet plunger) creates suction to dislodge food or debris. Just make sure you block the overflow hole with a wet cloth for better pressure.

4. Clean the P-Trap
   Place a bucket under the sink, unscrew the P-trap, and empty it. You’ll be surprised how often food scraps and gunk collect here.

5. Drain Snake or Wire Hanger
   A small drain snake or even a straightened wire hanger can hook and pull out hair or debris stuck near the surface.