If you’re faced with a kitchen sink that drains slowly or not at all, chances are you’ve got a clog. But what is the best way to unclog a sink at home, and how do you know when it’s time to call a professional? For more information, solutions and prevention tips, we consulted Paul Abrams, company spokesperson for Roto-Rooter, a national provider of plumbing, drain cleaning and water cleanup services.

The Best Ways to Unclog a Kitchen Sink

1. Plunge the Kitchen Sink with a Specialty Plunger

The best way to unclog a kitchen sink is to use a sink plunger, not a toilet plunger. Abrams explains that sink plungers have a short handle and a shallow red rubber cup that seals well on flat surfaces, whereas a toilet plunger has a long handle with a deep, black (in most cases) rubber cup and a flange extension on the bottom. Abrams recommends that every household have both a dedicated sink plunger and a toilet plunger. If you do use a toilet plunger to unclog a kitchen sink, it must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before introducing it to the sink environment. Also, many toilet plungers have a secondary cup on the bottom, so Abrams recommends folding it into the cup prior to using the plunger on a sink drain.

The best DIY approach to unclogging a kitchen sink using a plunger depends on what kind of sink you have and whether you have a garbage disposal. Abrams recommends examining your sink from above and below to determine if you have a single pan sink or double pan sink with connecting drains. Here, Abrams breaks down how to use a sink plunger to unclog a kitchen sink depending on your kitchen sink set-up.

How to unclog a single pan sink with no garbage disposal

Ensure that there is at least an inch or two of water in the sink bowl before plunging the clog with a sink plunger (dry plunging is not effective). Fit the cup over the drain opening at the bottom of the sink bowl to make a good seal and forcefully pump the plunger ten to 12 times before pulling the plunger off the drain. Hopefully, the plunger will push the clog through the drainage pipes and into the larger diameter main sewer that connects your home to the municipal sewer or septic tank. If the plunger doesn’t defeat the clog in your first attempt, repeat the process several more times until the sink is draining normally.

How to Unclog a Single Pan Sink with a Garbage Disposal

If there is a garbage disposal in your single pan sink, turn it on to grind up the food inside and then follow the plunging instructions above. This resolves most kitchen sink backups.

How to Unclog a Double Sink with or Without a Garbage Disposal

If you have a double sink with a garbage disposal, turn on the disposal and grind up any food inside. If only one of the sink bowls is clogged, place a sink stopper over the drain opening in the sink bowl that is not clogged. This will seal that drain and make your plunging efforts more effective on the clogged side. Make sure there is an inch or two of standing water in the sink pan that is clogged. Aggressively plunge the clogged sink drain with a sink plunger. Try ten to 12 forceful pumps before pulling the plunger away. Repeat this process at least five more times before moving on to another approach.

2. Dissolve the Clog with Drain Opening Products

If clearing a sink clog with a plunger doesn’t work, Abrams advises trying to dissolve the clog with a liquid or gel drain opening product, unless you have galvanized steel drainpipes. “Most name brands are caustic lye-based products that will not damage modern schedule 40 PVC drainpipes when used as directed,” he says. “But they can cause skin burns if splashed. Eye protection should be worn and users should closely follow the directions and warnings on the label.”

Abrams says that drain opening products are particularly effective against organic clogs like food and grease. Abrams recommends the Roto-Rooter Gel Clog remover and brands such as Drano and Liquid Plumr. For a greener alternative, opt for a biodegradable formula such as Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver. Regardless of brand name, the downside to using drain opening products is that they are only effective on the first few feet of drainpipe.

Abrams also offers a few words of caution when using chemical drain opening products. You should never mix two or more chemicals in a drain, as the chemical reaction could emit dangerous fumes or produce enough heat to melt light-gauge aftermarket plastic drainpipes (such flexible accordion sink drains). In addition, chemical drain openers may also damage the finish on metal drain flanges at the bottom of a sink. If steel pipes are rusty or corroded inside, the chemical drain opener could further damage the pipes and cause them to leak.

3. Use Boiling Water to Remove the Clog

Pouring boiling water is another option for dislodging clogs. Remove any standing water from the sink and carefully and steadily pour boiling water directly into the drain. The water should start to drain, but if it doesn’t, wait for the water in the sink to cool then repeat the process one more time. Abrams says that this method should only be used with stainless steel or porcelain-over-steel sinks (fiberglass, acrylic and granite composite sinks may crack or warp when boiling water is poured into them). This method sometimes yields mixed results, too. “It can liquify clinging grease and clear it from the sink drain, but as the grease will flow deeper into the branch drainpipe, it may congeal again and cause a clog there,” he says. “Or maybe not, depending on how much grease was in the line.”

4. Dissolve the Clog with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Using a baking soda and vinegar mixture is an environmentally friendly way to clear minor sink clogs, but Abrams says you may need to repeat the process two to three times to achieve the best results. Measure and pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other cover over the drain opening, then wait 15 minutes before removing the drain cover and running hot tap water down the drain. “I’ve had good luck with it in bathroom sink drains,” Abrams says. “It’s fairly effective against toothpaste and soap scum buildup in drains, but it is not effective against hair clogs or serious organic kitchen sink clogs. It does a good job of making sink drains smell better though.”

5. Call a Professional

If you’ve tried a plunger and a liquid drain opener but your sink drain is still clogged, Abrams says it’s time to call in a professional plumber or drain cleaning technician. “The pros have heavy-duty equipment that can reach deep into your home’s drainage system to cut through any clog and clean the entire length of the branch drain to prevent clogs from quickly redeveloping,” he says. “If two or more household drains are clogged, the actual problem may be inside the main sewer pipeline.”

Typically, sewer and drain cleaning technicians use an electromechanical drain snake, which is a flexible cable with a C-shaped blade on the tip that is pushed into the drainpipe. The motor spins the cable and blade as it travels through the entire length of the pipe, cutting away all obstructions. This allows the pros to deal with clogs that homeowners can’t solve with DIY options, plus, professionals typically guarantee their work.

How to Avoid Clogging the Kitchen Sink

To prevent clogs from happening in your kitchen sink, Abrams recommends a few tips.

1. Never pour grease or cooking oils down a kitchen drain. They will coat your drain and harden like candle wax as they cool.

2. Do not allow coffee grounds, eggshells or fibrous good like celery and onion skins to go down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal.

3. Avoid putting quantities of rice or pasta inside a drain. These will break down into a gooey, starchy gel that will gradually choke drains.

4. Scrape food from plates, pots and pans into the trash can. Your garbage disposal can handle the residual food particles that remain, but most disposals were not designed to deal with large quantities of food.

5. Don’t wait until the disposal is full before turning it on; grind small quantities of food at a time.

6. Treat kitchen drains monthly with an enzyme-based drain maintenance products. The good bacteria in these products, such as Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield or The Green Gobbler Enzymatic Drain and Grease Trap Cleaner, consume and digest organic material over time, effectively preventing major buildup on pipe walls. Abrams notes that these enzyme-based products are not effective against drain clogs because they take longer to work, but they will keep drains clean and clear after a professional mechanical cleaning.

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