Baking Soda and Vinegar

• This is a useful first technique if your sink is not filled with standing water. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Plug the drain with a stopper to seal in the pressure, which will be enough to clear minor clogs. After a few minutes, flush boiling water down the drain to flush the clog away.
  
  

Plunger

• Fill the sink with hot water, and put a plunger over the drain. The plunger must be completely sealed around the drain with the handle standing straight up. If there is another drain in an attached second sink, plug it with a wet rag. Vigorously pump the handle up and down, keeping the seal from breaking. This process will churn the water and clog within the pipe, breaking the clog apart and allowing it to flow down the drain.
  
  

Clear Trap and Snake

• Remove the U-shaped pipe trap from beneath the sink by twisting the two nuts keeping it in place. Position a bucket under the sink to catch any water that drains when the trap is removed. Clear any clogs from within the trap. If no clogs are present, extend a pipe snake into the pipe going into the wall. Reel the snake out until you feel a blockage; spin it to snag the clog and pull it out. Wear rubber gloves for this because it is a messy process. Reassemble the pipes when you have finished.
  
  

Chemical Drain Cleaner

• If all of the above techniques fail, you likely have a major clog deep in the pipes. A commercial drain cleaner can clear many intense clogs, but it should be used as a last resort as the chemicals involved are highly caustic and toxic. Take special care not to get any of the drain cleaner onto your skin, or a burn could result. These products are typically poured down the drain and allowed to sit for 10 to 30 minutes and are then flushed with water.