If your pipes are blocked by soap or fat, boiling water can help to clear it by dissolving the blockage. However, you should never pour boiling water into PVC pipes as this can damage them. If you have plastic pipes, try hand-hot water instead.

Before pouring the boiling water into your clogged kitchen sink, remove as much water as you can. If your sink isn’t completely blocked but just draining slowly, you can wait for it to drain. Otherwise, bail it out with a mug.

Use a whole kettle of boiling water and let it sit. You may have to repeat this several times, letting the water cool in-between before it’s effective at moving the blockage.

If boiling water and the vinegar and baking soda method described above haven’t been effective, you might want to try something a little stronger – like a drain cleaner.

Commercial drain cleaning solutions are effective at dissolving grease, food, hair, and other organic materials but they should be used as a last resort. Make sure to wear gloves and only use them in a well-ventilated area. You should also keep the bottles in a safe place well away from children and pets.

If you think the blockage may be caused by a solid object, don’t use any chemical drain cleaners as it won’t be effective and will simply fill your pipes and sink with dangerous chemicals.

If you’ve tried all of the above suggestions, it’s probably safe to say that you’re not going to be able to clear the super stubborn blockages on your own.

Plumbers have access to specialist tools and equipment that can clear a blocked sink quickly and easily. These include drain cameras to identify exactly where the blockage is and what’s causing it, and high-pressure jets that can blast out blockages without damaging your pipes.