You’ve likely read all sorts of ideas on how to unclog a clogged drain, right? But our friend, Jillee, of www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com suggests we might want to look at how to avoid this nasty issue in the first place. After all, cooking is no fun when the kitchen sink doesn’t drain!

Turns out, there’s a simple plumbers’ trick that does the job well. These fellas all agree, too, that clogs are entirely preventable, and it’s much easier to prevent a clog than it is to clear one out.

Speaking of prevention, one of the biggest keys to keeping drains clear is to reduce the amount of greasy gunk clinging to the insides of your pipes. Greasy buildup traps other gunk moving down the drain, which eventually can create a stubborn clog that demands attention.

But back to our plumbers’ trick: Hint—you already have this at your disposal. It’s dish soap. Dawn® works really well because it’s specifically formulated to break down grease. But any quality dish soap will work. It’s an easy 3-step process. Here’s what you do:

1. Pour a good amount (3 or so tablespoons-worth) into the drain and let it sit for several minutes (15 to 20 minutes).
2. Put the drain stopper into the drain, then fill the basin with cold tap water.
3. Remove the drain stopper to drain the water; the draining water will whisk away the loosened grease and grime!

This method works well on kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, showers, and even toilets. If you’re dealing with a particularly greasy drain like your kitchen sink, try using hot water instead of cold.

Jillee has a few more tips for keeping our pipes and drains clog-free, and I’ll close with these:

Every day, run water down your drains for about 30 seconds to keep them free of debris.

To keep your garbage disposal clear, continue running the water for about 5 seconds after you use the disposal.

Never pour hot oil or grease down a sink, regardless of whether or not you have a garbage disposal!

Keep a simple plumbing snake handy. If you do end up with a clogged pipe in your sink, tub, or shower, you’ll be able to remove it yourself and avoid the cost and hassle of calling a plumber.