Safe things to try
- Plunge it. Use a cup plunger on sinks and tubs, a flange plunger on toilets. Block the overflow opening on a sink or tub so the plunger has suction.
- Clean the stopper and trap. Bathroom clogs are usually hair caught on the stopper. Kitchen clogs are usually grease and food in the trap under the sink.
- Use a small hand auger for a clog just past the drain opening.
What to avoid
- Chemical drain openers. They can damage older pipes and are dangerous for whoever clears the line next. If you've used one, tell the plumber.
- Plunging a toilet that's already close to overflowing. Shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet first.
Signs it's more than one clog
If several drains slow down at once, water comes up in the tub when you flush, or drains gurgle after the washer empties, the problem is likely the main line or the cesspool. A plunger won't fix those. See cesspool or clogged line?