A plugged-up sink, shower or tub drain sends most people running for either a bottle of caustic drain cleaner or a plumber’s phone number. But wait. This could well be a job you can do yourself without chemicals or a big bill.

Assess the situation. Run some water down the other drains in your house. If everything else is flowing freely, you can be sure you have a localized clog – and probably near that clogged drain’s opening. If this is involving other drains, you could have a bigger problem that may well require a professional. Assuming it’s only the one drain, lets’ move on.

Boiling water. Put the kettle on (or use the stove or microwave if you don’t own a kettle) and boil up as much water as it will hold. Now pour it slowly down the drain in two to three stages so that the hot water can work for a few minutes in between each pour. This is the easiest and quickest way to unclog a drain if it works, which usually it does with a satisfying swoosh.

Reach in. Start by removing any strainer that might be part of the drain plug, then reach into the drain with your fingers (latex gloves would be a good idea here) and pull out any solids. As gross as this might be, it is often all that’s needed to clear a slow-moving or clogged drain.

Zip it. If you cannot reach the clog with your fingers, your next best friend is this really cheap, long plastic tool. Zip It is flexible enough for you to push down into the drain. It has teeth along each side that once you’re in and you twist it, you’ll be able to pull out all manner of drain offenders. Keep working at it, until you pull out as much as you can. Now run the hot water and that should clear things up nicely. A reader introduced me to Zip It years ago. At under five bucks, this handy-dandy tool is worth its weight in gold. It’s great to clear drains, but also works great to maintain them before they get clogged.

Wet-dry vacuum. If you have one of these, it just might help you to clear the drain without having to get your hands dirty. First, set it to “wet” so it vacuums liquids. Cover or close the vent to prevent an even bigger problem. Then create the tightest seal you can over the drain. Get creative with duct tape or the like. With the vacuum set to its highest setting, it can be powerful enough to draw the clog up the pipe and into the vacuum storage tank or bag. No guarantees here, but it’s worth a shot.

Baking soda and vinegar. Measure out 1/3 cup baking soda and get as much of it down the drain as you can. Follow with 1/3 cup white vinegar. It will fizz up and make quite a show. Allow it to sit for at least an hour, or overnight if at all possible. In the morning, follow with a quart or two of boiling water.

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Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of “Debt-Proof Living,” released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.