• Clean out your kitchen drain regularly..kitchen sink image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  The best way to keep your kitchen drain pipe clear is to ensure food residue and grease are cleaned out every time you use the sink by using a sink strainer each time you wash. But when clogs do occur, there are several quick and easy ways to unblock and clean out that sluggish drain, without calling a plumber.
  
  

Hot Water, Baking Soda and Vinegar

• Run very hot water down your drain to help soften and break up clogs. The water should be so hot that you see steam. Alternatively, boil water and pour it down your drain. Pour in a tablespoon of baking soda and flush the drain again for another 30 seconds. Baking soda will not only help break up the clog but is also helpful in killing odors and flushing out bacteria. Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar, down the drain and let stand for up to an hour. This will help to break down grease and residue. Flush the drain once more with more hot or boiling water. This should clear out minor kitchen drain clogs.
  
  

Plunge

• Most minor sink blockages can be fixed by using a plunger and a little bit of effort. Fill your sink partially with water and cover the drain opening with the mouth of the plunger. Vigorously pump the plunger up and down five or six times and then pull it off the opening. Do this until you hear a distinct sucking and gargling noise from the drain pipes and you see the water visibly draining from the sink. In the case of a double kitchen sink, fill the other drain opening with a wet cloth while plunging the other opening. This will concentrate the pressure directly toward the sink clog.
  
  

Commercial Drain Cleaner

• Commercial corrosive drain cleaners are available at supermarkets, home improvement stores and other retail outlets. They are especially formulated to dissolve the gunk in drains; read the label regarding suitability for your specific drain pipes. Many corrosive drain cleaners are unsuitable for use with plastic pipes. These drain cleaners will have clear instructions on the label, but will involve pouring either half or the full amount of the bottle down the drain depending on the severity of the clog, then letting it sit for 15 minutes before flushing with hot water. Follow the instructions carefully and ensure the solution does not make contact with skin.