After waiting 10 minutes, the clog was still firmly in place and so a lot of rigorous plunging action was required to dislodge it. Live more sustainably - get our free Sustainability newsletter to make changes for you and the planet

Scrape plates Make sure you remove food residue from your plates, bowls and utensils before you put them in the sink. Leave the drain liquid to work for approximately 5 to 30 minutes and rinse with plenty of cold water. First remove as much of the water that no longer drains from the handbasin, shower tray or bath as possible.

How does this sink unblocker work?

In both attempts, the mixture of bicarbonate soda (125g), salt (125g) and vinegar (125ml) seemed to do nothing but fizz and spit in the plughole. Drain protector Get a drain protector to catch stray bits of food residue before they disappear down the plughole. Then add 300ml of the liquid to this water, leave it overnight and rinse it the next day with warm water.