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Next to leaking faucets, clogged sink and lavatory drains are probably going to be your biggest plumbing headache. Usually it is not the fault of the system, but of those using the system.

Traps and waste pipes are intended to handle liquid, not solids. Hair, bits of soap, scraps of food, and grease flowing into the system can cause a clog. So can debris put into a sink by a do-it-yourselfer who washes off paint brushes and putty knives.

Traps and waste pipes of a farmhouse kitchen sink are often outfitted with food waste disposers can handle ground-up slush. They will not clog as long as slush is washed away with an ample flow of water.

The steps for clearing a clogged sink, lavatory or clothes washer drain should proceed from the easiest to the more difficult to perform. Begin with plunging. If that does not work, use a hand snake.

Chemical drain cleaners are not recommended, especially if water filters whole house are being used. Mechanical procedures are usually more effective. However, if you are going to use a chemical drain cleaner, despite the recommendation not to do so, follow the directions on the container carefully, and wear goggles, heavy rubber gloves, and protective clothing.

Note: If you are working on a lavatory drain that is clogged, the first thing to do is to release the pop­up stopper and withdraw the stopper from the drain hole. You might be surprised at the amount of soap scum and hair that has built up on the stem of the stopper.

It could be causing slow drainage. Cleaning off this accumulation with paper towels and pipe cleaners may clear the clog. If not, proceed with plunging. Here are the steps on plunging a clog:

1. Using rags, block all openings that are part of the sink or lavatory setup. This includes overflow holes and the drain hole of the other sink if the clogged sink is part of a double sink setup.

2. The drain hose of a dishwasher should be closed by placing blocks of wood on its top and bottom surfaces and pressing them together with a C-clamp.

3. Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the rim of the plumber’s helper to affect a more perfect seal between the rubber cup and the sink or lavatory.

4. With 2 to 3 inches of water in the basin, place the rubber cup over the drain hole. Use steady, rhythmic, and forceful downward strokes to clear the clog. Try ten strokes at a time; then test the flow of water down the drain.

If the drain is clear, let the hot water run for about five minutes to wash away residue left by the clog. Do not forget to remove rags from openings that you closed off, and the C-clamp and wood blocks from the drain hose of a dishwasher.

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