Got a stubborn clog? Save this post for the next time your sink turns into a bathtub.

Your garbage disposal is running, but the water isn’t draining. You’ve got a clog, not a broken motor. Before you call a plumber (or worse, stick your hand down there), take a deep breath.

Here is the exact, safe method to unclog a garbage disposal using items you already have in your kitchen. NEVER put your hand inside the disposal. Even when it’s off. Even when the breaker is flipped. The blades are dull, but the grinding teeth are sharp. Use tools, not fingers.

You’re rinsing plates after dinner. You flip the switch. Hummmmm. Then... silence.