About three-fourths of all drain problems occur in the sink, tub and shower lines. And you can be assured of one thing: if there's going to be a clogged drain at your house, it will happen before an important event or when you're in a hurry. That's why everyone should know how to unclog a drain so you're prepared to handle it. It'll cost you about $28 for a plunger, chemical drain opener and a hand auger. You also need a pot of hot water, a screwdriver, some wire and a pair of pliers.

Try any and all of these tactics. If there's a grate over the drain opening or a plunger that closes the drain inside it, remove them. Make a hook at the end of some wire and poke it to dislodge the clog. Try pouring hot water down the drain, followed by using a plunger. Or use a chemical drain opener according to the directions. For a tub, you may have to remove the drain assembly by unscrewing the coverplate and screwing the cable of an auger into the drain to remove a clog.

Still no luck? Call a plumber or drain cleaning service who will charge about $87 to do the job.