We’ve all been there. That sluggish gurgle is the bathroom sink’s cry for help. But here’s the secret the plumbers don’t want you to know:

There it is. You’ve just brushed your teeth, spit into the basin, and instead of the satisfying whoosh of water disappearing, you are greeted by a tiny, stagnant lake that takes approximately four minutes to drain.

You sigh. You reach for the chemical drain cleaner.

You did it. You looked into the abyss (the P-trap), and the abyss blinked. You’ve saved $150 on a plumber, earned the respect of your household, and defeated the Toothpaste Glacier.