Clogged and slow-running drains are a common problem that usually cannot be solved completely. Nevertheless, there are measures you can take to keep your drains "tuned-up" to keep them running freely. And if your drain has reached the point of no return, there are safe alternatives to the traditional liquid drain cleaning products that are caustic and not great for our environment.

One of our dad's favorite clichés was "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Dad was right. Especially where plumbing is concerned. One of the best ways to prevent slow drains is discretion as to what you put down them.

Cooking grease, coffee grounds, hair and soap scum are four of a drain's major enemies. Cooking grease should be saved in an old coffee can or cardboard milk container. Coffee grounds are a welcome addition to a mulch pile, and most hair and soap scum can be caught with a screen or grate that covers the drain's opening.

Other methods to keep your drains running freely and odor-free, include running hot water through them after each use; throwing a handful of baking soda into the drain, followed by hot water, and pouring a cup of vinegar into the drain and chasing it with very hot water after it's been allowed to stand for about a half hour.

It helps to know a little about drain anatomy. The P-Trap is that strangely shaped system of pipes which can be found under the kitchen sink. Actually, it can be found at every plumbing fixture in your home whether you can see it or not. This nifty little device acts as a water door, preventing unpleasant sewer gases from backing up into the home. It also happens to be the location where many clogs occur.

Before you tear apart your P-Trap to make an inspection and cleaning, there a few remedies you can attempt first:

Try pouring one-half cup of salt, one-half cup of baking soda and one-half cup of vinegar into the drain. Follow this concoction with at least two quarts of boiling water.

If that doesn't do the trick, try a plumber's helper or plunger. Place the plunger completely over the mouth of the drain and rapidly pump it up and down a dozen times or so, abruptly lifting it up and out of the water on the last stroke. If the water rushes out you've unclogged the drain. If not, try something a bit more forceful.

An expansion plug is a flexible rubber nozzle that attaches to a garden hose. Insert the nozzle into the drain and turn on the water. The rubber nozzle will expand causing a tight fit while the concentrated water pressure will work to dislodge the clog.

Expansion plugs are available in a variety of sizes for different size drains, (inch and a quarter for bathroom sinks, inch and a half for kitchen sinks and tubs and two inches for showers) and even for insertion into cleanouts at the sewer main.

When the expansion plug doesn't do the trick or can't be inserted into the drain, it's time to revisit the P-Trap. You'll need a small plastic bucket, a rag, a large pair of pliers or channel locks and a portable light.

Before beginning, it helps to remove all of the junk under the sink so that you have ample room to work.

Position the plastic bucket directly under the P-Trap. Using the pliers, remove the two coupling nuts which attach the trap to the sink tailpiece and the adjacent wall bend. Clean the interior of the trap with a straightened wire coat hanger or large nylon bottle brush. Reassemble the trap. Be certain that the washers are properly seated at the connections and be sure the coupling nuts are only hand-tight.

If the trap is reasonably clean and is not the primary reason for the clog, use a small retractable drain snake. The snake can be inserted directly into the drain or, in a case where the P-Trap has been removed, directly into the wall bend and down through the drainpipe. Work the snake in and out while rotating the handle clockwise.

If you exhaust all of these suggestions without results, the tool you'll want to pick up is the telephone. Use it to call a plumber or sewer and drain specialist who will have the expertise and proper tools to get things flowing freely. Note: If all of the drains in your home are running slowly, chances are the problem is located within one of the main sewer lines. In this case you'll want to go right to a professional.