If you’ve ever spent any real time in your local hardware store, you’ve probably seen something called Plumber’s Putty on the shelves. Or maybe you’ve hired a plumber to do some work and saw it among their tools and supplies: it’s usually a clay- or dough-based mixture combined with another material (often an oil) to give it elasticity, used to create watertight seals that stay soft and pliable for a long time. It’s actually a pretty handy thing to have around: it’s cheap, lasts a long time if stored properly, and comes in handy in a variety of scenarios.

First of all, the primary use of plumber’s caulk is to seal plumbing fixtures like drains or faucets to a surface (a countertop or sink). If you wake up one day and discover that your kitchen sink drain has started leaking, it’s actually quite easy to fix with a $3 jar of plumber’s caulk and a wrench instead of paying an expensive plumber’s bill. Here’s how:

Remove the drain by unscrewing the nut underneath

Clean the area thoroughly