Mix 1/3 cup of vinegar and 1/3 cup of baking soda in a heat-resistant cup and pour it down the drain once a month. Do not pour boiling water down PVC pipes, which can be damaged by the heat. Clean it of all hair and soap. Take this step if the previous step did not unclog it. When this happens, you may be at a loss regarding which method you should use to fix the problem. But wait: Unclogging a drain ⦠In most cases, you’ll only need a screwdriver and a stiff wire or a bent coat hanger. Brush your hair before you shampoo it in the shower. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Chemical Drain Opener Read and follow the directions on the label, and make sure you have good ventilation so you don't inhale any fumes. When the resistance lessens, that often means the snake has cleared the drain. For tough clogs, use a full cup. Wait somewhere between 20 and 30 ⦠Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the drain. Be safe and wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you use a chemical product to unclog a shower drain. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plumber's Snake Don't pour dirty mop water or other waste water that contains dirt and debris down the shower drain. Remove the screws and lift away the grate from the drain opening. Be safe and wear rubber gloves when removing clogs by any of these methods. To prevent future shower clogs, try one or more of these ideas. Remove the drain cover and put the rubber cup of the plunger over the drain opening. If the drain is still clogged, the problem may be a soapy clump of tangled hair that you can pull out of the drain with your fingers. So, to avoid using caustic, toxic chemicals, look no further than your kitchen pantry for everything you need to unclog a drain without causing damage to your health or the environment. Usually, the shower drain will start to gradually clog up. You needed: Needle-nose pliers, havelange, and small towel. An old-fashioned cup-style, or sink, plunger is another great tool for unclogging a bathtub or shower drain without chemicals. Youâve got to examine how your shower drain cover is attached to the drain before removing it. We recommend our users to update the browser. Let it set and after it sets, flow hot water down your pipes. If hair is wrapped around the crossbars, slice through it with a utility knife and then grab it with the wire. Bend a little hook on the end of a stiff wire (or a coat hanger) with a pair of needle-nose pliers and shove it through the clog. [1] X Research source Use gloves when working with drains. About 80 percent of the time, you can fix slow-draining or clogged tub drains in about five minutes, without chemicals and without a $100 plumber bill. All you need to do is figure out how to remove the stopper (that’s almost always easy) and fish out the gunk. You’ll probably also need a professional if multiple drains and toilets in your home are draining slowly or backing up. Replace the drain cover and run the water in the shower to see if the clog has been cleared. This simple fix may or may not work, but it's worth a try. ". This guide will tell you how to unclog a shower drain. While bleach cleans and sanitizes, it's not always effective on shower clogs. Shower drain covers come in various styles, including the following: Screw-In â This is a standard shower drain cover resembling a flat or fairly concave (at times convex) strainer for brewing tea. A clogged shower or bath drain is one of the most common bathroom issues that homeowners across the country face. Push down on the stopper to release it and open the drain. ", Step 6: Remove the drain cover and pour in the solution, which will immediately start fizzing. If you turn on the vacuum to the highest setting, hard suction may pull on the hair and small objects from the shower drain. All Rights Reserved. A plunger can also clear shower drain clogs. Showing four techniques on how to unplug your tub. Need Help? Slow draining bathtub or shower? Wait for several minutes after showering so that the water can drain. ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar into the drain. Then, put them into the holes in the shower drain strainer. Work the auger or rod in both directions of the drain line â back towards the house and out from the house. After the boiling water goes down the drain, run some water in the shower to see if the clog is cleared. If you are dealing with water pooling around while you are taking a shower, and your drain is clogged with hair, here are proven methods for unclogging it: 1. Unclogging a shower drain can be a DIY project. The metal or plastic grate that covers the drain opening in the shower is usually secured with simple screws. ", Step 4: When using a sewer rod, direct the rod through the pipe until you reach the obstruction. Put it into the drain and fish out any debris. If the boiling water and the hair in the drain removal methods do not work, mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant cup to make a DIY cleaning solution. When the snake is completely out, remove the debris. Then straighten out a wire coat hanger and make a small hook at the end. Place the hose over the drain grille and turn the device on. Baking Soda and Vinegar. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Our latest shed is also a pavilionâand you can build it, too! Tips for Preventing Shower Clogs If chemicals labeled for use on shower clogs don't work, and you call a plumber, tell him what you've already used so he can work safely. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is so powerful it can unclog almost anything in your pipes â including hair. First remove the shower strainer. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener. A plugged-up sink, shower, or tub drain sends most people running for either a bottle of caustic drain cleaner or a plumberâs phone number. As with a sink clog, start with the plunger. First, unscrew the screen from the tub drain and use a bent wire to fish out any hair and soap scum. If hair is wrapped around the crossbars, slice through it with a utility knife and then grab it with the wire. Pour about a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Clean off any hair or debris that may be clinging to the grate. Youâll need to carefully pour some bleach into a cup and then dump it down your shower drain. Pour your drain opener down the tub or shower drain and wait to see whether it works its magic. 5. If you have the time and energy after boring through the clog, clean the sides of the pipe by attaching a finishing tool to the cable and running the full length of the cable down the drain. Be safe and wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you use a chemical product to unclog a shower drain. Unfortunately, if you canât unclog your drain on any environment-friendly way, you should look for chemicals. Fortunately, there are a variety of DIY methods you can use to quickly and easily clear the drain. Heavy wire or coat hanger to bend into hook. Pour a kettle-full of boiling water down your metal pipes, a little at a time, about once a week. Using a Bent Hanger. While some DIY-ers try to unclog a shower drain with bleach, some professional plumbers do not recommend it. Once you've gotten out as much debris as you can, carefully pour another kettle-full of boiling water down the drain, a little at a time. For tough clogs, use a full cup. While that sits, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Unscrew the overflow plate, pull out the linkage, clean the stopper and linkage, and rinse the drainpipes. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), How to Clear a Shower Drain with Boiling Water, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Vinegar and Baking Soda, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plunger, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plumber's Snake, How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Chemical Drain Opener, Step 1: How to Unclog Your Shower Drain. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. When you start to feel resistance, that means the snake is picking up clogs. Itâs vital that you investigate the source of the blockage as soon as possible, so that you can determine whether itâs a repair you can carry out yourself, or a job best left to the professionals. Once the caustic soda has âactivatedâ by heating up and blending into the cold water, unleash it on your drain. If you have a slow running drain, this may take some time. If the water doesn't drain, you may need to try plunging or snaking. As soon as it starts to fizz (which will be immediately), pour the solution down your clogged drain. Sometimes the best way to unclog a shower drain is with a plumber's snake, sometimes called a manual auger or electric auger. This is the plunger that just has a rubber cup-shaped end on it rather than an extended, more complex flange (that type is a toilet plunger). Step 2: Fill a tea kettle or pot with water. On a sink drain, you may be able to remove the stopper and insert the cable or rod directly into the drain. Let it sit for at least one hour so the vinegar and baking soda can work. Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant measuring cup. First, remove hair in the drain and then pour boiling water down the drain. Pour Some Baking Soda And Vinegar. Home House & Components Fixtures Bathtubs. Dish soap and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a small plastic waste bin and a few pumps from a ⦠Call a professional plumber for help, as this is a serious problem and can be a health issue. Natural Ingredients If you think your clog might be caused by hair or other organic matter, one of the best ways to unclog a shower drain is to go to the kitchen, grab some vinegar and baking soda, and heat a kettle of water. Turn the handle clockwise to hook the clog and continue running the snake down the drain. Tools. How to Unclog a Shower Drain Naturally There are two options: Baking Soda and Vinegar Mixture Unlike harsh chemicals, using a simple and natural mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda can help loosen and get rid small blockages down your shower drain. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. When the hour is up, run hot water down the drain to flush out the cleaning solution and any debris. Follow our series of photos to determine which type of tub drain stopper you have and how to remove it. Insert the Drain Snake A bent hanger can work on a shower or tub drain, too. If you have tried all the DIY options and you still can't figure out how to unclog a bathtub drain full of hair, a chemical drain opener is a logical next step. Insert the snake into the drain until it hits the clog. Give the handle one more full turn to ensure the clog is hooked. Push the rod forward and pull it back to break up the clog. Sometimes you can clear a clog in metal pipes by simply pouring a kettle-full of boiling water down the drain, a little at a time. If those donât work, move on to more involved options below to fix your clogged bathroom sink. ", Step 3: A clogged shower drain is unsightly and inconvenient, and if you have to call a plumber for help, it can be expensive to fix. It will be easier to remove a clog if the pipes are free of water. One of the first signs you may notice regarding this problem is when water starts reaching ankle-deep while you take a shower. Clogged tub? Then turn the handle counterclockwise to back the snake out of the drain. A tea kettle; Ingredients Go slowly, so you don't lose the clog. Whether it's hair, soap or anything that's been dropped while bathing, a clogged drain can be a real pain to fix. Complete DIY projects like a pro! We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), How to Remove a Bathtub Drain in 3 Easy Steps, How to Easily Dry the Inside of Latex Cleaning Gloves, Do Not Sell My Personal Information â CA Residents. Method 10 â Chemicals. Step 1: Allow your sink to drain completely. You can pull it out even if water is standing in the shower, as long as the water is not too hot to touch. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Then use a hose to run water down the drain as you retrieve the cable. You shouldnât leave the bleach much longer than 15 min, or it may corrode your pipes. Note: If you see black gunk coming out of your drain, you may have a sewage blockage. How to Clear a Shower Drain with Boiling Water If you're wondering how to dissolve hair in a shower drain, you may want to try a chemical drain opener. Apply some petroleum jelly to the edge of the cup if you have trouble getting a good seal. Otherwise, simply remove the entire shaft by unscrewing it. Use a flashlight, if needed, to help you see into the drain. Often people with long hair will have this problem as it falls out and combines with oils and shampoos to form a ball of blockage in the drain. Remove the stopper by holding onto the stem while unscrewing the cap. Bend a little hook on the end of a stiff wire (or a coat hanger) with a pair of needle-nose pliers and shove it through the clog. Heldigvis a clogged shower drain is not as big a tragedy as a clogged artery, and you can actually fix it yourself without professional help. If you have standing water in your shower or the shower is draining slowly, there's probably a clog somewhere in the shower drain line. Remove the screen and clean the crossbars. Run water in the shower to be sure the clog is gone before you replace the drain cover. Again, do not use boiling water if you have PVC pipes. And to unclog shower drain without a stamp, you must open your teeth nose pliers. ", Step 5: Some methods also require eye protection. How to Unclog a Drain Naturally. Simply unscrew the stopper from the set screw. 6. A plunger or drain stopper to temporarily seal the drain. If thereâs a pop-up drain on the tub, raise the lever to the open position, then grab the stopper and pull it from the drain hole. Then run enough water in the shower stall to cover the lip of the cup. This will help dislodge grease, soap and debris before it forms a clog. If the clog is too far down to reach with your fingers, unscrew or pry up the drain cover. Pour ½ cup of Blue Dawn detergent (for the best result, do not use substitutes) into the drain. Pour the boiling water directly into the drain, which might instantly unclog the drain. You might also consider pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain after each shower to eat away at any debris in the pipe. Add three cups of soda to 3/4 of a gallon (3 liters) of cold water, stirring the mixture together with something wooden. The problem is usually just a sticky wad of hair that collects on the crossbars, a few inches under the stopper. On a shower drain, remove the strainer in the shower floor and insert the cable into the drain. Repeat this step if needed. While some DIY-ers try to unclog a shower drain with bleach, some professional plumbers do not recommend it. A clogged shower drain could be caused by anything from a small blockage to a major obstruction in your main sewer line. Remember to start with the easiest ways to unclog a shower drain. On a tub drain, remove the overflow plate and insert the cable into the overflow line. Pull out the hair clog. Add a cup of any salt. A drain snake is a thin, flexible tool you can insert into the drain to dislodge soap scum, hair, or other buildup. Use Boiling Water With Salt to Unclog Shower Drain Boiling water with salt will work as an abrasive and remove the soap residue which is holding the hair together. If you don't have the tools to grab the clog, use long screwdrivers. Run hot water down the drain to test that the clog is completely gone and replace the drain cover. Yes, bleach can help you too to clean your shower drain. First Step to Detaching a Shower Drain Cover . Sign up for our newsletter! You may have to try more than one method to fix a clogged shower drain, which could be caused by a build-up of hair, grease and soap; a build-up of dirt or minerals from your water; or tree roots growing through tiny cracks in your underground pipes. Take a shower drain rubber cup of the cup inches under the by... ShouldnâT leave the bleach much longer than 15 min, or it may corrode pipes! 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