Unclog a Shower Drain Like a Boss

Swimming in your shower?

Hair, soap scum, and mineral build-up are all bathroom realities, and at some point in your life, you’ll have to ask yourself, “How do I unclog my bathtub? How do I clear my shower drain? How do I keep them from getting clogged in the first place?”

Here are 10 methods in order of increasing intensity that will keep your bathtub and shower truly clean, inside and out.

“Drains are one of the trickiest (and often yuckiest) areas you have to clean in a bathroom.”

#1 Clog Prevention & Cleaning with Baking Soda

Drains are one of the trickiest (and often yuckiest) areas you have to clean in a bathroom. When you use baking soda, however, you have a safe and very effective way to deodorize drains. Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and wait for it to bubble up. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before pouring very hot (not boiling) water down the drain.

#2 Baking Soda & Vinegar

Pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar down your drain. Let that combination — which will bubble and foam up when mixed — work its way through the drain for 15 to 30 minutes. When the time is up, flush the drain with very hot water (not boiling) . . . If, after performing that bit of sorcery, the drain is still running a bit slowly, repeat until the water drains freely.

#3 Plunger Method

Using a standard cup plunger, start by covering the overflow drain, if there is one, with a wet towel . . . To further improve the plunger’s suction power, create a tighter seal by lining the rim of the cup with a small amount of petroleum jelly.

Next, place the rubber bell securely over the sink or shower drain and completely submerge the bell in the standing water . . . Push down on the handle—gently at first—forcing the air out. Then continue plunging with quick and deliberate thrusts, directing the pressure down the drain without lifting the plunger enough to break the seal. Continue this action for approximately 20 seconds. When you pull the plunger away, the clog should be cleared.

#4 Wire Hanger Method

A clogged drain is one of those household situations that doesn’t occur very often (so you don’t want to buy specialized equipment to deal with it), but when it does occur, you really need to deal with it.

For a really nasty clog, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and snake the drain. It’s easier than you think (though every bit as disgusting as it sounds): Put on rubber gloves if you have them, then use a screwdriver to unscrew or pry off the shower drain cover. Once that’s removed, straighten out a wire coat hanger, retaining a tiny hook on the end. Feed the wire down the drain to fish out any hair, accumulated soap scum, or other debris that’s causing the clog. After you’ve pulled out all that you can, pour boiling water down the drain and replace the drain cover.

#5 Zip Tie Method

Cut notches in a long zip-tie cable to form “teeth,” and then shove one end in the drain to remove clogs. Several zip ties can connect together to form a longer snake. Keep the trash can nearby as you snake the drain; this will decrease the likelihood of goop getting on the floor. Cotton swabs and tissue can also help remove goop that drops partially in and partially out of the drain. Use care when snaking a drain so the end near the drain doesn’t whip up and hit you or fling drain scum.

#6 Drain Snake

If plunging didn’t do the trick, you’ll want to buy a drain snake. Depending on where you buy and how long it is they range from about R100 to R1000. Once you have your snake, do the following:

Remove the overflow plate from the end of the tub; the stopper linkage will come out with it. Feed about 80cm of cable down the overflow tube. Push forward while turning the hand crank . . . Keep cranking on the snake until the cable passes all the way through the P-trap that lies underneath the tub. Retrieve the cable, then run several litres of hot water down the drain.

#7 Enzyme Cleaners

Biological cleaners (or enzyme cleaners) can be effective—they just take their sweet time about it. If you have more time than elbow grease, this might be the perfect method for you:

Biological methods use enzymes and bacteria that feed on organic matter in clogs to clear drains. But they require time to work, and cleaning products with bleach can destroy their bacteria and enzymes, and stunt their effectiveness.

You can find most of these at Makro, Builders Warehouse or similar stores.

#8 Chemical Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners are very dangerous – to your body and potentially your pipes—and should be used as a last resort. So if you’ve tried everything else above and still stuck, reach for one of these. Do remember that you can damage your pipes!

A selection is available at most good hardware stores as well as places like Makro and Builders Warehouse. Follow the instructions carefully. Use safety glasses if called for, otherwise, you might just have a more expensive day at the emergency room.

#9 and 10 Call the Pros

We’re hoping that one of the above methods does the trick for you, and while we recommend working your way through a few of them—in order of increasing intensity—there are times to admit defeat. While a plumber’s visit is not cheap, hiring a pro could save you money down the road.

So, if you can’t clear a clog after a few attempts, turn the job over to a drain-cleaning service or licensed plumber. Exerting too much force can permanently damage a pipe or fixture.