3 Easy Ways to Unclog Your Shower Drain

Shower drains are notorious for getting clogged up with hair and, having very long hair myself, I’ve dealt with it many times. They make little “hair catchers” just to help with this situation but oftentimes they only help so much and eventually the drain needs to be completely cleaned out. Its an icky job but there are other options besides the old coat hanger technique.

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Shower drain blocked? If you notice water pooling around your feet rather than exiting properly down the drain while trying to enjoy a warm, relaxing shower, you likely have a clogged shower drain. Having a clogged shower drain can not only ruin your mood while taking a shower but can also become a major problem if not fixed immediately. That’s because a clogged shower drain, over time, creates the ideal environment for mold and bacteria growth. This increases your risk of developing health issues like nausea, headaches, and other illnesses.

Thankfully, there are many DIY solutions that you can use to unclog your shower drain. However, you should consider contacting your local plumber if the clog is deep or big enough to get it out yourself. Here are three easy ways to unclog your shower drain:

1.   Use Boiling Water

With this method, you need first to ensure the water is at boiling temperature to effectively clean your clogged drain. Once the water is boiled, pour it down the drain, preferably using a funnel to concentrate it. It’s advisable to pour it at regular intervals with short breaks in between. This is important since it allows the boiling water enough time to act on the trapped materials causing the clogging.

2.   Pour Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution

If the boiling water doesn’t unclog the drain, you can try something more effective and stronger, vinegar and baking soda solution. This method is more effective since it utilizes vinegar’s high acidity, baking soda’s cleaning power, and the combined pressure of both to clear clogs off your shower drain.

Start by pouring a cup of baking soda down into your shower drain and allow it a few minutes to coat the clogging materials or substance. Later, pour a cup of white vinegar into the drain to dissolve anything that’s clogging your shower drain. The solution can take several hours to completely unclog the drain. After the clogging is completely dissolved, pour some boiling water to flush out anything remaining hair or debris in the drain.

3.   Pull Out the Debris With a Hook

Shower drains often clog when hair, debris, skin flakes, and other small objects accumulate inside the drains, preventing water flow. You can easily remove the clogs by pulling them out with your fingers. Be sure to put on some kitchen rubber gloves first. If the clogging substances are too deep from the surface such that you can reach them with your fingers, you may need a longer tool that can go deeper into the drain.

A great option is a wire coat hanger. Straighten it and shape the end into a hook. Slowly push the hook-shaped end into the drain and begin to fish out as much clog material as possible. Once you’re done, pour some boiling water to clear out any stuck materials.

Endnote

Try out these effective DIY methods to unclog your shower drains if the clogged part is near the surface and not too big for you to pull out. However, consider hiring a professional plumber to unclog and clean your shower drain if the methods mentioned above don’t work.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)