Is your shower cubicle or bath filling up with water? It sounds like it’s clogged! But before you pick up the phone to the experts, there are a few things you can try first.
A blocked shower drain can be frustrating but it doesn’t have to halt day-to-day life. Instead, simply read this useful guide. It contains all the hints and tips you need to deal with the problem as soon as it arises. From home remedies like baking soda and vinegar, to more ‘invasive’ solutions like using a snake or coat hanger to see to the problem, we have you covered.
We’ve split this guide into handy sections, too, to ensure you can pick and choose the info you need, as and when you need it. Read on for more…
How to Unblock a Shower Drain That’s Clogged with Hair
There are plenty of ways you can unblock a shower drain that’s clogged with hair and they don’t always involve a professional team of drain un-blockers.
When it comes to unclogging a blocked shower drain, your first port of call should really be a good, old-fashioned plunger. Easy to use, household plungers can do blocked drains the absolute world of good.
No plunger? You can get a similar effect by using an empty milk or juice carton. Simply place it upside down over the drain and squeeze. This will send a jet of air down the drain – and if something’s stuck down there, it’ll help release it.
How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Standing Water
If the water in your shower cubicle is filling up fast, you’ll want to deal with it just as quickly. But what do you need to do? If you feel up to it, you could try using your bare hands.
Have a root around the drain and see if you can see anything causing a visible clog. Wearing rubber gloves, have a dig around and pull out hair, soap scum and other debris.
No joy with your hands? See what else you have lying around the house to help. A toilet jack might work, for example.
As ever, though, make sure you go gently; forcing the issue may only cause a further blockage or, worse still, long-term drain damage.
If you’re wondering how to remove a shower drain, it really is simple. Of course, each shower drain is different but the methods are just as easy as one another.
How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Who knew you could unclog a blocked shower drain with household items like baking soda and vinegar? Well, you can – and it’s so easy.
Start by cleaning the stopper or strainer. You’ll probably notice that soap residue and hair will have built up inside it; you’ll find the stopper over the drain and all you need to do is remove any screws securing the strainer, twist and lift it away! Now, simply scrub away any grime, gunk or hair that has accumulated inside it.
In the meantime, boil some water in a kettle and pour it directly into the drain. You’ll find that this should instantly unclog the drain. To test if this has worked, turn on the tap to see if the water’s draining normally.
Still no success? Now’s the time to bring out that baking soda and vinegar. Pour ¼ cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar into the drain; this should clear excess gunk and ensure water can flow freely. Leaving the baking powder and vinegar for up to 20 minutes, return to the bathroom to add more boiling water to the mix.
Pouring more water down the drain, you’ll find that the heat will react with the baking soda and vinegar – and if you’re in luck it should sort the issue.
Want to try a slightly more invasive yet extremely effective method? Here’s how to unclog a shower drain with a tool known as a snake…
How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Snake
Blocked shower drain causing you to pull out your hair? Which incidentally is probably one of the things that’s making the problem worse! Hair down the drain = water that won’t be able to flow freely down it.
If you suspect the clog to be only minor, try a drain snake.
But first things first, make sure you wear gloves. Unblocking a shower drain is a dirty job and you’ll be pleased you planned ahead and bought some rubber gloves.
You’ll find a drain snake here and it won’t cost you much at all. Helping you pull out whatever it is that’s clogging your drain, it can reach the places you’ll struggle to with your hands alone. You can do the same thing on a budget by using the end of wire coat hanger.
The key here is to be cautious; if you’re too forceful when poking around your drain, you could cause damage. Exercise caution, however, and you’ll find this is a quick and easy DIY attempt at sorting out a potentially frustrating long-term problem.
How to Unclog a Stand-Up Shower Drain
Whether your drain is a stand-up shower drain or a drain in a bath tub, the methods by which to unclog it are the same. Just be careful when seeing to the issue; shower cubicles and bath tubs will be very slippy, so think about putting a towel down if possible to minimise slippages.
First you must ascertain whether the shower drain is definitely blocked. When you’ve finished your shower, stand up and allow the water to drain away naturally. If this isn’t happening and you’ve been waiting for what seems like longer than normal, you probably have a drainage issue on your hands.
There are plenty of things you can do to sort it out, though. The first and easiest thing to try is simply to pour a kettle of hot water down the drain, to give soap scum and built-up hair the chance to drain away on their own.
Still not doing the job? Maybe you need to head to your local hardware store to pick up something stronger…
A Chemical Intervention: How to Unclog a Seriously Clogged Drain
If nothing seems to be working so far, it’s time to pull out the big guns! Keep an eye out online for strong chemical drain cleaners which are designed to unblock drains that are clogged with hair and debris.
However, do make sure you don’t do this lightly; harsh chemicals can cause long-lasting damage to your pipes if used incorrectly. But if your clogged shower drain issue is relentless, it’s about time you resorted to chemical treatments.
Have you thought about bleach, for example? If you’ve wondered how to unclog a shower drain with bleach, it’s probably because you’re aware of the powerful effects of the cleaning and disinfecting fluid.
Be careful when using bleach; it’s a harmful substance if used incorrectly. Start by pouring a small amount down the plug hole in a bid to clear the blockage. Always follow the instructions on the bottle and don’t be tempted to use other heavy chemicals with it.
A great shower drain cleaner, bleach is cheap and effective – and everyone should try this quick-fix solution before they resort to calling out the professionals.
When to Call Out the Professionals
Is your shower drain blocked? If it’s getting you down and you’ve tried all the remedies in this guide but still had no luck, it might be time to admit defeat. Don’t worry, as a professional team will know exactly what to do.
If nothing seems to be working and your drain continues to fill up, get in touch with the experts who’ll be more than happy to step in and sort out the issue.
And Here’s How You Can Prevent Future Clogs…
Had to call out the professionals to see to the problem? The chances are you don’t want to have to do so again, so here are a few ways you can prevent future shower drain clogs.
Purchase a Drain Protector
Protecting against further drain blockage, a drain protector will ensure loose hairs and other debris won’t equal standing water in your shower cubicle or bath.
Make Use of a Soap Dish
Keep on top of the debris in your bath or shower cubicle by fishing it out as soon as you notice it. A soap dish will help you save small pieces of soap for use at a later date. Simply mould them to your large bar to save money and save your drains!
Encourage General Shower Drain Maintenance
Ensure a clean shower drain by keeping on top of simple maintenance. Try wearing a shower cap to ensure loose hairs don’t end up down the drain, and encourage kids and visitors to be vigilant when using the shower.
Kids’ toys can easily end up down the drain, so do let everyone know the dangers of this in advance to avoid a big shower drain cleaning bill later down the line.