Your bathroom is your oasis, so let’s help you keep it that way
There’s nothing like a warm shower to wash away the troubles of the day. However, if your shower drains are slow, you may be dealing with a nasty hair clog, which can be its own added trouble. Thankfully, you can take some easy steps to clear hair out of your shower drain and turn your bathroom back into the luxurious oasis you deserve.
Before proceeding, remove the shower drain cover and thoroughly clean it. You can do this by hand (properly gloved, of course). Start by clearing away any trapped hair or other debris. While you’re at it, use a scrubbing pad or old toothbrush to remove any soap buildup. A solution of baking soda and water or vinegar and water can help you get rid of the deposits and give your drain cover a nice sheen.
If you have a tub-shower combo, this is also a good time to remove the bathtub drain stopper so it’s out of the way.
So you’ve prepped your tub drain for unclogging, but now what? There are a few different ways to help loosen up the hair buildup in your pipes so you can remove the hair from your drain. You can use all these tips or just one, depending on the severity of your clog.
Chances are, cleaning the drain cover may not be enough. You’ll need to clear the first few inches of the drain itself to remove any hair that has built up inside. A wire hanger is the perfect tool for this.
To try this method, unravel the wire hanger and bend it into a straight wire with a hook at the end. With the drain cover removed, stick the hook end of the hanger into the drain and wiggle it around a bit. If there is a hair blockage close, you’ll feel some friction. Try to “hook” this clog and slowly pull it out of the drain to throw away. Take it slowly and be patient. And remember, it’s a pretty gnarly task, so brace yourself and think of puppies and rainbows.
A great way to clear a hair clog is to flush your drainpipes. If it’s not a large clog, pouring a few gallons of boiling water should be enough to clear the obstruction and any other debris that might be building up in your pipes. Remember to be careful and pour slowly.
Note: Don't try this if you have PVC pipes, as the boiling water can damage the plastic.
Sometimes, you’ll need something a bit stronger than hot water. There are pros and cons to liquid drain cleaners, but many contain harsh chemicals that could corrode your pipes. Rather than risk it, you can try making a homemade drain cleaner.
After pouring water down the drain, a solution of equal parts baking soda and white vinegar or lemon juice can be highly effective in dissolving and dislodging a hair clog. Leave this solution to sit for 15 to 30 minutes. When the time is up, carefully pour a gallon of boiling water to rinse the solution (and the clog) down the drain. For a more stubborn clog, run your faucet on hot for a few minutes to dislodge it further.
If you’ve tried the above suggestions and you’re still stumped on how to clean a shower drain to clear a clog, that could mean the clog is further down the pipe than the wire or other solutions can reach. In that case, you might need to go to the next level and use a longer handheld device, such as a drain snake. This flexible tube can help dislodge the clog and break it up so it’ll flow on through your system. You can find a snake at your local hardware store and many drugstores.
Depending on the severity of your clog, you can buy a few types of drain snakes. Plastic snakes are inexpensive and easy to use. Top snakes are a little more complex—they usually have a 25-foot-long cable that can travel into your drainpipe to reach a deeper clog. It's typically more cost-effective to buy a snake and snake a shower drain yourself, as the cost of drain cleaning can run you $230 on average.
It might not be your first go-to, but a plunger can help loosen up the hair clog in your bathtub. A flat plunger, also known as a cup plunger, will be your best bet, but be sure to bring your arm muscles for this mini-workout.
Remove the drain cover and run the faucet on hot so there’s some water in the tub. Place the plunger over the drain to make a tight seal, and start plunging the drain. The pressure you’re creating with the plunger (and your biceps) should help move the clog, either down the drain or making it accessible for you to grab. When done, run your tub's hot water for a few minutes to flush the drain.
As is so often the case, one of the best ways to solve a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. And when it comes to preventing hair clogs from forming in your drains, you can take several quick and easy steps.
Using a drain cover is a great prevention technique for stopping hair from getting into your drain. These fit right over your drain and collect any fallen hairs. When you’re done with your shower, it’s easy to remove the hair from the drain cover and dispose of it. There are many colors and styles to choose from to add personality to your tub, and most are inexpensive to purchase.
The average person loses around 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, which can add up. Before you shower, spend a few minutes brushing your hair to remove any loose strands before you wash them down the drain. It’ll be significantly easier and less time-consuming to rid your floor or hairbrush of these hairs than removing them from your drain. If you’re not washing your hair, consider tying it up or using a shower cap to keep your locks out of the drain as much as possible.
Flushing your drains once a week will help keep things flowing the way they should. Boil a pot or two of hot water and dump it down your bathtub drain. Do this once or twice a week to help eliminate any residual buildup of soap or hair and prevent issues.
While chemicals may seem like a quick fix to remove clogs, they can damage your pipes if you continually use them. The harsh chemicals are corrosive, especially if you have pipes from the 1970s or earlier. If you find yourself frequently reaching for the drain cleaner, there is likely a bigger issue causing constant clogs. Instead, call a plumber. You may have a clog deep in the pipes that requires a professional to look at.
Regular maintenance that you can perform yourself can help reduce clogs. For example, you can use plungers on toilets, sinks, and bathtubs, install and clean drain covers, and put nothing down the drain but water (with the exception of toilet paper).
However, even the most proactive DIY maintenance needs a little backup sometimes, especially when you can’t fully see your entire plumbing system. For large clogs, you can hire a local drain cleaning pro to inspect and clear your system and protect your lines from damaging and disruptive clogs. The cost depends on the location of the clog and the necessary method to resolve it.
No, it’s best not to leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight. While using baking soda and vinegar can be helpful to clear out hair and debris in your bathtub drain, this mixture might start to corrode your drainpipes due to its caustic nature if left in the drain too long or used too often.
It takes hair about two years to dissolve on its own in the drain without the use of any tool or help. Fortunately, using a drain snake, plunger, or any of the actions mentioned above to dissolve the hair will help get rid of the clog in as little as 15 minutes.
While there is no specific “best” method to clear hair out of a drain, several options work well. Using a combination of baking soda and vinegar to dissolve the hair clog is a great and easy way to help clear the drain. Drain snakes are also effective for more severe clog buildups.
Yes, short hair can clog a drain. While you might be tempted to blame the long-haired people living with you for a clogged drain, hair—no matter the length—can combine with soap scum and leftover shampoo to create a perfect storm of sticky mess that can cause your drain to slow down.
