How to Unclog a Bathtub in 6 Easy Steps

Remove the Stopper

First, identify the type you have to determine the best way to remove your bathtub drain stopper. Here are the three main types: 

Drop Stopper: This type is equipped with a knob on top that you lift and turn to open the drain. Beneath the cap is a setscrew. Grab your screwdriver, and unscrew the stopper from the setscrew to remove it.

Push or Lock-Drain Stopper: This one is outfitted with a lock and seal mechanism—push down on the stopper once to lock it and twice to release the lock and open the drain.

Grab your screwdriver, hold on to the round stem, and unscrew the cap. You can also remove the entire shaft (the long piece that feeds into the drain) if you need to send your wire deeper into the drain.

Levered Stopper: You’ll most likely find this one in older drains. The stopper is inside the drain and connects to an overflow tube. The overflow plate is attached to the wall above the drain.

Grab your screwdriver. Remove the screen, and unscrew the overflow plate. Pull out the linkage (the piece that opens and closes the drain) and the stopper.

Bend a Small Hook Onto the Wire

Get a coat hanger or a 12-gauge wire. Take a pair of needle-nose pliers and bend the end of the wire to create a small ½-inch U-shaped hook. You’ll use this hook later to grab the wad of hair and debris clogging your drain.

Inspect the Drain

Put on gloves, grab a trash bag and flashlight, and look down the drain. Sometimes the clog is right near the top, and you can pull it out with your hands.

Otherwise, you’ll need to take your wire and feed it down the drain until you feel the clog.

Remove the Clog

Photo: Elena Gurova/iStock/Getty Images

Slowly pull your wire up, remove the clump, and place it into a trash bag. Depending on how clogged your bathtub drain is, you can push the wire down a few more times to pull up as much of the clog as possible.

There may also be hair wrapped around the drain’s crossbars. You can cut the hair with a utility knife and remove it with the wire or your gloved hands.

Finally, you might find that your wire doesn’t get far enough down the drain to reach the clog. In that case, you’ll need to try using a drain snake. You can purchase a wallet-friendly plastic drain snake from a home improvement store that extends 18 inches. 

Gently insert the snake into the drain and push it as far as possible. Carefully pull it back up and out of the drain. You should be able to pull up hair and debris with this method.

Run Water to Test the Drain

Take all tools and bathtub parts out of the tub, turn on the warm water, and test your drain’s flow. If everything runs smoothly, you can move forward with the cleanup.

If none of these methods work, we recommend calling a local plumber to assess the clog and provide a drainage solution.

Replace the Stopper

Give the stopper, shaft, linkage, and overflow plate a good cleaning. Take your screwdriver and set the stopper back in place.

Run the water and clean the hair from your tub drain, removing any excess dirt and debris.

Pro tip: Prevent clogs in the bathtub by adding a drain cover to catch hair and dispose of it regularly.