Water draining slowly from tubs and showers is usually caused by hair stuck in the drain. Soap, shampoo, and dirt stick to the hair, slowly making the clog bigger, and eventually slowing and clogging the drain.
You end up standing in dirty water while you shower and have to clean a grimy bathtub. Use some of the following methods to clean out your drain. One of them or a combination of them work 90% of the time.
Get the Hair Out
Hot water, vinegar, and chemicals do not dissolve hair. You have to physically remove it for effective drain cleaning. Remove the stopper and strainer if there is one and use one of the following tools to pull out the hair.
Homemade Hair Pick
Cut a wire coat hanger at least 12” long to reach the bottom of the P-trap. (Any stiff 12 gauge wire works.) Bend a half-inch hook into one end of the wire. Make sure the hook is tight enough to move easily in the drain. It should hook any hair in the drain and pull it out.
Drain Stick
Drain sticks look like zip ties with barbs. They are flexible and long enough to pass through the P-trap and pull out the hair. They may not be stiff enough to push through large hard clogs. They are available in 5-packs and cost very little.
Drain Claw
Drain claws are flexible metal tubes that encase three or four metal claws. They are relatively inexpensive and available in lengths up to 5’. Push it down the drain until you feel resistance, then depress the plunger to extend the claws and grab the clog.
Dissolve the Clog
Once the hair is out of the drain, move on to getting rid of the rest of the clog and clean out the drain pipe using any of these methods. Or a combination of them. Any remaining hairs should pass through the pipes with the other material.
Plunger
Plungers are usually the first option you think of when water runs slow. Use yours properly for the best results.
- Remove the drain cover or stopper.
- Seal the tub or sink overflow with painter’s tape to prevent air from escaping.
- Position the plunger to create an airtight seal over the drain. Soft bell-shaped plungers work best.
- Run enough water into the tub or sink to cover the plunger.
- Plunge vigorously for 20 or 30 seconds without losing the seal.
- Remove the plunger to make sure water is draining well.
- Repeat if necessary.
Hot Water and Dish Detergent
Dish detergent and hot water remove caked-on material. Pour about a half cup of any liquid dish detergent into the drain. Make sure it runs down the entire circumference of the drain. Pour a gallon of hot water down the drain. Use boiling water in metal pipes and hot tap water on ABS plastic to prevent damage to the pipe.
Ensure the water is draining properly. Repeat the treatment to remove any remains of the clog. Hair and soap scum sticks easier to the remnants of old clogs and build up new clogs quicker.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
The foaming action of vinegar mixed with baking soda removes clogs and caked-on grime from drains. Pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain. Dry pipes allow it to slide down to the clog or P-trap. Pour a half cup of white vinegar into the drain. The mixture turns into a hot foam that eats away at the clog.
Cover the drain with a wet cloth and let the mixture work for an hour. Flush out the drain pipes with a gallon of hot water. Repeat if the water is not running freely.
Plumbing Snake
You may need a plumbing snake to get rid of stubborn clogs or clogs farther down the pipes. Hand-operated 25’ long snakes are available for under $50.00. Slide them into the drain and follow the instructions to cut through clogs and remove caked-on grime from the pipes.
Call a Plumber
If you can’t get the water running, it is a sign you need a plumber. The clog might be in the main drain pipe. It is probably caused by something more serious than hair and soap scum. Plumbers have the equipment and expertise to diagnose and repair the problem.
