How to Unclog a Shower Drain: 5 Easy Ways.

A slow draining or completely clogged shower drain can be quite irritating.

The feeling of water pooling around your feet while you take a shower is not only discomforting but it can also make your shower dirtier and hard to clean.

So, how do you unclog a shower drain?

Let’s find out…

How to Unclog a Shower Drain

There are a number of ways to unclog your shower drain and the option you select may depend on how serious the blockage is and what materials and tools you have available.

Here are a few ways to unclog your shower drain:

1. How to Unclog a Shower Drain Naturally

How to Unclog a Drain with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Unlike harsh chemicals, using a simple mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda can help loosen and get rid small blockages down your shower drain.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Ensure there is no standing or running water. The drain must be dry.

2. Mix 1/3 cup of Baking Soda and 1/3 cup of White Vinegar in a measuring cup or heat resistant container.

3. As soon as you mix the two materials and they start to react, pour the mixture down the drain.

4. Wait for an hour or two for the mixture to dissolve any soap scum or grime.

5. Turn on the hot water and let it run for a few minutes. This will help flush down whatever is left of the solution and the blockage.

6. Repeat as needed.

How to Unclog a Drain with Boiling Water

While boiling water may help melt and dissolve some of the grime and soap scum down your shower drain, it may not help remove bigger clogs made up of hair and debris.

However, this is a good trick to add to your shower cleaning routine because it helps remove the start of any blockages down the shower drain.

Note: Don’t use this trick if you have PVC pipes as the boiling water may cause the pipe joints to become loose.

1. Ensure there is no standing or running water. The drain must be dry.

2. Bring an easy-to-carry pot or tea-pot to a boiling point.

3. Carefully pour the boiling water down the drain slowly, stopping at intervals to allow the water to pass through the clog and dissolve any soap scum and grime.

4. Once done, turn on the hot water and let it run for a couple minutes. Any dislodged clogs will then be flushed down the drain.

2. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Plunger

A plunger may prove effective in removing small clogs before they become too large and hard to get.

However, it may not be as effective in removing big blockages since it may not have enough suction to pull them out or dislodge them.

1. Remove the shower drain cover.

2. Position the plunger in a way that it covers the entirety of the drain.

If the plunger is loose and it does not have a tight hold, try using petroleum jelly or Vaseline around the rim of the plunger. This will help create a better seal and suction.

3. Plunge up and down strongly enough to remove or dislodge any hair and debris clogs in the pipe line.

4. Remove any visible clogs with your fingers or a hook.

5. Turn on the hot water and let it run for a couple minutes. Any dislodged clogs will then be flushed down the drain.

3. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Hanger or Hook

A shower drain clog that may be somewhat close to the surface of the drain can be removed with a hook or coat hanger.

To do this:

1. Remove the shower drain cover (if possible).

2. Create a small enough hook that can fit down the drain pipe with a wire coat hanger or any other type of strong wire.

3. Being careful not to drop the hook down the pipe, insert the hook down the drain and attempt to search for and “fish” out any hair or other blockages.

4. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Chemicals

If you have tried any of the above solutions to unclog a shower drain at home and have been unsuccessful, there is one option that may work best without expensive tools.

Chemicals!

That said, because chemicals are known to harm the environment, we encourage you to try a few of the above methods before resorting to harsh chemicals to unclog your shower drain.

However, if you have to use them…

1. Always remember to be careful with the handling of these chemicals as they can be harmful.

2. Wear safety gear like gloves and eye protection.

3. Follow the product’s directions.

5. How to Unclog a Shower Drain with a Snake

For a shower clog further down the drain line, it is best to use a plumber’s snake or drain auger.

A drain auger is a tool that is able to grab and remove those hard-to-get blockages that chemicals or natural materials may be unable to dissolve.

1. Insert the Auger’s line down the drain, slowly, feeling for any resistance. Resistance means the Auger has hit a clog.

2. Once you are able to feel the clog, turn the handle, in order to catch the clog firmly.

3. Continue to lower the Auger down the drain as it captures more hair and debris.

4. Once you feel less resistance, it means you are passed the blockage. At this time pull out the Auger slowly, ensuring not to lose the clog back into the drain.

5. Repeat the process until all clogs have been removed.

6. Turn on the hot water and let it run for a couple minutes. Any leftover clogs or debris will then be flushed down the drain.

What Causes a Shower Drain Clog?

Shower drain clogs are caused by the accumulation of hair, soap, dirt, water minerals and other debris.

All of these things can get compacted down in the drain pipes, creating a clog.

This clog will then stop the water from flowing freely down the drain and can cause the slow flowing water to overflow and accumulate back up the drain and onto the shower floor.

How to Prevent Shower Drain Clogs

There are a few things you can do to prevent clogs in the future:

1. Use a Shower Drain Cover

The first step to stopping shower clogs is to use a good shower drain cover. 

A shower drain cover can help catch hair, dirt and debris before it goes down the drain.

Stopping the accumulation of these materials down the drain line, is the first and most effective method of preventing shower drain clogs.

2. Routine Cleanings

Removing blockages down the drain at the first sing of slow flowing water can help you avoid a big, hard-to-get blockage in the future.

So, by adding a quick step to your shower cleaning routine and using one of the above methods to unclog a shower drain before it’s too late, you can avoid having to call a plumber in the future.