Having a clogged shower drain can be a complete and total inconvenience, yet it’s a common problem that many people encounter in their homes. When your shower drain is clogged, it can adversely affect the flow of water. This can cause slow water drainage, which later turns into standing water that just sits in the shower. Fortunately, there are several ways for homeowners to combat this problem.

Why Your Shower Drain Could Be Clogged

Washing your hair or shaving in the shower causes hair strands to build up, which can create a blockage. Soap residue is another reason—without regularly cleaning your tub, soap residue can accumulate over time. This eventually forms a blockage that prevents water from draining properly.

Another common culprit is dirt and debris. When small particles make their way into your shower, it can be difficult to remove them from the drain. Depending on the materials they’re made from, certain other particles that fall down the drain can swell up when they come into contact with water. This can also cause a clogged drain, and in some cases, may require professional help.

Ways To Unclog Your Shower Drain Yourself

It’s no doubt that having a clogged shower drain is frustrating, so it’s important to take the proper measures to prevent it from happening in the first place. This includes regular cleaning and maintenance and installing drain covers to capture loose hair strands and debris before they can make their way into your drain.

If you do end up with a clogged shower drain, however, oftentimes you can fix it without the help of a professional. To do so, here are six ways to unclog your shower drain.

Use a Plunger

Plungers can be a handy tool when it comes to quick fixes in the bathroom. Not only do they work to dislodge clogs from your toilet, but they’re effective at sucking out debris from your shower drains as well.

To use a plunger in your shower, make sure to fill your tub with a bit of water to cover the plunger’s suction cup. Then plunge your drain until the blockage clears.

Clean Your Drain Cover

Sometimes your drain cover can cause problems by trapping debris that actually ends up blocking the flow of water. Remove your drain cover to clean any hair, dirt, or debris from it. You can also use a wire hanger or tweezers to pull out hard-to-reach debris found deeper inside your drains.

Boiling Water

An age-old remedy for fixing a clogged shower drain is pouring scalding hot water down the drain. This works to break up the soap residue causing the blockage so your drain is clear. To do this, boil a pot of water before slowly pouring it down the drain in increments. But remember to avoid pouring hot water down PVC pipes, as it can damage them.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

For a DIY solution, mix together equal parts of baking soda and vinegar. Pour it down the drain, allowing the chemical mixture to sit for 15-20 minutes to dissolve the blockage. After the time is up, follow that up by pouring some hot water down the drain.

Use a Handy Instrument

To clear your drain, insert a plumbing snake or straightened wire hanger with a small hook into the drain, moving it around to catch and remove any blockages.

Chemical Drain Cleaners

If all else fails, you can always try commercial drain cleaners. But use caution when using commercial cleaners as they contain strong chemicals that can not only harm your pipes, but your skin as well.