Crystal Clear Guide to Unclogging Your Shower Drain in 5 Steps

If water is not draining in your shower, you may be able to fix the problem yourself with a few things you have right at home. In many cases, a clogged shower drain could be a much easier fix than a broken toilet. Keep in mind that many of these methods can be used even if the tub already has standing water.

There are a number of reasons why you should deal with a clogged shower drain as quickly as possible. One is that standing water can damage your shower floor over time, whether it’s made out of laminate or tile. In the case of tile, standing water can eventually work its way under the tile and weaken the adhesive seal, which loosens the tiles themselves. In the case of laminate, water left standing for a long time can seep into the panels, swelling and warping it beyond usefulness.

Health and Hygiene

Standing water is also a hygienic concern, especially in an area like the bathroom and especially in the shower where people are washing themselves off. Standing water can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, turning the shower into a great place to catch an athlete’s foot or other fungal infection.

Pest Prevention

Moisture can also attract bugs like silverfish and crickets, who seek the warmth, shelter, and water afforded by such a bathroom. And these bugs can attract bigger bugs in turn (like spiders), creating an entire ecosystem of pests if left unchecked. The moisture created by standing water can also attract mold, which creates additional health concerns.

Appearance and Smell

Another reason you’ll want to unclog your drain is because standing water can start permeating your bathroom with undesirable odors. Some odors may come from the water, while others may come from the clogged drain. And if this shower is in one of your guest bathrooms, it will create a bad impression in a room you’d otherwise want to look welcoming.

Step One: Remove the Drain Cover

If your shower has a fixed drain cover, grab some WD40, a screwdriver, and/or pliers. If you can get a pair of needle-nose pliers, even better. Spray the WD40 around the rim of the drain cover and let it sit for up to 15 minutes. Do not use cooking oil, as it can worsen the clog. Then insert the pliers into the holes on either side of the cover?one pair of pliers per hole?and twist it up counterclockwise. If it doesn’t have holes, you can gently and carefully use a flathead screwdriver to pry it up. Some drain covers pop up and screw out, while others are never attached to begin with. If you have one of these types of drain covers, you can skip the tools.

Step Two: Try Boiling Water, or Vinegar & Baking Soda

Using chemical drain cleaners too often can damage your pipes over time. If you want to try some natural remedies, there are probably some right in your kitchen. Grab a teakettle and put it on the stove. Turn up the heat until it’s whistling that it’s ready. Pour the boiling water slowly down to the drain to break apart the clogs. Note that boiling water is not good for PVC pipes because its powerful heat can damage them. If the clogs persist or you can’t use boiling water, try mixing 1/3 a cup of baking soda and 1/3 a cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant container. Pour the solution down the drain and let it fizzle away for about an hour. After that, run some hot water down the drain to clear away any lingering debris and/or solution.

Step Three: Try Manually Removing the Clogs

If your shower is flat, you can use a plunger to loosen the clogs. After the drain cover is removed, apply some petroleum jelly around the rim of the plunger to create a seal, and then fill up the tub just enough to cover the lip. Work the handle up and down to force out the clogs. Use running water to check if they are removed before replacing the cover. This method may not work well if your tub has a curved bottom, like a freestanding bathtub. Another method is straightening out a metal coat hanger or a large paperclip to make a hook. Using a flashlight to guide you, you may discover this is the most effective answer to the question of how to unclog hair from a shower drain.

Step Four: Try Using a Plumber’s Snake

A last resort involves using a plumber’s tool called a drain snake, also called a manual auger or electric auger. An electric auger needs to be powered by a handheld drill. Either way, the drain snake is a tool that helps fish out clogs. Turn it clockwise to work it deeper into the drain; if you feel resistance, turn it counterclockwise to pull them up and out. Once again, you can run hot water down the drain to make sure it’s cleared before you replace the cover.

Step Five: Use a Chemical Drain Opener

This is the method that many homeowners go to first. However, using this method too often can damage pipes, and depending on the shower floor materials, it might also damage those. Nonetheless, if you’ve tried these other methods and had no success, some chemical drain-clearing solution might help. It’s advisable to wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Open a window and/or turn on the fan to increase ventilation. Follow the directions on the bottle. If this idea and the previous ones did not work, it might be time to call a plumber.

Unclogging Shower Drain FAQs

What causes shower drain clogs?

A buildup of long hair, soap scum, and skin are the main culprits, sometimes coagulating and even sticking to the walls of your pipes.

Can you preemptively prevent shower drain clogs?

You can by using a shower strainer over the drain cover. You can also pour boiling water down the pipes once a week and the baking soda & vinegar solution once a month. Avoid pouring dirty mop water down the shower drain, as it can have debris that leads to clogs.

Can Coke clear a shower drain clog?

The phosphoric acid found in some cola products can perhaps clear out minor clogs, but it is not going to have the same impact as chemical drain cleaner or manual methods outlined above. Better to enjoy the coke after trying out some other answers to the question of how to unclog a shower drain with standing water.

Why won’t my shower drain unclog?

If you’ve tried all the tips listed above and the drain still won’t unclog, it may be because hair, soap scum, and skin flakes have built up to the point of forming a block that’s too large to remove without professional help. That’s why it?s good to do preemptive shower drain maintenance every week or at least every month.