How to clear a clogged shower drain: 8 methods

These are my suggested methods for how to clear a clogged shower drain. It is always worth avoiding the expense of employing a plumber if you possibly can - unclogging a shower drain yourself usually isn’t as difficult as some people might think. In fact, the vast majority of clogged shower drain problems can be solved by using fairly simple and straightforward methods.

The first time that you realize that you have a problem with a clogged shower drain is when you are stood in a deep puddle of water in the shower because the water isn’t disappearing down the hole like it should. Unfortunately, once the drainage problems have begun, they will usually only get gradually worse over time.

A clogged shower drain is usually caused by a lump of knotted hair, dirt, grease and/or soap. The hair is often wrapped around parts of the drain and therefore can be difficult to shift. The problem occurs much more frequently in homes where one or more of the shower users has long hair, as short hair is much less likely to get caught in the drain system.

I have taken into consideration the amount of expense and involvement needed for each method when putting this list together. The easiest and cheapest methods to try, I’ve put near the start and the more involved and expensive ideas are at the end. Often unclogging a shower drain requires a combination of more than one method, in my experience.

This can sometimes break down the soap or grease that is holding the clog together and clear the blockage. Used on its own, this method will often only partially clear the blockage, however.

The nature of the blockage, where the clog is in the drain, and the design of your drain will determine how successful plunging will be – if the clog is deep and made of hair, for instance, you might struggle to get enough suction for plunging to be effective. You can try adding petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction pad to get a better seal and also adding water to the shower so that the end of the plunger is submerged, if it isn’t already. Plunging is always worth a try, as the time and costs involved are small.

This is a more natural solution than using cleaning chemicals. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, wait for a few minutes, then pour a cup of vinegar down too. Wait for a couple of hours to see if the hair clog gets dissolved, then clean out the drain by pouring boiling water down it.

This method has a fairly good chance of success, but it involves using your hands, so I would advise wearing rubber gloves. First you need to remove the drain cover. Sometimes there is a screw in the middle that you have to take out. Other times you can pry the drain cover off using a screwdriver. Look inside the drain and locate the clog. Use a flashlight, if necessary. If the clog is within reach, pull it out with your fingers. If it is not in reach, go to method number 5.

If you can’t reach the blockage by hand for whatever reason, then try fishing out the clog with a piece of wire. You can improvise a tool with a wire coat hanger, fashioning a hook at the end of it.

Push the snake down the drain until you reach the clog. Turn the snake’s handle and bring it back up. Run water to test the drain and see if it is still clogged.

Most hardware stores sell strong chemical cleaners designed to unblock drains. Follow the instructions carefully. Don’t use chemicals unless you have to, as they can cause damage to your drainage pipes.

If you don’t want to start taking your drain apart and are uneasy about using chemicals, then you will have to call out a professional plumber. It’s by far the most expensive option and clearly the last resort.