How to unclog a blocked shower drain
From hair to soap scum, a lot passes through your shower drain. As a result, it’s prone to blockages.
To help keep the water running smoothly through your drain, here are some tips that will not only prevent clogging but help deal with an already clogged drain.
How to prevent your shower drain from clogging
Naturally, the best solution to a blocked shower drain is prevention. According to Martha Stewart, pouring ½ cup of baking soda down the drain with hot water once a month will do the trick. Read more here.
How to unclog your drain using a plunger
If your drain is already blocked, it can usually be cleared with a plunger – as long as you do it correctly.
Not all plungers are created equal so make sure you have one that is suitable for your shower drain.
According to Bob Villa, the cup plunger, a simple wooden handle attached to a rubber cup, “is most effective on flat-surface drains, which are found in the sink and bathtub.”
“While it works well for a sink, shower, or bathtub clog, the cup plunger can’t create a sufficiently airtight seal in the curve of a toilet drain to produce adequate suction.”
Bob Villa recommends placing a wet towel over the drain first to prevent air from escaping.
Next, place the rubber bell over the shower drain and completely submerge it in standing water. "Push down on the handle—gently at first—forcing the air out," the website explains, adding, "Then continue plunging with quick and deliberate thrusts, directing the pressure down the drain without lifting the plunger enough to break the seal. Continue this action for approximately 20 seconds. When you pull the plunger away, the clog should be cleared."
How to snake your shower drain
The next method involves a common household item and a little elbow grease.
For a stubborn blockage, remove the drain cover and grab a wire coathanger. Once you’ve straightened it out, keeping the hook on the end. Feed the wire down the drain, hooking out any hair and other debris.
