Short answer
Turn off the water and lift or unscrew the drain cover. Most shower and tub clogs are hair caught just below it. Push a plastic drain snake into the drain, twist and pull the hair out. Still slow? Plunge with a cup plunger, with enough water to cover the cup; in a tub, cover the overflow plate with a wet rag first. Skip chemical drain cleaners: they rarely clear hair and can hurt you.
Safety first
Already poured a chemical drain cleaner? Do not plunge or snake the drain: it can splash into your eyes or onto your skin. Tell the plumber which product you used, and never mix two drain cleaners.
How to unclog a shower or tub drain
1The water won't go down
It pools around your feet and drains slower every week. Most of the time it is hair and soap caught just below the cover.
Read all the steps
- The water won't go down. It pools around your feet and drains slower every week. Most of the time it is hair and soap caught just below the cover.
- Water off, then lift off the cover. Some covers pop out, others have one screw in the middle. In a tub, the stopper may twist off or lift out.
- Pull the hair out with a plastic snake. Push the barbed strip in as far as it goes, twist it and pull it out slowly. The hair comes up with it. Repeat until it comes out clean.
- Still slow? Use a cup plunger. Cover the drain with the cup and enough water to seal it. In a tub, hold a wet rag over the overflow plate. Pump firmly 10 to 15 times.
- Run the water and watch it drain. Put the cover back and run hot water for a minute. A hair catcher over the drain keeps the next clog away.
- Still not fixed? Call a plumber Especially if: the drain stays slow after you remove the hair and plunge it.
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If several drains are slow
When the shower, the sink and the toilet are all slow, or water comes up in the tub when you flush, the clog is in the main line. Plunging the shower will not reach it. Stop using water and call a plumber.
What not to do
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaner on a hair clog. It rarely works, it can damage pipes and it is dangerous if it splashes.
- Do not mix drain cleaners or use one right after another. Some combinations give off toxic fumes.
- Do not force a wire hanger: it scratches the finish and can push the clog deeper.
- Do not pour boiling water into a drain with plastic pipes or into a fiberglass tub.
Keep it from coming back
- Use a hair catcher and empty it after showers.
- Brush long hair before you shower, and keep a drain screen in place when you bathe a pet.
- Pull the hair off the drain cover every couple of weeks.
When to call a plumber
- The drain stays slow after you remove the hair and plunge it.
- Several drains are slow, or water backs up into the tub when you flush.
- You smell sewage coming from the drain.
- You already used a chemical drain cleaner and it is still clogged.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to unclog a shower drain?
Take off the cover and pull the hair out with a plastic drain snake. Most clogs sit right there, within a few inches of the top.
Can I use a plunger on a shower drain?
Yes, a flat cup plunger works well. Use enough water to cover the cup and, in a tub, block the overflow plate with a wet rag so the push goes down the drain.
Does baking soda and vinegar unclog a shower drain?
It can freshen a slow drain, but it rarely breaks up a real hair clog. Pulling the hair out works better.
Are chemical drain cleaners safe for shower drains?
They are risky. They can burn skin and eyes, damage old pipes and rarely dissolve hair fully. If you used one, tell the plumber which product.
How do I keep my shower drain from clogging?
Use a hair catcher and empty it often. Brushing long hair before you shower also helps.
Why does my tub drain slowly but the sink is fine?
The clog is in the tub drain itself, usually hair around the stopper. If the sink and the toilet are slow too, the problem is further down the line.