There’s nothing less relaxing than getting ready to take a nice bath or shower only to be greeted by a stinky odor coming from your shower drain. Yet, this is where things get tricky. Give it time. Q: My roommate uses laundry bleach to unplug backed-up tub drains. Hand Held Shower Heads for the Elderly: Which are the Best? Commercial Drain Cleaners. Also details the use of a manual drain snake. Rotate the handle 360 degrees until your feel resistance. Privacy Policy | Disclaimer, How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain with Bleach, Best Handheld Shower Head for Low Water Pressure, Best Rain Shower Head with Handheld Reviews, Best Ionic Shower Head: Filters for Hard Water. What should you do then? Now, the problem occurs when some of that hair finds its way down to the drain of our bathtub. Bleach isn’t going to unclog your drain any more than pouring a glass of water down the sink. Hopefully these methods will help you if you have similar problems with blocked drains and save you spending money on calling out a plumber. Hence, I decided to start this blog to help them and address some common plumbing issues. On the other hand, undiluted bleach is a bit stronger and has some other chemical attributes. The next step is adding a mixture of vinegar and hot water (a cup of each). 1. Finally, if you have a wet vacuum, that would be the best option here. After a few minutes, add 1 more cup of baking soda, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. this website. When you stop feeling resistance, then you can slowly pull the snake from the drain. However, they can help you with shower clogs as well. I do not sell anything here. The last thing that you need to do is to run hot water down the drain to make sure that everything is running smoothly. Keeping your shower drain cleaned is very important to prevent it from getting clogged. An easy solution is to simply clean your drain with boiling water. Presenting a new way to party together—virtually. There is a range of commercial products specially designed to clean your shower drain blockage, including Domestos Sink and Pipe Unblocker. How to Disconnect a Shower Drain. Bleach can damage the blades of your garbage disposal, destroy rubber gaskets and corrode plastic and lead pipes. To unblock a drain, start by drying the sink with a towel and pouring 1 cup of baking soda into the drain. But while tips on cleaning shower drain problems are helpful, it’s really best to take precautionary measures. Yet, this is where things get tricky. If you use bleach properly and with caution, there’s no need to worry about any possible problems that might occur with your drain pipes. Related: You’ve Probably Never Cleaned This Part of Your Shower (and It’s Kind of Gross). Whether you have excess soap scum, long hair, or something else (like mold) clogging your pipes, this is a problem that doesn’t go away on its own and must be handled immediately. At this point, the cover needs to be removed and the area cleaned. The hair is capable of creating a very suitable environment in your bathtub drain for other particles to gather as well. Empty it regularly. Things like hair, soap scum, and mineral build up are all common in the bathroom, and they can easily clog up your shower drain before you know it. Image credit: Brett Charles. Wait a few minutes, then pour the rest of the boiling (or hot) water down the drain. This action will force air through the drain. While you gather the water with the cloth, make sure to do it until you get all the water out of the tub. Another step to take is to assess your shower drain situation. good for the environment but still able to dissolve hair, How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain with Baking Soda, How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain with Standing Water, How to Clear a Clogged Tub Drain Naturally (No Chemicals! How to Unblock a Drain. A slow-draining shower is often the result of hair, dirt and soap scum passing through the strainer and accumulating in the lower drain. Simply put, you will need to pour approximately 250ml of this bleach into a plastic cup. Now, the only question left is how to unclog a bathtub drain with bleach then? There comes a time in every homeowner or even renters life when they need to unblock a shower drain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then examine the drain for any screws you need to remove and take them out if you find any. There are three common ways you can measure your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Now it is time to give it a bit of rest. What can I use to unblock a drain? If chemicals labeled for use on shower clogs don't work, and you call a plumber, tell him what you've already used so he can work safely. It’ll help … Fill up the pot with water, and bring it to a boil. This homemade, all natural remedy is a great alternative to strong chemical products. But, the problem occurs when the clog is so huge so the water can’t go down the drain. Credit: This residue doesn't always get flushed down when the water is run, especially if it is greasy, and grows bacteria and sometimes mold. A clogged drain can be frustrating, even if it's a partial clog in which water does go down the drain but at a snail's pace. If the hair has been accumulating in the drain for even a short while, it has gathered soap scum and other debris and is now largely protected from being dissolved by bleach. These products can remove small blockages with very little effort required from you. A close substitute you could use instead of bleach is an external drain unblocker liquid that is readily available in local stores. All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Bleach Will Clean Your Drain, Not Unclog It . As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. Speak to an expert now: 08081 689 112 . Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. The chemical name of caustic soda is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and it’s also known as lye. I am an ex-plumber, now retired. Before you call the plumber, follow these tips to clean a clogged, smelly shower drain. If your shower drain is already clogged with hair, you can try using a product that will dissolve hair, soap scum, and other odor-causing debris, such as Green Gobbler Main Line Opener ($23; amazon.com). 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