3 Ways to Clear that Clogged Shower Drain with What You Already Have at Home

There are few things worse than a clogged shower drain, amirite? You know the struggle, especially if you have a lot of hair: you could swear you’re going bald with how much hair accumulates in the drain.

And each strand that falls out in the shower makes the situation worse. The locks mix with dirt, dust, grime and the next thing you know, you’re standing in the shower as the water keeps rising up as if you’re drawing a bath because it can’t get through your massive clumps of hair that have accumulated under the shower drain cover.

The only thing worse than standing in a shower with a clogged drain is unclogging the drain itself. And unclogging a shower drain can be…well, complicated. Calling a plumber can cost you an annoying mount of money, and reaching in and pulling out that gross clump (that somehow attracted all the dirt and grime in your shower) is completely nauseating.

Luckily, there are a lot easier (and less expensive and gross) ways to clear a clogged shower drain—and you likely have all the tools and ingredients you need at home already. These methods will take you no time at all and they work like magic.

Ready to get started? Read on for 3 easy ways to get your drain squeaky clean right now:

  1. Method #1: Boiling blowout

    What you need: Water and a pot, saucepan or teakettle
    Time: 5 minutes

    How to do it: Boil some water with whatever method you’d like, and then pour it gradually down the drain.

    Why it works: The hot temperature of the water helps to break up that hair (and all the other gunk) that’s causing the clog.

  2. Method #2: Science-y solution

    What you need: Baking soda, vinegar, and water
    Time: 1 hour

    How to do it: Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a measuring cup. It’ll start to fizz almost immediately. That’s the point when you’ll want to pour it down the clogged drain. Wait about an hour and then turn on the water to wash it down.

    Why it works: This chemical reaction clings to the grime to help break it up and wash it away.

  3. Method #3: Hanger help

    What you need: A wire coat hanger
    Time: 15 minutes

    How to do it: Bend an old wire hanger until it’s in a straight shape. Take off your shower drain cover and feed the wire down it. The sturdy metal of the hanger will help to remove the debris causing the clog. Once you’re done, wash everything away with some boiling water and replace the cover.

    Why it works: This is basically a slightly longer version of method #1 and works best when there’s more than just dirt and grime clogging up the shower (like clumps of hair).

These methods prove you don’t need anything fancy (or an expensive plumber) to unclog your shower drain!

For easy follow-along steps, watch the video below outlining these awesome ways to unclog your shower drain.

What do you think of these easy tips? Tell us if you’ve tried these out and how they worked for you!