If you’ve been noticing a funky odour wafting from your shower drain, or if the water seems to be pooling over your ankles as you enjoy your morning shower, you probably have a clogged shower drain. This is often a minor issue—one that you may be able to fix with a few common household items. But it could get worse if you don’t keep up with it!
Try these three approaches to get things flowing again:
1. Unclog the drain with simple kitchen ingredients
If you prefer a more passive and safer approach that keeps your hands clean and spares your senses, you can try a few homemade options. These may work to loosen or dissolve a minor clog and send it down to its final resting place:
- Baking soda and vinegar, a safe alternative to harsh chemicals, is another method for unclogging your shower drain. Pour 1 cup baking soda into the drain, immediately followed by 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Cover the drain with a bathtub plug or rubber stopper and wait for 20-30 minutes. Flush with hot water to dislodge the clog.
- Pour ½ to 1 cup of liquid dish soap directly into the drain. Wait 20-30 minutes. Flush with very hot water.
- A liter of fizzy cola dumped down the drain followed by hot water sometimes does the trick, too.
2.Unclog the Shower Drain Manually (Get Your Hands Dirty!)
The best way to unclog a shower drain is to remove the obstruction—which is usually a mysterious glob of hair, debris or oils—by pulling it out and getting rid of it entirely. To start, remove the drain cover (if it’s possible) and shine a flashlight into the drain to see if there is a visible clog.
If the clog is near the surface, use your disposable-gloved hand or a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove it. If you can see the drain clog, but cannot reach it with your hand, a wire clothes hanger may do the trick!
If the drain clog is beyond the reach of your clothes-hanger, a hand-snake can be purchased at your local hardware store. Follow manufacturer directions to guide the device into the drain and remove the clog.
3. If all else fails, hire a professional!
Hopefully, using one or more of these techniques will unclog your shower drain, but if you’re still having trouble, or if—like many of us—you simply don’t have the time to do it yourself, get your flow back by contacting Sabtech Plumbing and Drainage!
Call or text us at 604-596-0405.
