Since many bathroom drain clogs can be cleared with just a little effort, clearing the tub drain should start with the simplest options first. This item: DrainWig- Bathtub Drain (2Pack), Never Clean a Clogged Drain Again, Hair Strainer, Hair Snare, As… $24.99 Only 4 left in stock - order soon. Don’t let anyone lead you up the garden path – these preparations can be as effective as the chemical drain cleaners that can be bought in stores! Let it fizzle for one to two hours and then wash it away with hot water! can prove quite useful! Fortunately, you may not need to call a plumber to fix your problem. Another option you can try is using baking soda and vinegar. I am an ex-plumber, now retired. If you use a liquid drain cleaner, and the drain is still clogged, be sure to tell your plumber, so that they can take the appropriate precautions. ", "Gave me great ideas as to how to fix my tub faucet. Feel free to browse around. Clog gone. Repeat when necessary or until the bathtub works as it should. Flush the Tub Drain With Boiling Water If you removed the gunk to no avail, this is another easy trick you could try. A bathtub clog can start anywhere, from a small blockage in the drain to an obstruction of your main sewer line . Just leave it for an hour or so to work its magic before you rinse the pipe with water! But so far so good. Apply it in the following manner – ten minutes after pouring a cup of baking soda, add a cup of it into the drain leaving it for a couple of hours to bubble. Then, place the head of a plunger over the drain, and start plunging until the water starts to drain. Forget about drinking it if you are struggling with a clogged bathtub – let it flow down your drain instead! Make sure the product is intended for your system; on the back of the cleaner, it will say what types of pipes it is suitable for. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If your bathtub is still clogged, you can try plunging the drain. Most clogged bathtub drains can be cleared with a plunger or by removing and cleaning out the tub stopper. (See below for tools. ", "Drano didn't completely take out the plug, but hot water and my plunger finished the job. On the other hand, vinegar helps a lot with those nasty and stubborn build-ups. Pay attention to use 3% hydrogen peroxide because higher concentrations can cause chemical burns! Most of the time, bathtub clogs are caused by a build up of hair and other debris in the drain. The water clog happened for the first time, and that, "I first put boiling water down the drain, as you said, then did the soda and vinegar. One of the most effective ways to clear a bathtub drain clogged with hair, is to reach in and pull it out. ", drain cover and pull out the gunk! If you are unfortunate enough to have your drain fully obstructed, you’ll have to use some tools or, in the worst-case scenario, call the exorbitantly costly plumber! Here are some ways to unclog your bathtub without having to go to the hardware store. The downside: I may waste water by taking a longer shower. Hot Water Heater Leaking from Overflow Pipe, Mixtures Containing Baking or Washing Soda. Then, place the screws in a safe location while you unclog the drain. ", lots of boiling water did. Believe it or not – phosphoric acid which these drinks contain can deal a great blow to the sludge in your drains so feel free to use them as clog prevention too! When you mix the two in equal proportions all they do is cancel each other out. Thank, "Well, it seems to be working. If you don’t find a clog underneath the stopper, it may be deeper in the drain. ", "Very clear and concise, thank you for that! If it can fight off germs and blots, why not clogs?! Baking soda is capable of dissolving a lot of particles and build-ups when it comes to clogs. But before you call the plumber, check to see if … Wooden vs Plastic Toilet Seat: Which one to Choose? It did not clear it, but following it with a huge blast of bleach and, "Tip 3 presented a natural solution, as opposed to the use of chemicals, as a remedy for my clogged drain. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to fix a slow draining tub. I cleaned it, turned on the water and the water ran down as quickly as it ever had! To remove the clog, start by unscrewing the tub drain stopper. This is also an effective way to keep your bathtub's drain flowing freely when performed on a weekly basis. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is so powerful it can unclog almost anything in your pipes – including hair. Can I use something other than baking soda to unclog a bathtub drain? Tubs essentially have two drains. A whole bottle of bleach is much cheaper than Liquid Plumber. Consider adding more force if nothing is coming out of the drain. ", "Trying to solve the clogged drain issue before calling a professional. You can also blend 3 cups of hydrogen peroxide and ¾ gallon of cold water and use that solution instead! So I guess it worked. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,306,768 times. Baking Soda and Vinegar. Overflow from the tub drain when you flush the toilet can be unpleasant, but it's a problem that is usually easy to fix. amarcoplumbing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Meanwhile, a clogged bathtub can turn your shower or bathtub into a wading pool. This could be dangerous. Use care when handling any liquid drain cleaners. Keep plunging until the water drains when you remove the plunger. Thank you. Unclogging a clogged drain in a bathtub has to be one of many frustrating tasks to do in the house. You can easily unclog your bathtub drain with a standard cup-style plunger, but you have to seal the overflow drain first. ", "The baking soda and vinegar method is the best - safe and clean for me and for the environment. If you are lucky, just the boiling water alone will be enough to shift the blockage. Drain Snake. It’s pretty gross to look at and touch, and it can stink pretty bad if it’s been in there a while, but when you remove it with a tool designed for the job, you can be pretty sure that water will flow will be back to normal when you finish. This is the second time I, "Filled the tub with hot water a few inches. Thank you so much. After the final try, when pouring the boiling hot water I could tell the effect right away. There are actually several simple and affordable ways that often don’t involve visiting either online or brick-and-mortar stores, heaven forbid calling the plumber, because you probably have all the ingredients at hand! Hence, I decided to start this blog to help them and address some common plumbing issues. This would cause a large chunk of waste getting deposited over time. Ships from and sold by Harwell's Green Thumb. Once that’s off, use needle-nose pliers to pull all of the junk out of the drain. What can I do if, when I run water in the shower, the toilet bubbles water up? Thank you! Although all these options can be successful in combating drain masses that may cause obstruction, you’ll have to find the most suitable one for your drain through trial and error due to every clog’s specific composition. For digging out the accumulated hair hardened by soap scum which is the usual content of clumps that cause blockages, a bent wire of a coat hanger, a pair of tweezers or even chopsticks (if you happen to be an Asian or just love Asian cuisine!) ", "The instructions were easy to follow, and I didn't have to spend a fortune calling a plumber. Remedy this by using a teakettle of hot water, 1 cup of vinegar, and ¼-cup baking soda. ", "I never had any idea on the chemical drain cleaners. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! The first thing that you should check before even starting to ponder any liquid or solid unclogging means is whether hair and gunk have built up on strainers or stoppers. How is the combination of vinegar and baking soda supposed to do anything? We recommend you check out the Clog Demolisher. ", "Thanks, all this article is so helpful. But if you combine ½ cup of borax with ½ cup of salt and add one cup of vinegar – it can do wonders too! Known as sodium tetraborate to the ones knowledgeable about chemistry, this is an organic compound that is generally very versatile! Soap residue has the tendency to attract more hair and other waste together. Secondly, pour the aforementioned combinations in your drain often – another upside is that you can use them as much and as frequently as you want for maintenance as well, to prevent any unwanted clogs from forming in the first place while staying safe and sound! If you should use a liquid drain cleaner, wait a few hours before you decide to take a bath. First, boil a full kettle of water and pour the whole lot into the drain. For this reason, it’s important to figure out the root of the problem quickly. And rest assured – your efforts won’t go down the drain but the clog definitely will! The simplest version of its use for the treatment of clogged drains is pouring ½ cup of borax followed by two cups of boiling water and letting it stand for about an hour before flushing the drain with water! But don’t use the one from the fridge – it should be room temperature! 5. Plumbing Tips – Clogged Bathtub Drain The first step in clearing a clogged bathtub drain is to visually inspect the drain. If after trying both of these your bathtub is still clogged, the next step is to use a snake to clear the drain. I did it three, "Thought it was just a buildup of hair, soap and gunk. % of people told us that this article helped them. Most home drains are constructed of plastic PVC which can be exposed to bleach safely. This will be my first step in unclogging the bathtub drain for the rest, "I was forced several times to plunge the drain. You have really simplified my work, thanks. I used a zip-it and followed it with boiling, "The first article helped. Baking soda is alkaline. Remove the drain cover and get a powerful Shop Vac to suck out the litter. ", shower right now. Push it all the way down the drain or until only the top tab is visible. Copyright 2020 by Amarco Plumbing. The bubbles indicate that the problem is likely due to a plumbing problem further downstream in the pipes, likely between the house and sewage (rather than within the house). Then, pour hot water down the drain to flush out the clog. Moreover, they are less harmful to your pipes, respiratory or the ones in the drainage system and more environmentally friendly because they don’t emit any toxic fumes! I used a drain claw, and my tub is running great again. Thanks a bunch! What does it mean if my water is still slow draining from my bathtub? If you can see hair at the bottom of the drain, you can reach in and pull the visible clog out. Yippee! Just pour ½ cup (90 g) of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar. If you should use a liquid drain cleaner, wait a few hours before you decide to take a bath. If you start to smell a pungent odor coming from your bathtub drain along with water backing up it means you’ve got a clog. With the clog cleared, inspect the stopper at the end of the linkage rod. If you do not know which type of screwdriver to use, match the screwdriver to the screw head. This process can also be repeated as many times as needed because it doesn’t do any harm! How to Unclog a Toilet That's Backing Up Into the Bathtub. The power of baking soda and vinegar combined into a mixture is a solid way of getting rid of any clogs you have in your home, especially when it comes to bathtub drains. First and foremost – make sure that your house doesn’t have PVC pipes because they can get damaged if you use this method! It's so simple and it helps you save on plumber's fees! You can also use the end of a bent metal coat hanger. Turn each screw surrounding the strainer until all are loose. Remember the middle school volcano science experiment with baking soda and vinegar? We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Starting from hair to oil, everything gets into the drain and it would eventually get clogged. If you are confused about where the cleaners are located or which one to buy, ask an employee for help. To fix a slow draining bathroom drain that is not clogged, you need to remove any debris, use a plunger, remove the drain stopper or use a plumbers snake to clear the drain. If you are dealing with water pooling around while you are taking a shower, and your drain is clogged with hair, here are proven methods for unclogging it: 1. ", "I like how it gave multiple solutions to the problem. Your site saved me $ and time! Flush the drain well with clear water. A drain cleaner is an effective way of keeping your drains, pipes, and septic tank blockage-free. Why Does Flushing the Toilet Affect the Shower? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. How do I unclog a tub drain that has cat litter in it? Nobody likes a clogged drain, especially in your bathtub, shower, and sink faucet. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Be warned that there is a controversy concerning the safety of borax use but as long your skin doesn’t come into direct contact with it, you don’t inhale nor ingest it, you won’t get irritation! ", sure to let my friends know about this website. A straightened-out paperclip can be used as a substitute for a drain claw, but it is trickier to manage. By using our site, you agree to our. I do not sell anything here. This method is usually effective on small clogs, so if your drain is badly clogged, it may not be as effective. If the drain is partially clogged, you will probably be able to break the clog using various liquid cleaners whose preparation or application will be explained in detail in the subsequent chapters. The combination of the 2 chemicals makes a little volcano in the pipes and is supposed to force out the clog. In order for them to be cleaned, strainers can be removed with an appropriate screwdriver whereas stoppers can be pulled out with a simple twist. If this method doesn't work, keep reading to learn how to use a toilet plunger or a chemical drain cleaner to solve your problem! wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Learn more... A clogged bathtub is frustrating, especially when you want to hop in the shower or take a bath. In most cases, you’ll only need a screwdriver and a stiff wire or a bent coat hanger. 5 minutes and the drain, "I first tried the vinegar and baking soda. Therefore, brace yourself for this utterly unpleasant occurrence with these useful tips! In bathtubs, a buildup of hair and soap chips are the leading causes of a clogged bathtub drain. Turn on the water and check to see if the tub is draining any better. Wipe it with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or diluted bleach. Thanks! Clothes washer to bathtub is a common symptom, because the clothes washer drains a lot of water up high (it has a pump) and the tub drain is down low. Test if the bathtub drain will flow smoothly and properly. Hand Held Shower Heads for the Elderly: Which are the Best? 3. This procedure is especially effective for clogs that mostly consist of fat since detergents are meant to break it down! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This is okay, just keep plunging and checking to see if the water is draining. Method 1 •Cleaning the Stopper. References My bathtub drain is clogged. To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. It uses high pressure air to naturally unclog your tubs and toilets, without the need for harmful chemicals. :)", have saved money! How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain With Standing Water How To Unclog Your Bathtub Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar We get a call every month about a pesky bathtub being clogged with too much hair. If water still isn’t flowing freely after the clean-up, you can start considering putting the following strategies into use. Approved. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. ", "I already had vinegar and baking soda on hand and two plungers, the rest is history. Just unscrewed the plughole and stuck a bendy hook down. Upon noticing that your bathtub is clogged, it’s important to observe the water lingering in it heedfully so as to determine whether it is oozing away slowly or remaining in the tub. Remove the overflow plate if you haven’t already, and stuff a rag into the opening to prevent air from escaping as you plunge the drain. We have 4 girls showering daily and need a good solution. A clogged bathtub may be a little higher on the difficulty scale than a clogged kitchen drain or toilet, but most homeowners should be able to fix this problem using basic repair tools and commercially available chemical drain openers. ", water, baking soda, and vinegar. Unblocking the bathtub can be as simple as clearing away this debris. 5. Slowly pull it out to keep the hair or other blockage from dislodging. Before attempting any clogged bathtub … The trick is to get bleach to the clogged area. Used the plunger about 4 times. Hot water is an effective way to clear a clogged bathtub drain. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. After bringing that water to a boil on the stove, pour it into the drain and repeat the process until the clog is gone! Now I can take showers without worrying about water accumulating. The center strainer is held in by spring clips, so you have to put a hook through the mesh and pull to pop it out. Pour it into the bathtub at the end near the drain. Saved myself $75.00 service, "The article was easy to follow and I was able to share the information to help someone who was having a similar, "Boiling water down the drain = instant fix. times in a row. All the long hair that goes into the drain gets stuck and clogs up the bathtub/shower drain way too often. Thanks for your help. ", was a mild one. This article has been viewed 4,306,768 times. ", you, this was most helpful and greatly appreciated. Unlike many household problems that happen suddenly and unexpectedly, like storm flooding or a pipe pierced by a root, this draining difficulty often results from the gradual build-up of material in your drain over time. Hot water can melt any hardened grease which makes it an incredibly efficient drain cleaner! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Cover the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Thanks!! Buy a product intended specifically for bathtubs. The water is draining. The first try was 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar which didn't work. Thank you for the tips! To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. You can use a variety of cleaners, just never use an abrasive scrub pad. However, it will not dissolve non organic things, such as a child's toy or small plastic caps. "Great information and very thorough! Thanks, wikiHow! Depending on the type of stopper you have, you can do this by twisting it off by hand or using a screwdriver. Hi, my name is Marco. Just be careful not to burn yourself by splashing it! 3. ", http://www.lowes.com/projects/bed-and-bath/clear-clogged-drain/project, http://plumbing.about.com/od/drains/a/Drain-Trap-What-Is-The-Purpose-Of-A-Drain-Trap.htm, http://www.lowes.com/projects/repair-and-maintain/drain-cleaner-and-drain-opener-buying-guide/project, http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-unclog-the-drain/, http://www.angieslist.com/articles/art-plunging.htm, http://www.acmehowto.com/plumbing/clogs/how-to-use-plunger.php, Membersihkan Saluran Bak Mandi yang Tersumbat, تسليك بالوعة حوض الاستحماÙ, กำจัดสิ่งอุดตันท่อระบายในอ่างน้ำ, 浴槽の排水口詰まりを解消する, एक बाथटब को अनक्लौग (unclog) करें, Tıkanmış Küvet Gideri Nasıl Açılır, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Work the drain snake down the overflow hole, only this time, allow the water to run while you snake out the drain. ", "Used plunger first, then boiling water, baking soda, then used vinegar. And if you still have some lemons left – do make that lemonade to refresh yourself before having a shower in your unclogged bath! If after trying these all the tub is still clogged, then use a Snake to remove the drain. I didn't know that all you had to do is unscrew the, "I was told by many people to get a plumber and not to do this myself, but I'm glad I did. Fortunately this is an easy fix — for anyone. The clog will usually occur in the trap where water accumulates. Use rubber gloves when working with the drain. I tried running just really hot water and the bathtub is just filling … 5 Ways To Clear A Clogged Bathtub Drain Read More » A clogged bathtub drain is a plumbing problem everyone deals with at some point. Many a clog is caused by a huge hairball. The size and shape of the screwdriver head should easily fit into the screw. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The volcanic eruption that happens in classroom experiments happens in your drain, eating away at hair, dirt, and grease. Hair clogs block many drains. Flush the drain well with clear water. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Just pump the air and press the trigger. The clogs make your tub hard to use and cause materials to backup […] Be sure to use gloves, and open a window so that the fumes do not harm you. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Upon noticing that your bathtub is clogged, it’s important to observe the water lingering in it heedfully so as to determine whether it is oozing away slowly or remaining in the tub. If you still haven’t experienced having your feet completely submerged in water that you’ve just used to wash away all the dirt and sweat from your body, you surely will at some point in the future! ", the screw holding the drain cap had rusted and some of the rust particles had accumulated in a the drain. The farthest the cat litter will gather is at the trap. Stinkiness ensues because hair, dead skin, oils, and other unmentionable stuff getting stuck in your tub’s waste pipes. ", "It worked, and now I can go back to having baths.". Used the soda and vinegar method and it worked, thank you. If your bathtub drain is clogged, it’s usually an easy fix. This worked for me after I used the baking soda and vinegar. Furthermore, bear in mind that the efficiency of clog removers also depends on the nature of the chunk itself, namely whether it is made of soap residue, hair, other types of dirt or a combination of all those things! I was able to unclog my tub in just a few minutes! How to fix a slow draining bathtub. This article has been viewed 4,306,768 times. For the best results, opt for this alternative - pour ¾ cup of baking soda first, then ¼ cup of salt followed by ¼ of hydrogen peroxide and, lastly, ½ cup of vinegar. Add ½ cup of lemon juice to one cup of salt and one of vinegar to pour on that pest of a clog! Repeat two or three more times, extending the snake further down the drain each time. Though many homeowners rely on drain cleaners or a combination of baking soda and hot water as unclogging methods, there are more effective ways to clear clogs, like Zip-it tools. Wear gloves at all times when handling any chemicals. Another way to apply this substance is to make the mixture first and then pour it! The slower enzymatic-based drain cleaners remove the clog quickly, and it is eco-friendly. Vinegar is a (very) weak acid. This is a problem for many homeowners because it is usually accompanied by the unintended effect of pooling water. We’ve all seen this happen. So now that you’ve got your drain up and running again with one of these useful concoctions, it’s time to start thinking of averting clog formation! It is usually a buildup of hair and soap. What do I do if black dirty water comes up when I plunge my bathtub? So start experimenting with these methods! ", was unclogged. Heat up water on your stove until it comes to a rolling boil. Furthermore, bear in mind that the efficiency of clog removers also depends on the nature of the chunk itself, namely whether it is made of soap residue, hair, other types of dirt or a combination of all those things! Have a can or a bottle of cola in your house? A clogged bathtub drain can be removed in several ways such as by using a Plunger or by cleaning the strainer or stopper and other methods. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg\/aid136086-v4-728px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"