How to clear a clog in a shower drain?

Author: Junior Kuhn  |  Last update: Sunday, September 28, 2025

Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain. Then, pour ½ cup of white vinegar. You'll notice it sizzle and bubble up. Cover the drain and let it sit for 1 hour to dissolve the dirt and grime that's clogging your drain.

How do you unclog a severely clogged shower drain?

First, if you have metal pipes, pour boiling water down the drain. Then remove hair from the drain. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener.

What will dissolve hair in a drain?

Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.

Does vinegar and baking soda really unclog drains?

The bubbling reaction from the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen the drain clog, and the boiling water in step 4 helps remove it from your pipes. Baking soda and vinegar can serve as a natural solution to unclog and clean a stinky drain.

How do you remove buildup from a shower drain?

How To Remove Calcium Buildup from Shower Drains
  1. Heat Water In A Pan. ...
  2. Remove Excess Water From Drain. ...
  3. Put Vinegar And Baking Soda To Use. ...
  4. Cover The Mixture With A Rag. ...
  5. Wash Away With Boiling Water. ...
  6. Blocked Drainage Pipes.
  7. Lime Scale On Drain Covers. ...
  8. Spots On Your Bathroom Fixtures.

DIY Unclogging: How to Clear a Clogged Shower Drain in 5 Easy Steps

How to unblock a shower drain with standing water?

How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Standing Water: 5 Methods
  1. Combine Baking Soda and Vinegar. Baking soda, a cup of vinegar, and boiled water are a perfect home remedy for clearing a clog. ...
  2. Use a Plunger. ...
  3. Try a Drain Snake. ...
  4. Use a Coat Hanger. ...
  5. Call Your Local Expert Plumber.

How do you dissolve gunk in a drain?

You can use baking soda to clean drains and deodorize them. Just pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it with two quarts of hot water. Baking soda is a great cleaning agent for cleaning sink drains, as well as shower and tub drains, and it'll absorb foul odors, too.

How do you unclog a severely clogged drain?

Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in a drain?

What happens if you put too much baking soda down a drain? Too much baking soda put down a drain can clog it. It can harden and become a solid, cement-like mass.

How long do you let vinegar and baking soda sit?

The reaction of baking soda and vinegar works wonders on clogs in any drain or showerhead as well, without doing damage to the environment. To clean out drains, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar down the drain. Let the mixture sit for 10-20 minutes and then flush it out with very hot water.

What pulls hair out of drain?

For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Wait five minutes or so, for the chemical reaction of the vinegar and baking soda to take effect, then chase that with a cup or more of boiling water.

Do baking soda and vinegar really dissolve hair?

Another option for dissolving hair in a drain is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This mixture will create a chemical reaction that will break down the hair.

How to unblock hair from shower drain?

An effective way of breaking up hair clogs is through the use of baking soda and vinegar. Firstly, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain and then after a few minutes pour a cup of vinegar down the drain as well. After a couple of hours you can turn the shower on and see if the blockage has been dissolved.

What to do if your shower drain is clogged and Drano not working?

Use ½-1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, plus a bit of water if you want to dilute things a little bit more. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Sometimes, this mixture can break up clogs that even Drano can't touch!

Will a clogged shower eventually drain?

When your shower drain is clogged, water will often back up in the shower or bathtub. Most of the time, you'll find that the water clears through the drain eventually. However, some blockages are serious enough that the water simply can't pass through.

How to unclog bathtub drain without removing stopper?

For this home remedy, all you need to do is pour a pot of boiling water down the bathtub drain. Then pour a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the drain. Insert the drain plug, or close the filter, and wait 5–10 minutes. Finally, flush the drain with another pot of boiling water.

Why you should never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

Can you use hydrogen peroxide to unclog a drain?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for unclogging a drain. It will dissolve and loosen natural matter—like skin cells—stuck in the pipes. Hydrogen peroxide also reduces germs and disinfects the drain, helping it smell fresher and clean.

How to unclog a shower drain naturally?

Pour about a cup of baking soda down the shower drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Let the solution bubble and foam for a few minutes, and then follow with the kettle full of hot (but not boiling) water. Let the mixture sit for a couple of hours. If the drain still isn't flowing freely, repeat the process.

What do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Plumbers choose hydro jetting equipment for the most stubborn, deep-set clogs. This drain clearing tool uses high-pressure water to flush your pipes and remove years of buildup. The water jet is so strong that it can even break up any tree roots that have found their way into your sewer line.

How to stop shower drain from clogging?

If you're wondering how to prevent hair clogs in your shower, we've compiled this list of handy tips and tricks.
  1. Brush Your Hair Before Showering. ...
  2. Use a Hair Catcher. ...
  3. Flush Your Drains Periodically. ...
  4. Steer Clear of Oily Products. ...
  5. Avoid Drain-Clogging Activities. ...
  6. Let the Water Run. ...
  7. Clean Your Drain Regularly.

How do you clear a deep clogged drain?

A plunger can be effective for dislodging clogs near the drain opening. For deeper clogs, a drain snake or auger can reach and break up blockages inside the pipe. Hydro jetting kits, which use high-pressure water to clear pipes, are also available for more persistent clogs.

What is the best stuff to unblock drain?

Top 10 Ways To Unblock Your Household Drain
  • #1: Use baking soda and vinegar. ...
  • #2: Try baking soda and salt. ...
  • #3: Unblock your drain with boiling water. ...
  • #4: Unclog your drain with a snake. ...
  • #7: Try soda crystals or washing powder. ...
  • #9: Use a Zip-It.

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