Handy techniques for removing hair and other gunk from your tub’s stopper and drainpipe

It’s really frustrating when your tub takes 20 minutes to drain after a bath, or when water creeps up over your ankles during a shower. But you probably don’t need to call a plumber to fix the problem. We’ve listed a bunch of great DIY options here—start with the first two items on the list (cleaning the strainer/stopper and drain mouth), then try the others until you find one that does the job. Now it’s time to bust that clog without busting your budget!

Things You Should Know

  • Remove the stopper and/or strainer and clean hair and gunk from it as well as the mouth of the drain. Always start with these steps.
  • Use a plunger on the drain if there’s standing water; otherwise, pour in a clog-buster like boiling water or vinegar and baking soda.
  • Manually remove deeper clogs by reaching a tool like a wire hanger or drain stick into the drain and pulling out the gunk.
1

Strainer/Stopper

  1. Take out the stopper and/or strainer and remove any gunk. Some tubs have separate stoppers and strainers, while others have combination stoppers and strainers—but they all end up full of tangled hair and other gunk! After removing the stopper/strainer, clean off this gunk with paper towels or an old toothbrush, maybe after a 10-15 minute soak in a mix of vinegar and baking soda. First, though, here’s a quick rundown of common strainer/stopper types:[1]
    • Lift-and-turn stoppers: Twist off the knob on top, unscrew the bolt underneath the knob, and lift out the stopper.
    • Pop-up stoppers: With the stopper in the open (“popped-up”) position, unscrew the top cap, then loosen the screw underneath and pull out the assembly.
    • O-ring stoppers: The specifics vary by brand type here, but generally you can just lift these straight out (possibly with the help of a suction cup).
    • Faceplate lever stoppers: With the drain lever in the open position, unscrew the faceplate (where the tub overflow drain is, usually just below the tub faucet). Pull off the faceplate, then pull out the attached overflow assembly—typically 2 lengths of metal attached to a stopper.[2]
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3

Plunger

  1. Use a plunger if there’s standing water in the tub. Submerge the head (the rubber part) of the plunger fully in the water to get the best results—add a little more water to the tub if necessary. Then do the following:[4]
    • Put the head of the plunger over the drain so that the rubber lip is in contact with the tub surface all the way around. This creates the air seal you need to create suction and clear the clog.
    • Once you have a good seal, forcefully pump the plunger stick up and down for 15-20 seconds. You may get splashed with some dirty water while plunging, so it pays to wear old clothes for this job!
    • After 15-20 seconds, lift the plunger and see if the water drains out quickly. Repeat the process 1-2 more times if the drain is still clogged.
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4

Boiling Water

  1. Break up gunked-up clogs with boiling water from a kettle. A tea kettle works best here because the spout allows you to pour the boiling water directly into the drain pipe. (If the tub has been reglazed or is made of fiberglass, there’s a chance boiling water could damage the finish.)[5]
    • Be careful to avoid splashing the hot water on yourself.
    • Adding boiling water may instantly unclog the drain. Run the faucet to see if it is now draining normally.
    • Repeat the process one or two more times as needed. However, don’t use boiling water repeatedly or too frequently—say, weekly—if you have PVC drain pipes, since it may loosen the adhesive. Try a manual removal method (like a drain stick) for frequent clogs in this case.
5

Baking Soda & Vinegar

  1. Use baking soda and vinegar with boiling water. Start by pouring boiling water from a tea kettle down the drain, then pour in about 1/4 c (55 g) of baking soda. Follow up with approximately 8  fl oz (240 ml) of white vinegar. Wait about 15-20 minutes, then pour another kettle of boiling water down the drain.[6]
    • If this method doesn’t work after 1-2 tries, move on to another option.
    • Like a school science experiment, the mixture will foam up inside (and out of) the drain pipe—this reaction may be enough to break up clogs of gunk.
    • Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a fairly mild chemical reaction, so this method may not work for every clog. But it’s easy, cheap, and definitely worth a try!
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6

Bleach

  1. Try bleach ONLY if you haven’t used vinegar or chemicals. Bleach is inexpensive, readily available, and can dissolve some drain clogs. However, it can cause potentially dangerous fumes if combined with vinegar or other chemicals (like commercial drain cleaners). If you’ve only used mechanical clog-busters (plunger, drain stick, etc.) and/or boiling water, it’s okay to try bleach; otherwise, skip this option.[7]
    • If you do choose to use bleach, simply pour about 8  fl oz (240 ml) straight into the drain, wait 15 minutes, then flush the drain with hot (or boiling) water.
    • Don’t use vinegar or a drain cleaner after using bleach, either.
8

Drain Stick

11

Drain Cleaning Products

  1. Use commercial drain cleaners sparingly, if at all. Commercial drain cleaners (like Drano and Liquid Plumr) break up clogs with strong chemicals such as potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid. When properly used, they will clear most drain clogs. However, they can also damage your pipes, and they present a significant safety hazard if used improperly. If you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner, keep the following tips in mind:[12]
    • Buy a product specifically intended for bathtubs. Not all drain cleaners are intended for use in tubs.
    • Read and follow all product instructions exactly.
    • Wear cleaning gloves and eye protection at all times.
    • If there is any standing water in the tub, remove all of it (with buckets, cups, towels, etc.) before using the drain cleaner.
    • Let the product work for the recommended time (usually 15-30 minutes), then flush the drain with cold water.
    • NEVER mix drain cleaner products in the same drain, or use drain cleaner before or after using bleach.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What if I don't have a drain claw to pull hair out?
    Kadi Dulude
    Kadi Dulude
    House Cleaning Professional
    Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.
    Kadi Dulude
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Get a metal clothes hanger and unravel it. Stick the hook end down into the drain and move it around or twist it to grab any hair. Then, pull that up and remove the hair by hand.
  • Question
    What will dissolve hair in a drain?
    Kadi Dulude
    Kadi Dulude
    House Cleaning Professional
    Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.
    Kadi Dulude
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    If you can't get the hair out, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain. Let it fizz up and sit for 20 minutes and then pour hot water down the drain. That will typically do the trick and clear out any blockages.
  • Question
    What will clog tough bathtub drains?
    Mark Spelman
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer

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    It is usually a buildup of hair and soap.
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About This Article

Kadi Dulude
Co-authored by:
House Cleaning Professional
This article was co-authored by Kadi Dulude and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. This article has been viewed 4,551,573 times.
12 votes - 60%
Co-authors: 45
Updated: December 13, 2022
Views: 4,551,573
Article SummaryX

If your bathtub drain is clogged, it’s usually an easy fix. Most of the time, bathtub clogs are caused by a build up of hair and other debris in the drain. To remove the clog, start by unscrewing the tub drain stopper. Depending on the type of stopper you have, you can do this by twisting it off by hand or using a screwdriver. Once that’s off, use needle-nose pliers to pull all of the junk out of the drain. You can also use the end of a bent metal coat hanger. If you don’t find a clog underneath the stopper, it may be deeper in the drain. To access it, unscrew the overflow plate in your tub, and pull it out along with the linkage and stopper that are attached. Clean off any gunk in the stopper and linkage, then run water down the drain to flush out anything that’s left. If your bathtub is still clogged, you can try plunging the drain. 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. Then, place the head of a plunger over the drain, and start plunging until the water starts to drain. Another option you can try is using baking soda and vinegar. Just pour ½ cup (90 g) of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar. Cover the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, pour hot water down the drain to flush out the clog. 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!

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