6 Foolproof Ways to Unblock Your Shower Drain, Fast

First, are you sure it’s the drain that is blocked in your shower?

<< Click here to find out if you have a blocked shower drain >>

How to Unblock Your Shower Drain Fast!

1. Baking Soda and White Vinegar

However, if you are reading this article because your drain is already clogged and you need the problem fixed as soon as possible, try clearing the blockage with baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. This homemade, all natural remedy is a great alternative to strong chemical products. For maximum benefit, clear your shower drain with baking soda and vinegar when the shower won’t be needed for a few hours so that it has the opportunity to work to maximum effect.

Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by half a cup of distilled vinegar. The combination will create a fizzing action that will work away the blockage. Leave it to work for at least twenty minutes and then pour a kettle of hot water down the drain to flush away the blockage.

2. Commercial Drain Cleaners

If you need something stronger than baking soda and vinegar, chemical cleaners can be a good alternative. There are a range of commercial products specially designed to clear your shower drain blockage available in various supermarkets and most hardware stores. Using chemical cleaners is a quick, easy and affordable method if you are too busy to spend a lot of time fixing the problem yourself.

Simply pour the chemicals down the drain and leave them to work, following the directions on the label. Always be careful when working with chemicals, taking adequate precautions beforehand by making sure the room is well-ventilated and protecting your hands with some sturdy rubber gloves.

The fastest way to unblock your shower to drain is to find out what has caused it.

<< Click here to find out what causes a blocked shower drain >>

3. Boiling Water to Unblock Shower Drains

Boiling water is ideal for clearing soap scum and other shower blockages, as well as an alternative to chemical cleaners. It helps to flush out all debris that may be stuck to the sides of the pipes. Regularly pouring boiling water down your drain, once a week, will benefit the smooth running and draining of your shower pipe system. If you get into the habit of regularly cleansing your drain with boiling water, we can guarantee you will notice an improvement in your shower drainage.

4. Try Using a Plunger for Shower Drain Unblocking

Removing the drain cover and using a plunger to unblock your drain often has a high rate of success. Plunging may be an old-fashioned method but it has stood the test of time and is extremely effective. If you are struggling to get enough suction on your plunger, try adding some petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction pad to get a better seal, adding water to the shower drain so that the end of the plunger is submerged. This should help you get the suction required for releasing the clog from your drain.

5. Remove the Blockage by Hand

If you can see the blockage right inside your drains, you may have more success reaching in and pulling out the clog. To do this, you need to wear rubber gloves.. Remove the drain cover and use a flashlight to look inside the drain. If you can see the clog, and it’s within your reach, pull it out with your fingers.

Removing shower drain blockages by hand is a great method for reducing blockages and clog frequency. The most common debris blocking shower drains are caused by small objects and hair. So, if you can pull these out and then flush the pipes through by running the shower for a time, you should restore normal flow again.

6. Use a Coat Hanger Hook to Clear Debris

One of the oldest, yet most effective, drain clearing methods is the coat hanger. If you tried removing the blockage by hand but couldn’t quite reach it, the next method to try is the bent coat hanger. Bend the wire so that it can fit down the plughole easily. Leave the hook at the end to fish out the debris and you have an easy solution to your blocked drain problem.

Dislodge the blockage by pushing the coat hanger into the pipe until you feel it hit against the blockage. Then, gently twisting the coat hanger, you should be able to hook the blockage up and out of the drain.

Drain Blocking Prevention

Naturally, the best way to fix a blocked shower drain is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The most effective way of preventing blocked shower drains is by installing a drain screen. This screen will trap any debris, soap scum, and hair from washing into the drain pipes and causing a clog.

Drain screens are exceptionally easy to install. You can even buy some that simply sit atop of your plug hole. However, it is worth being aware that the drain screen must be cleaned often for it to be effective. There are so many ways you can prevent shower blockages, keeping your drains healthier for longer.

Call in the Professionals

Having a blocked drain can be a real hassle and is undoubtedly quite an unpleasant experience, with tepid water and lingering odours. However, we hope that our tips have been helpful in fixing your drainage issues. If they have been successful, please let us know what worked for you in the comments below. We would love to hear your success stories!

If you are unsure or you don’t want to attempt unblocking your clogged drain by yourself, in case of worsening the problem, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Unblocking drains is our speciality and we would be more than happy to help. So, don’t hesitate to give us a call today on 01903 441 253, we would be more than happy to help.

Tried everything above without success? You could be dealing with a drain emergency!