How to Get Hair Out of Your Shower Drain

Of the many types of clogs that can affect your plumbing, one you have probably seen the most is hair clogging up your shower drain. As disheartening as it is, hair fallout is entirely normal, especially during a shower. However, hair and soap scum can quickly clog a drain.

You might be asking yourself, “How do I get hair out of my shower drain?” Luckily, a common plumbing problem often has various DIY fixes to clear out even the most stubborn clogs.

Continue reading to learn how you can unclog your bathtub or shower drain that’s full of hair—and how you can keep it hair-free in the future.

Easy Ways to Remove Hair from Your Shower Drain

Use Tweezers or Pliers to Remove Any Visible Hair from the Drain

Using tweezers or pliers is an effective method for removing visible hair from your bathtub or shower drain. Hair often gets caught in a small space between the drain stopper and the pipe before it goes down the drain.

How to Pull Hair Out of the Shower Drain

1. Remove and clean the drain stopper: Carefully remove your drain stopper using a tool like a screwdriver, and clean off any residual hair.
2. Shine a light into the drain: By using the light, you can determine the exact location and depth of your clog.
3. Grab the hair with pliers or tweezers: Once your hairball is found, carefully pull it out using your tools while avoiding pushing the clog further.
4. Flush the drain with hot water: Rinse the drain thoroughly with hot water to remove any remaining debris, restoring your regular drainage.

Break Down Hair Clogs Naturally with Baking Soda and Vinegar

If the thought of trying to pull out the hair clog makes you feel ill, don’t worry—there are more hands-off approaches. This method uses baking soda and vinegar to break down the clog to a state where it can be easily washed away.

How to Clear a Hair Clog Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Apply dish soap: Before applying the baking soda and vinegar, squirt a small amount of dishwashing soap into your drain.
2. Add baking soda: Pour in your cup of baking soda directly into the drain.
3. Pour in vinegar: In the same fashion, add a cup of vinegar straight into the drain.
4. Let the mixture work: Wait for approximately five minutes for the chemicals to take full effect.
5. Flush with boiling water: After a sufficient amount of time has passed, pour a cup of boiling water into the drain to clear out any clogs that may be present.
6. Use a cup plunger: If the clog is not fully cleared, use a cup plunger on the drain to loosen and clear any remaining hair.
7. Repeat if necessary: After all this and the clog remains, repeat through these previous steps as many times as required.

Use a Drain Snake to Break Up the Clog

If your stubborn clog resists tweezers and the baking soda/vinegar combo, it’s time to get more technical by using a drain snake. This flexible and simple-to-use plumbing tool is fed, or “snaked”, into the drain to break apart the clog.

How to Use a Drain Snake on Your Shower Drain

1. Push the snake down the drain: Carefully begin feeding the snake down into your drain until it is met with some form of blockage, which will be your hair clog.
2. Turn the handle to hook and loosen the clog: When you feel the clog, turn the handle of the snake grab onto the debris and loosen it.
3. Carefully pull the snake out: Once fully loose, carefully start pulling the snake upwards toward you.
4. Test the drain by running water: Turn on the shower or bath to run water through the drain and ensure the clog has been removed.
5. Repeat if necessary: If the clog persists, repeat the previous steps until the clog is completely cleared.

Remove the Full Drain Assembly

If the previous methods have failed to remove the hair clog, the last resort is to take your drain apart and clean it out.

To properly remove your shower or bath drain, you’ll need a plug wrench that fits into the drain’s crossbases for easy removal. Once removed, attempt to thoroughly clean out the entire drain of any hair or other debris that may be causing a blockage.

This method can be stressful if you don’t have the proper experience or tools. If your comfort level is too low, it’s time to call a professional to inspect the problem.

Contact a Plumber for Professional Drain Cleaning

When DIY methods fail to make a difference, it’s time to call a LimRic plumber to solve the problem. Our drain cleaning experts arrive at your home with the latest in diagnostic tools to quickly find the issue and clear out your drain in no time at all.

Utilizing our state-of-the-art camera inspection equipment, we investigate the depths of your plumbing to find where your hairy problem lies. Once found, we employ safe and effective cleaning methods, such as hydro-snaking or snaking, to eliminate the clog without compromising the integrity of the pipework.

In a few moments, your plumbing is restored to its full functionality and efficiency, allowing you to enjoy your future showers and baths in peace.

How to Prevent Hair from Clogging Your Shower Drain

Going through our previous methods should result in a clean, hair-free drain.

Now, the real question is, “How do I prevent hair from clogging up my shower drain?” Keeping your drain free from these clogs may sound difficult, but it is quite the opposite. All you have to do is:

• Purchase a shower drain hair catcher: These small tools are placed directly into the drain, collecting any hairs that travel with your water. When you are done bathing, pick up the catcher and remove any of the hair before placing it back in.
• Brush your hair before you shower: Your hair falling out is a normal thing, with an average person losing between 50 and 100 strands of hair each day. By regularly brushing, you can remove loose hairs before they clog the drain.
• Maintain your drains: Due to daily use, your drains can become clogged with dirt. From soap scum to other debris, these things can contribute to irritating clogs. Make it a habit to pour vinegar and baking soda down the drain to clear any debris.

Need Backup? Call a Pro to Handle Tough Clogs

When clogs are too tough, LimRic’s expert Charleston plumbers are tougher. Utilizing the latest in drain cleaning equipment, we locate and address your plumbing clog while keeping your system safe and sound.

Whether it’s in the middle of the day or a sudden emergency, LimRic’s plumbing experts provide a 24/7 response time to plumbing issues. Equipped with the right tools and years of experience, no problem is too big for us to solve.

If you are living in Charleston or other surrounding areas in South Carolina’s Low Country, contact LimRic and get our promise of “Call Today, Comfortable Tonight”.