How to Unclog Shower Drain Without Using Chemical Cleaners

Unclogging a shower drain without using chemical cleaners is possible using boiling water to dissolve soap scum and grease build-up in its source, among many other strategies – How to Unclog Shower Drain.

Pour about 1 cup of baking soda down your drain followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Cover your tub’s drain with a bathtub plug and wait 20-30 minutes.

Plunger – How to Unclog Shower Drain

A common household plunger can be very effective at unclogging shower drains. Be sure the seal fits tightly around both drain opening and overflow drain, then plunge up and down about 10-15 times vigorously if necessary to clear clog. If this doesn’t do it for you, try another approach but be careful to not use full, powerful strokes as these could clog further than expected.

A bent wire coat hanger with its hook bent into place can be an effective tool for fishing out hair and other clogs from your shower drain. Alternatively, purchase a plastic drain snake equipped with a hook-like end designed specifically to pull out hair clogs from pipes. How to Unclog Shower Drain – Also make sure that when using this technique – or any similar technique – to wear rubber gloves to avoid hot water burns and scratchy gunk from scratching the pipes’ interior surface.

Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can make an effective combination for clearing out shower drains. Pour a cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar down the drain – this mixture will fizz and bubble to break up any clogs and help clear away the debris from your pipes. After about an hour have passed pour in another cup of hot water which will further dissolve any obstructions to flow.

Keep your shower drain clear by pouring boiling water down it once a week to loosen and dissolve any build-up of grime, with a strainer placed over the drain to catch any hair that might otherwise fall into it.

If a clogged shower drain cannot be cleared using any of these methods, it’s likely time to contact a licensed plumber. They are equipped with professional equipment for clearing away clogs quickly while teaching you how to keep them clear in the future – this helps protect pipes, reduce future clogs, keep families healthy and safe! Common causes of blocked drains in showers include hair, soap scum and debris accumulation in trap walls over time which build-up in traps and pipes over time and result in blocked drains being blocked up over time by build-ups from trapped waters entering pipes from trap walls over time;

Baking Soda – How to Unclog Shower Drain

Baking soda is an affordable and effective solution to most drain clogs, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical drain cleaners which may damage pipes and aquatic life. Plus, baking soda mixed with vinegar creates a fizzing reaction which dislodges and breaks up blockages safely – perfect for clearing minor shower or other drain clogs quickly as well as eliminating odors!

First, clear out your drain of as much gunk as possible using a wire coat hanger or paper towels. Next, pour one cup each of white vinegar and baking soda down your drain, starting a chemical reaction that should break down clogs while dissolving odor-causing debris. Let it sit for one hour before flushing with hot water – repeat if necessary until your drain has been fully cleared!

If you don’t have baking soda available, an alternative would be using one tablespoon of salt for every tablespoon of baking soda – this should create a similar reaction; however it may not be as effective for breaking down larger clogs. Wear rubber gloves during this process to protect yourself from harsh chemicals that might irritate or injure the hands.

Boiling water can also help unclog your shower drain. While not as effective as baking soda and vinegar combination, boiling water can still help dissolve small blockages and prevent future clogs. Simply open up the stopper on your drain to release any standing water before slowly pouring a pot of boiling water down it to wash away any leftover baking soda and vinegar residue from previous clogs.

Lemon juice and cream of tartar are among the many natural products that can be used to unclog a drain naturally, such as replacing white vinegar with lemon juice and cream of tartar, or by mixing both ingredients with hot coffee grounds to form an effective clog-busting solution. Both methods can help to clear away organic debris while dissolving mineral deposits; plus when combined with a plunger they’re powerful tools against tough clogs!

Vinegar – How to Unclog Shower Drain

Vinegar mixed with baking soda can be one of the best natural remedies for unclogging a shower drain, especially those caused by hair and soap residue. Pouring half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar down your drain will cause an explosive reaction that dislodges gunk quickly. After 15 minutes have passed, flush hot water through it to clear away any remnants and clear away your shower clog!

If plunging and the baking soda and vinegar solution fail to clear away a clog, try using a hand snake. Available at most hardware stores, this plumbing tool can remove larger clumps of hair or other debris from drains by following it down through. It resembles an extended section of flexible wire with an attached hook at one end; carefully maneuver this through the drain while twisting and turning it to untangle or unhinge clogs. Alternatively, bend wire hangers into “U” shapes as an alternative if hand snake is unavailable – both will work just as effectively.

Before using any of these tools, make sure that the cause of the clog isn’t due to broken pipes or sewer backup; otherwise you should contact a plumber immediately.

Pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once every month will help prevent future clogs by dissolving any leftover gunk while keeping its smell pleasant.

If none of the DIY solutions provided here work to unclog your drain, consider purchasing commercial chemical cleaners instead. They’re available at most hardware and home improvement stores or can easily be ordered online; just be wary when using with plungers as the chemicals may react and release harmful gasses that could harm inhalers. Alternatively, boiling water may help dissolving tough residues faster and clear the drain more easily than chemical alternatives.

Drain Snake – How to Unclog Shower Drain

If your shower drain is beyond the reach of simple tools like clothes hanger hooks and other simple devices, try a plumber’s snake (also referred to as a hand auger). A manually operated version can usually be purchased at most hardware stores for about $25; electric versions powered by power drills and operated more quickly are also available. Before beginning snaking operations with either option, however, ensure your work area is prepared by placing a towel down on the floor and donning disposable gloves; additionally a bucket or trashcan must be nearby for collecting any hair that might arises while you snaking processes snaking is taking place – before beginning with either option!

Start by unbolting the shower grate and accessing the drain opening; this should enable you to more clearly see any clogs. If it’s simply hair, fish it out using a wire hook of some kind – such as thin wire or bent metal coat hangers bent into hooks – or buy one specifically designed for this task from stores like Home Depot or Target. Some drain-cleaning chemicals even include tools with hook-like tools for this process.

If you own a manually operated drain snake, use it in the bathtub’s overflow opening and feed it down until you feel resistance. Be wary as the snake may become entangled with any potential clogs along its path; once at your destination, start rotating its handle clockwise to hook and counterclockwise to unhook. If no progress is being made with pulling out your clog from its depths, more force or different techniques might be needed for extraction.

If your snake fails to clear the drain clog, consider pouring down some commercial drain cleaner. Choose something safe for both pipes and septic systems such as Green Goblin Drain Clog Dissolver or Drano Max Gel; read through and carefully follow its directions before applying the chemical directly onto the clog. When completed, replace your shower drain cover before running water for several minutes to flush away any leftover debris.