5 minutes and the drain, "I first tried the vinegar and baking soda. Although all these options can be successful in combating drain masses that may cause obstruction, you’ll have to find the most suitable one for your drain through trial and error due to every clog’s specific composition. Remove the drain cover and get a powerful Shop Vac to suck out the litter. Remember the middle school volcano science experiment with baking soda and vinegar? Bleach will desolve anything that is organic, such as hair or poop. Test if the bathtub drain will flow smoothly and properly. It did not clear it, but following it with a huge blast of bleach and, "Tip 3 presented a natural solution, as opposed to the use of chemicals, as a remedy for my clogged drain. Most clogged bathtub drains can be cleared with a plunger or by removing and cleaning out the tub stopper. To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. I used a zip-it and followed it with boiling, "The first article helped. Fortunately this is an easy fix — for anyone. Many a clog is caused by a huge hairball. ", "It helped me determine how to clean clog with baking powder and vinegar. By using our site, you agree to our. The volcanic eruption that happens in classroom experiments happens in your drain, eating away at hair, dirt, and grease. I am an ex-plumber, now retired. If you are confused about where the cleaners are located or which one to buy, ask an employee for help. Depending on the type of stopper you have, you can do this by twisting it off by hand or using a screwdriver. Baking Soda and Vinegar. Not to mention that you’ll get more bang for your buck than if you called in a professional! I am happy. ", "Very clear and concise, thank you for that! But so far so good. Just be careful not to burn yourself by splashing it! A clog in the tub usually builds up over a period of several weeks, with the tub draining more and more slowly each day. The best ways to unclog bathtub drainpipes is with vinegar, baking soda, and scalding hot water. Another way to apply this substance is to make the mixture first and then pour it! The clogs make your tub hard to use and cause materials to backup […] You can use a variety of cleaners, just never use an abrasive scrub pad. After the final try, when pouring the boiling hot water I could tell the effect right away. Helpful 73 Not Helpful 51 Hi, my name is Marco. This article has been viewed 4,306,768 times. Thanks a bunch! The trick is to get bleach to the clogged area. Approved. Therefore, brace yourself for this utterly unpleasant occurrence with these useful tips! I tried running just really hot water and the bathtub is just filling … 5 Ways To Clear A Clogged Bathtub Drain Read More » The farthest the cat litter will gather is at the trap. What do you do if your tub has a strainer that does not have a screw to remove it, and it won't come off? 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. ", "Drano didn't completely take out the plug, but hot water and my plunger finished the job. With the clog cleared, inspect the stopper at the end of the linkage rod. ", "Trying to solve the clogged drain issue before calling a professional. First, boil a full kettle of water and pour the whole lot into the drain. The slower enzymatic-based drain cleaners remove the clog quickly, and it is eco-friendly. Copyright 2020 by Amarco Plumbing. It is usually a buildup of hair and soap. Even though I am no longer offering my services, my friends and family have been asking me for plumbing advice. Thank you! A clogged bathtub may be a little higher on the difficulty scale than a clogged kitchen drain or toilet, but most homeowners should be able to fix this problem using basic repair tools and commercially available chemical drain openers. Baking soda is capable of dissolving a lot of particles and build-ups when it comes to clogs. How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain With Standing Water How To Unclog Your Bathtub Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar We get a call every month about a pesky bathtub being clogged with too much hair. Let’s explore these steps in detail. Before attempting any clogged bathtub … wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. If water still isn’t flowing freely after the clean-up, you can start considering putting the following strategies into use. Meanwhile, a clogged bathtub can turn your shower or bathtub into a wading pool. ", shower right now. Learn more... A clogged bathtub is frustrating, especially when you want to hop in the shower or take a bath. :)", have saved money! A drain cleaner is an effective way of keeping your drains, pipes, and septic tank blockage-free. Yippee! The center strainer is held in by spring clips, so you have to put a hook through the mesh and pull to pop it out. Thank, "Well, it seems to be working. 3. Baking soda and vinegar The next technique you can try involves pouring boiling water into the drain with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. I'll make, "The baking soda and vinegar method really worked well for me. There are several tricks you can use to unclog your bathtub on your own using products you can find at home or the store. If you should use a liquid drain cleaner, wait a few hours before you decide to take a bath. ", "Gave me great ideas as to how to fix my tub faucet. I cleaned it, turned on the water and the water ran down as quickly as it ever had! Clear out any debris By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Hot water and plunger. I'm giving it a big test and taking a, "Thanks to this article, I was able to unclog our tub and save money. If you are dealing with water pooling around while you are taking a shower, and your drain is clogged with hair, here are proven methods for unclogging it: 1. This item: DrainWig- Bathtub Drain (2Pack), Never Clean a Clogged Drain Again, Hair Strainer, Hair Snare, As… $24.99 Only 4 left in stock - order soon. Keep plunging until the water drains when you remove the plunger. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'amarcoplumbing_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',120,'0','0']));Whichever technique you decide to use, rinse the drain with hot water in the end! Hair, soap scum, and bathing accessories can easily make their way into the drain and clog the tub. A bathtub clog can start anywhere, from a small blockage in the drain to an obstruction of your main sewer line . Isn't that correct? Once that’s off, use needle-nose pliers to pull all of the junk out of the drain. About 80 percent of the time, you can fix slow-draining or clogged tub drains in about five minutes, without chemicals and without a $100 plumber bill. This article has 39 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. Saved myself $75.00 service, "The article was easy to follow and I was able to share the information to help someone who was having a similar, "Boiling water down the drain = instant fix. This is a problem for many homeowners because it is usually accompanied by the unintended effect of pooling water. All the long hair that goes into the drain gets stuck and clogs up the bathtub/shower drain way too often. Known as sodium tetraborate to the ones knowledgeable about chemistry, this is an organic compound that is generally very versatile! 5. amarcoplumbing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Make sure the product is intended for your system; on the back of the cleaner, it will say what types of pipes it is suitable for. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to fix a slow draining tub. The water will get dirty from the buildup of soap and hair. Remedy this by using a teakettle of hot water, 1 cup of vinegar, and ¼-cup baking soda. Since many bathroom drain clogs can be cleared with just a little effort, clearing the tub drain should start with the simplest options first. Thanks, wikiHow! ", was unclogged. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'amarcoplumbing_com-box-3','ezslot_3',123,'0','0']));Considering all the hair and soap grease that pass through the pipes on a daily basis – clogs don’t come as a surprise; actually, they are somewhat inexorable, especially if you don’t maintain your drains! The simplest version of its use for the treatment of clogged drains is pouring ½ cup of borax followed by two cups of boiling water and letting it stand for about an hour before flushing the drain with water! The water is draining. If no obstructions are coming out of the drain, you may need to use a different method. We have 4 girls showering daily and need a good solution. But if you combine ½ cup of borax with ½ cup of salt and add one cup of vinegar – it can do wonders too! Remnants of the drain cleaner can seep up from the drain and into your bathwater. Starting from hair to oil, everything gets into the drain and it would eventually get clogged. Slowly pull it out to keep the hair or other blockage from dislodging. Work the drain snake down the overflow hole, only this time, allow the water to run while you snake out the drain. Drain Snake. And if you still have some lemons left – do make that lemonade to refresh yourself before having a shower in your unclogged bath! 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! Then, pour hot water down the drain to flush out the clog. Don’t let anyone lead you up the garden path – these preparations can be as effective as the chemical drain cleaners that can be bought in stores! So now that you’ve got your drain up and running again with one of these useful concoctions, it’s time to start thinking of averting clog formation! ", http://www.lowes.com/projects/bed-and-bath/clear-clogged-drain/project, http://plumbing.about.com/od/drains/a/Drain-Trap-What-Is-The-Purpose-Of-A-Drain-Trap.htm, http://www.lowes.com/projects/repair-and-maintain/drain-cleaner-and-drain-opener-buying-guide/project, http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-unclog-the-drain/, http://www.angieslist.com/articles/art-plunging.htm, http://www.acmehowto.com/plumbing/clogs/how-to-use-plunger.php, Membersihkan Saluran Bak Mandi yang Tersumbat, تسليك بالوعة حوض الاستحماÙ, กำจัดสิ่งอุดตันท่อระบายในอ่างน้ำ, 浴槽の排水口詰まりを解消する, एक बाथटब को अनक्लौग (unclog) करें, Tıkanmış Küvet Gideri Nasıl Açılır, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you are lucky, just the boiling water alone will be enough to shift the blockage. Turn each screw surrounding the strainer until all are loose. This process can also be repeated as many times as needed because it doesn’t do any harm! Then, place the screws in a safe location while you unclog the drain. There are actually several simple and affordable ways that often don’t involve visiting either online or brick-and-mortar stores, heaven forbid calling the plumber, because you probably have all the ingredients at hand! So I guess it worked. ", "I never had any idea on the chemical drain cleaners. If you do not know which type of screwdriver to use, match the screwdriver to the screw head. Forget about drinking it if you are struggling with a clogged bathtub – let it flow down your drain instead! For digging out the accumulated hair hardened by soap scum which is the usual content of clumps that cause blockages, a bent wire of a coat hanger, a pair of tweezers or even chopsticks (if you happen to be an Asian or just love Asian cuisine!) Flush the Tub Drain With Boiling Water If you removed the gunk to no avail, this is another easy trick you could try. Over time, the drain gradually clogs until you find yourself standing in the tub taking a shower with several inches of dirty water lapping at your ankles. Secondly, pour the aforementioned combinations in your drain often – another upside is that you can use them as much and as frequently as you want for maintenance as well, to prevent any unwanted clogs from forming in the first place while staying safe and sound! This is the second time I, "Filled the tub with hot water a few inches. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 It uses high pressure air to naturally unclog your tubs and toilets, without the need for harmful chemicals. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You also have to agree that they are pretty easy to use in contrast to some tools such as drain augers and snakes! Vinegar is a (very) weak acid. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. If you don’t find a clog underneath the stopper, it may be deeper in the drain. Or just boil the mixture of water and detergent subsequently pouring it down the drain and, after waiting for a while for it to do its thing, washing out the pipe with hot water! Unblocking the bathtub can be as simple as clearing away this debris. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is so powerful it can unclog almost anything in your pipes – including hair. This worked for me after I used the baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is alkaline. Thank you. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,306,768 times. Then, place the head of a plunger over the drain, and start plunging until the water starts to drain. If it can fight off germs and blots, why not clogs?! The clog will usually occur in the trap where water accumulates. Though many homeowners rely on drain cleaners or a combination of baking soda and hot water as unclogging methods, there are more effective ways to clear clogs, like Zip-it tools. Plumbing Tips – Clogged Bathtub Drain The first step in clearing a clogged bathtub drain is to visually inspect the drain. How do I unclog a tub drain that has cat litter in it? If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. After about 10 plunges, check to see if there is dirty water and gunk coming out of the drain. Here are 3 DIY ways to fix a clogged drain in bathtub. ", lots of boiling water did. Moreover, they are less harmful to your pipes, respiratory or the ones in the drainage system and more environmentally friendly because they don’t emit any toxic fumes! Stinkiness ensues because hair, dead skin, oils, and other unmentionable stuff getting stuck in your tub’s waste pipes. Believe it or not – phosphoric acid which these drinks contain can deal a great blow to the sludge in your drains so feel free to use them as clog prevention too! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg\/aid136086-v4-728px-Unclog-a-Bathtub-Drain-Step-1-Version-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"