There is a very good chance that you have wondered to yourself (probably while tending to an overflowing sink) if there is a way to enjoy a shave without having to suffer the ultimate consequence of a clogged bathroom sink and a bill from your plumber.
Yes, you can learn how to shave without clogging up the sink, and no, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop shaving at that sink. Here are some simple tips you can follow starting today to prevent clogging up your shower or bathroom sink.
In this PlumbingNav guide, we cover:
Avoid filling your sink with water
How to keep your sink from getting blocked up
Frequently asked questions on how to shave without clogging your drain
What's In This Guide?
1. Avoid Filling Your Sink with Water
If you are like every other person, you probably figure that filling up your sink at least half-way up with water is a good way to save yourself some time. This will allow you to quickly rinse off your blade to get that clean shave that you love so much.
Unfortunately, it’s also one of the quickest ways to clog up your bathroom sink drain or shower drain while shaving. When that water mixes with hair- especially thick beard hair – and lather from your shaving regimen, it’s only a matter of time before there is a traffic jam of sorts in your drain pipes.
Instead of filling up your sink with water, fill up a cup. You can fill up two cups or two small bowls with hot water. Use one to remove the bulk of the long hair and lather as you shave, and then dunk your razor in the other to give you that clean shave.
2. Dress Your Sink
If you are using an electric shaver, you need to be prepared to get hair all over the sink or shower. You can dress your sink up to catch this hair as you shave. Use a few paper towels to cover the sink bowl (make sure it’s covered completely).
You could also use a beard trimming mat (for those who have big mirrors instead of smaller cabinet mirrors). The right mat will cover your sink completely and keep the loose hair from getting down the blocked drain. Thoroughly clean your sink once you are done shaving, ensuring that no or very little hair goes into the drain.
3. Avoid Rinsing Your Lather Down the Drain
What really clogs your drain is a combination of hair, shaving cream, and shaving soap or lather. You can’t simply avoid dumping one into the drain and keep rinsing the other down there and expect favorable results. You should avoid rinsing your shaving cream and soap down that drain just as much as you avoid rinsing your facial hair.
You can use the same “two cups or two bowls” trick here as well. Whenever you find yourself using shaving cream or soap, prepare a dedicated bowl of hot or boiling water to rinse your razor so that the lather doesn’t go down the drain.
4. Find the Right Sink Insert
Another trick (if you want to avoid using bowls and cups of water) is to use the right sink insert. One of the best inserts to use is called a sink shroom. This device is designed to catch hair and most other items that fall down your sink drain, such as jewelry. Using a sink shroom is pretty easy: all you have to do is unscrew your sink’s plugin and replace it with your sink shroom.
5. Make a Drain Auger Your Friend
The simple truth is that no matter how careful you are when shaving, there’s always going to be some hair that finds its way down your drain. This could happen on those days when you are in a rush and don’t take adequate care to keep the hair out, or it could happen when you brush your hair over the sink.
While you look in the mirror to ensure that your hair is properly tidy, a few strands go down the drain during the process. It’s only a matter of time before these unnoticed hairs cause a drain clog
One of the best ways to keep this from happening is to use a drain auger after each shave or at the end of the day if you don’t have the time for it immediately after a shave or after brushing your hair.
If, however, you aren’t a fan of drain augers (they tend to be a little bulky), you could go for adrain snake that is smaller, easier to use, and easy to stow away. Some people prefer using drain cleaners, such as Drano.
While these are simpler to use and will definitely bust up most clogs, they are manufactured with harsh chemicals. They tend to eat through your drain pipe, which eventually leads to a much bigger and more expensive issue than just unclogging your pipes.
Some people use vinegar or baking soda instead since they don’t contain the same harsh chemicals.
How To Keep Your Sink From Clogging When Shaving
The above-mentioned preventive measures are excellent for keeping your sink from clogging up thanks to your facial hair and shaving routine. However, they aren’t enough to keep your sink from clogging, thanks to other uses in the home.
You can minimize those incidents by learning how to clean your sink properly. To do that, follow the following steps:
Mix hot water with your common household dish detergent
Slowly pour that mixture down the clogged drain
Use your drain snake or drain auger
Repeat the same process frequently
These are all excellent solutions that will help keep your pipes unclogged even if you enjoy shaving in your sink.
Your best bet is to create a routine consisting of the above steps; make it part of your morning shaving regime and try as much as you can to regularly clean your sink and use a drain snake or auger to get the rogue hairs that insist on going down there and trying to clog it up.
If you’re already past the point of no return and you already have a clogged sink, then just use a drain cleaner to get the clog out. But to avoid constantly using a chemical drain cleaner, make sure to take the right precautions.
FAQs On How To Shave Without Clogging Sink
Should I let hair go down the drain?
No. You should not let the hair go down the drain, especially thick, long, and/or curly hair.
How can I stop my drain from clogging when I shave?
Throw your hair out in the garbage by cutting long strands before shaving. You can also use a drain catcher to catch the hair before it falls down the drain.
How to unclog a sink after shaving?
To unclog a sink, use a pipe cleaner, boiling water, or baking soda.
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About Plumbing Navigator
We write about “all things plumbing,” helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
