Do you have a hair clog in your shower drain or bathroom sink drain? Don’t panic. You can easily remove a mild hair clog as soon as you notice it. But to break up the hair clog, you will need the right tool!
Don’t buy something large and inexpensive if you don’t need it. Instead, stick to a simple and cost-effective hair clog remover tool.
In this PlumbingNav guide, we will cover:
What are the best hair clog remover tools?
How to use a hair clog remover tool
What are the different types of hair clog remover tools?
What do you look for when choosing a hair clog remover tool?
This simple 18” drain cleaner comes with 5 disposable wands ⅛” in diameter. Use it in the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub drain for hair clogs and soap scum clogs. Features include a quick-connect handle and 360 degree rotation.
Hair clogs develop in drains after we shave and wash our hair. Even the best mesh drain strainer can only prevent buildup for so long. You may have a clog if you notice the drain not working as normal in your shower or your bathroom sink but no other places in your home.
Since most hair clogs develop near the drain, the tool doesn’t need to be especially long. Ideally, you want a tool made of a flexible material so that it will make its way through the drains easily.
However, you also need the material to be strong enough to get the job done without breaking. You don’t want to create a bigger problem!
To know how to snake your shower drain, read here.
Liquid Drain Cleaners
Snakes offer a safe alternative to drain cleaners that can damage pipes with harsh chemicals. However, the drain cleaner can reach further into your pipes, making it the only suitable option in certain situations.
They are especially good at removing hair from drains since it’s organic material.
For the best drain cleaner for your pipes, look for natural options that use enzymes to dissolve hair instead of chemicals. However, you’ll need to act at the first sign of a clog.
Also, natural drain cleaners may not be able to dissolve a clog made from synthetic material. You’ll need something stronger like Drano Gel or Liquid Fire.
You can make your own version using baking soda and white vinegar. The solution created is safer than chemical drain cleaners but not as safe as enzymatic drain cleaners.
Whatever drain cleaner you use, flush thoroughly with boiling water when finished to remove residual material in your drains. And, don’t leave it in your pipes too long.
How To Use a Hair Clog Remover Tool
Watch this video of removing hair from a bathtub drain using this tool:
A hair clog remover consists of a pointed end and a flexible “snake” that maneuvers through your drain until it reaches the clog. Once the pointed end hooks into the clog, you will pull the debris back up through the drain, relieving the hair clog. Is your stopper in the way? See this for how to remove it.
You may struggle if you run into a particularly sharp turn or the clog is deeper or tougher than expected. If the snake breaks, you will need to retrieve it from your drain.
Here is a video on how to remove a stuck hair clog remover tool from a tub drain:
What Are The Different Types of Hair Clog Remover Tools?
Disposable Hair Clog Remover Tool
Disposable hair clog remover tools are cheap and simple to use. They have no handles or casing. Once you finish, you throw the item away.
However, these tools do not produce the same amount of leverage as other options.
Rotating Handle Hair Clog Remover Tool
A rotating handle hair clog remover tool includes a thin micro hook rod where you place the wand. Once you install the wand, you will feed it into the drain and then turn the handle manually once you reach the clog.
After you pull the clog out from the drain, you will dispose of the wand and save the rod for the next occurrence.
Housed Hair Clog Remover Tool
In a housed hair clog remover tool, the snake coils inside a casing and extends as needed until you retract the tool back into place. This option is generally sturdier and can provide several uses.
What Do You Look For In Choosing a Hair Clog Remover Tool?
Size
One of the most important aspects of your clog remover tool is how long it reaches into your drain. Longer tools can break up deeper clogs, but they can also be more difficult to control.
You must also consider the width of the snake to ensure it can fit down the affected drain.
These hair clog remover tools are intended to clear clogs that are relatively close to the faucet opening. If your sink clog is further down and beyond reach, consider buying a plumbing snake instead.
Material
The two main materials used on hair clog remover tools are plastic and steel.
Plastic is more flexible, so it can make its way through corners better, but steel is stronger and won’t break as easily. Plastic tends to be safer for pipes, especially around turns. Steel may damage the pipe when it hits it.
Best Hair Clog Remover Tools Reviewed
Now let’s explore our favorite units so you can decide on the perfect choice for your situation.
This simple 18” drain cleaner comes with 5 disposable wands ⅛” in diameter. Use it in the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub drain for hair clogs and soap scum clogs. Features include a quick-connect handle and 360 degree rotation.
Pros
5 disposable wands
Easy to install and use
Patented mico hook design
Cons
Only 1 use per wand
Not appropriate for the garbage disposal or toilet
These drain cleaners offer an extra long 22” design and come in a pack of 5 disposable wands. These plastic snakes are safe for your plumbing and won’t break easily. Only minimal effort is required to break up blockage thanks to teeth designed to catch the material in your drain.
Instantly clear a slow drain without even removing the drain stopper thanks to this velcro and plastic drain opener roughly 20” in length. You receive two snakes of different diameters in a package. The snakes are reusable up to 5 times, and the package includes storage for when not in use. Works especially well around corners.
For skinny drains, this reuseable ⅛” plastic snake with an extra sharp end feeds 10’ into your drain, allowing you to reach further into your clogged drain compared to other options in the same price range. Turn the housing to make the snake turn. The drain retracts back inside the casing when not in use.
Use this flexible 35.4” metal tube to bend through corners and sharp turns to reach items traditional snakes can’t grip thanks to the grabber claw at the end. Of course, it works for traditional hair clogs as well. Reusable. Includes a disposable standard drain snake as well.
Pros
Very long 35.4” metal tube
Claw can grip items in the drain
Reuseable
Cons
Tube may rust
Claw too thick for small drains
Does not retract
Final Thoughts On Using a Hair Drain Clog Remover Cleaning Tool
If you develop a clog in your bathroom, the likely cause is hair. Attempt to resolve the issue with one of the hair clog remover tools we review in this article. If that doesn’t work, try one of the drain cleaners we mentioned or read our Green Gobbler review before the clog gets worse. This will only mean spending more money later on a power electric drain snake or calling a plumber.
FAQs for Hair Clog Remover Tools
Is Instant Power hair clog remover safe for pipes?
Yes. Instant Power hair clog remover is safe for metal tubing and plastic tubing since it’s made from enzymes as opposed to harsh chemicals.
What harsh chemical is in instant power hair clog remover?
Instant Power hair clog remover doesn’t use chemicals but instead relies on natural enzymes and bacteria that eat at organic material, such as hair.
How do you use Instant Power hair clog remover?
In order to use Instant Power hair clog remover, read the directions first. Pour the appropriate amount of cleanser down the drain and then wait the appropriate amount of time before flushing the drain with warm water.
What tool removes hair from drains?
A handheld drain snake made from plastic or metal can remove hair in your drain.
What is the best product to dissolve hair in drains?
