Wading in inches of standing water when you shower in the morning probably isn’t how you want to start your day.
When you have a clog in your bathtub drain, it likely developed as a result of hair and soap scum, which you can dissolve with the right drain cleaner if you catch the problem early enough.
In this PlumbingNav review, we will cover:
How to unclog shower drain with standing water (5 steps)
What are the different ways to unclog a shower drain?
What do you look for in the best products to remove hair from a shower drain?
Review of top 5 products to unclog a shower drain
Image
Product
Our Top Pick
Our Top Pick
Green Gobbler Liquid Hair and Grease Drain Clog Remover
This kit comes with 5 snake tools and 2 containers of natural drain cleaner. The snake allows you to dissolve a hair drain clog to create a drain opening right away. You will then use the natural cleaner to dissolve all organic waste. It’s completely safe for your pipes.
Diagnose what type of clog you have on your hands.
In the shower drain, the main culprits include hair and soap scum. Additional causes for drain clogs in general include clay masks, paint, grease, cooking oil, candle wax, and toothpaste.
If the clog developed as the result of something falling down the drain, you may need to look into alternative methods to retrieve an item from a drain and allow proper drainage again.
Step Two: Gather Supplies
Gather everything you need to resolve the clog, including gloves and other protective gear to keep you clean and safe while you work.
Other supplies you will need include basic tools, such as a pipe wrench and screwdriver.
Finally, you will gather the materials you will use to dissolve the clog. For blockage in your shower drain, the best options are a snake drain and drain cleaner.
Step Three: Use Natural Cleansers
Start with a natural drain cleaner that is safe for your pipes. While these don’t always work as well as stronger options, if they do the trick, you don’t have to worry about damage to your pipes caused by harsh chemicals. A great middle option is Drano Gel Max.
Step Four: Chemical Cleaners
You can choose from the following three types of chemical drain cleaners if a stronger option is necessary:
Acidic
Caustic
Oxidizing
Acidic cleaners are the strongest but carry the most potential of damage. Caustic drain cleaners use lye, and they work best on grease. Oxidizing cleaners use bleach or nitrates, and they aren’t as harsh (or effective) as an acidic drain cleaner or a caustic drain cleaner.
Step Five: Plumber’s Snake
A drain snake or auger fits into the drain to break up the clog at its location in your pipes.
If not used properly, a snake can scratch your pipes, so always be careful while using it and read the instructions carefully. Learn how to remove your shower drain cover so your plumbing snake has full access and range of motion to turn corners once inside.
What Are The Different Ways To Unclog A Shower Drain?
Coat Hanger
In a pinch, a wire coat hanger works surprisingly well on a shower clog.
Bend it to the desired shape and slide it down the drain like a simplistic snake drain.
This will only work on clogs that develop near the drain where the coat hanger can reach it. Be careful not to scratch any finishes.
Boiling Water
Boiling hot water will dissolve clogs by essentially melting the material. You will pour the water down the drain while it’s boiling, giving it time to work.
Do not try this if you have older PVC pipes in your plumbing system, since the hot water can melt the plastic and cause the pipes to become loose. You can heat it to near boiling in this case. When in doubt, first ask a plumber.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
When mixed together, baking soda and vinegar are quite powerful in a variety of ways around the home, including acting as a homemade drain cleaner.
Mix one part baking soda with one part white vinegar in a safe container. They will react immediately, causing it to fizz. While the material is still fizzing, pour it down your drain.
Let the solution sit for 1 -2 hours and flush with warm water.
Plunger
A plunger creates a tight seal around the drain and creates pressure to break up the clog.
If you can, use a cup plunger or flange plunger specifically designed to break up a clog in a sink or a drain as opposed to plungers made for a toilet clog.
How Do You Unclog Hair From A Shower Drain?
Since hair is the main cause of a clogged shower drain, it’s important to focus on how to break up hair more than anything else. Try a hair clog removal tool if it’s near the opening.
Enzymes eat at hair. If that doesn’t work, you can try a chemical drain cleaner. Finally, you can use a drain snake or auger to break up the clog.
Unclog a shower drain with standing water using a plunger, plumber’s snake, or liquid drain cleaner. Check out this review of Ridgid drain snakes for one sized right for your situation.
What Do You Look For In The Best Products To Unclog A Shower Drain?
Natural Ingredients
While chemicals tend to work better, natural ingredients, such as enzymes and bacteria, will keep your plumbing safe.
It’s also important to look for organic products and non-toxic products that won’t irritate the skin, either. Some caustic cleaners such as Liquid Fire are great for difficult clogs, but can remove the finish of tubs and fixtures if you don’t carefully follow instructions.
You can get a blocked drain anywhere in your plumbing system. The best cleaner will work in a variety of situations, including your garbage disposal, septic tank, and washing machine.
This kit comes with 5 snake tools and 2 containers of natural drain cleaner. The snake allows you to dissolve a hair drain clog to create a drain opening right away. You will then use the natural cleaner to dissolve all organic waste. It’s completely safe for your pipes.
This 5” cup plunger, specifically designed for your bathroom sink and tub drain, comes in a compact size that fits most sinks and a nonslip handle to ensure you have proper traction. It’s easy to use and easy to clean after the fact.
This multipurpose, natural drain cleaner eats at the organic waste in your bathtub, including hair, at the very first sign of shower drain blockage.
This large container has enough power for up to 100 applications, which will keep your entire plumbing system, including your grease trap and septic tank, clean.
This 18” plastic plumber’s snake reaches into your slow shower drain to break up the clog. It comes with 5 additional thin wands that can fit into most drains.
To operate, turn the crank to rotate the wand after it reaches the clog. When done, throw the wand out for easy cleanup.
Draino makes its way through standing water in the clogged drain to reach and dissolve hair, grease, and soap scum using bleach and caustic chemicals.
Simply pour the liquid drain cleaner down the drain and let it sit overnight before flushing with hot water. This cleaner is safe for both plastic and metal pipes.
Pros
No phosphorous
Cost-effective
Safe for all pipes
Cons
Chemical ingredients
Not for complete clog
Toxic
Final Thoughts On How To Unclog A Shower Drain
If you have a shower drain clog or a slow drain, remove the gunk with the products in this review.
Prevent a shower drain clog in the future by installing a drain screen in the shower and regularly use an enzymatic drain cleaner.
FAQs For Unclogging Shower Drain
What can dissolve hair in a drain?
Enzymatic drain cleaners can dissolve hair in a drain.
How do you unblock a shower drain with standing water?
Pour boiling water down the drain. If that doesn’t work, use a chemical drain opener.
How do you unclog a hairy shower drain?
Start by using a natural drain cleaner. If that doesn’t work, use a plumbing snake.
Meet Your Plumbing Navigator
About Plumbing Navigator
We’re passionate about all things plumbing, and love sharing tips, “how-to”, and reviewing the latest products to help make your project a success!
Learn More Plumbing Tips
Want to tackle more plumbing projects? Check out these helpful guides!
Got Plumbing Questions? Search For In-Depth Answers Below!
About Plumbing Navigator
We write about "all things plumbing," helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
About Plumbing Navigator
We write about “all things plumbing,” helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
