How to Clean a Shower Drain: Simple Maintenance Tips for a Fresher Bathroom

A shower drain plays a huge role in the functionality of your shower. It removes used water through the plumbing system to give your shower a clean, dry look.  However, a shower drain starts to clog with the accumulation of soap scum, body oils, and air, which mar your bathroom experience. A clogged shower drain means water takes more time than usual to drain, causing a strange smell in the bathroom. Hence, it becomes necessary to clean your shower drain when it is clogged.  Interestingly, a clogged shower drain is something you can clean on your own without hiring a plumber. With simple tools you already have, you can remove debris from your clogged shower drain and restore it to its old glory.  Here are simple DIY steps to clean a shower drain:

Required Tools 

Before forging into cleaning your shower drain yourself, it is important to equip yourself with the required tools. Thankfully, many of these materials and tools are what you already have in your kitchen and tool kit. 

• Gloves 
• Flashlight
• Needle-nose pliers
• Toothbrush 
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Boiling water
• Plunger 
• Screwdriver 
• Drain cleaning products
• Vacuum cleaner (optional)

How to Clean a Clogged Drain

1.Remove the Drain Lid

The first step in how to clean a shower drain is to remove the drain lid. The drain lid is the visible cover installed on the drain hole, usually secured with two screws or a pop-up stopper. Using your screwdriver, unscrew the cover and pull it out.  Oftentimes, the lid is covered with mineral deposits that require cleaning.  Soak the lid in a vinegar solution for some minutes while working on the drain. 

2.Remove the Hair Debris 

Shine your flashlight down the drain to see what is blocking your drain. You will likely be welcomed by a log of hair debris accompanied by a strange smell. Use your needle-nose pliers to pull out the hairball from your drain.  If you find it difficult to reach the hair deposit with a pair of pliers, consider bending a wire coat hanger into a tiny hook. With this, you can reach the culprit of your clogged shower drain and pull it out with ease.  However, you want to be careful so you don’t force the hair down the drain in the process, as this defeats the purpose of your efforts. 

3.Clean the Dirt 

It is worth noting that hair logs are not the only cause of a clogged shower drain. Oil and soap deposits can also contribute to a blocked drain. Hence, it makes sense to also remove dirt from your drain. This is where baking soda and vinegar come in.  Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it with one cup of vinegar. This will trigger a fizzing chemical reaction that softens and loosens the soap dirt and other leftover grime. Leave this fizzing for up to 30 minutes for maximum results. 

4.Flush the Drain with Hot Water

After waiting for 15 to 30 minutes, the soap scum in your drain should be soft to wash away. Flush the sludge down the drain with boiling water. However, don’t pour the boiling water at once but in stages. Flush the drain with 2 to 3 cups of boiling water at a time, wait for a few seconds, and then pour another set of cups until you empty your kettle.  However, it is worth noting that PVC pipes, commonly found in homes built in the 1980s, are vulnerable to hot water. Hence, you want to skip this step if your drain features PVC pipes. Instead, consider hot tap water to prevent your PVC pipes from cracking. 

5.Plunge the Drain

Despite all your efforts to unclog your drain, don’t be surprised if your shower drain still drains water slowly. It is likely that the far end of the drain is clogged, which you can only tackle with plunging.  Vigorously plunge your drain for up to 60 seconds with a couple of inches of water. This suction will help dislodge remaining clogs in the pipe. 

6.The Nuclear Options 

If your drain still drains water slowly after all the above steps, it only means one thing: your drain is severely infested with severe clogs. Face this with one of these options:

Enzyme Drain Cleaner

Invest in an enzyme cleaner, also known as a biological cleaner. Pour it into your drain and leave it overnight. The enzyme cleaner will react with the organic matter in your drain to clean it after a few hours. This option is only recommended for pipes and septic systems. 

Vacuum Cleaning

Your vacuum cleaner is an effective tool to remove clogs from your drain. Use this method by removing standing water and sealing the vacuum machine hose over the drain. Then start the vacuum machine to suck clogs out of your drain. 

Manual Drain Snake

Shop for a 25-foot drain auger at a nearby hardware store. Feed it down the pipe and crank it until you reach the resistant clog blocking your drain, then pull it back with the clog. 

7.Clean and Reinstall the Drain Cover

Once you are done with cleaning your shower drain and the water now drains easily, pat yourself on the back. The final step in how to clean a shower drain is to reinstall the lid.  If the lid is not yet clean after soaking it in a vinegar solution, scrub it with an old toothbrush and vinegar. If you don’t have vinegar within your reach, you may opt for dish soap. With the cover regaining its sparkling look, screw it back to its position. 

How to Prevent Your Shower Drain from Clogging

With the awful experience you had with your clogged shower drain, you want to prevent future occurrences. Here are a few maintenance tips to help you prevent your shower drain from clogging again:

Drain Cover

Again, snags of hair are the major reasons why shower drains clog. Thankfully, a plastic or rubber drain cover can help you filter out stray strands from flowing into your drain. 

Avoid Using Body Scrubs

Of course, body oils make your skin feel amazing. Unfortunately, they are an enemy to your shower drain as they harden in your pipe overnight when the temperature goes down, and eventually clog your drain. This is why you want to avoid using oily bath products in your shower. 

No Excess Waste

Flushing little debris down your drain might seem safe, but you are selling out your drain. Small dust and debris, such as from your rugs, accumulate over time to block your drain pipe. Hence, it is wise to avoid unnecessary waste in your drain. For example, consider shaving into your bathroom sink instead of washing it down your shower drain. 

Keep a Good Maintenance Routine

Maintaining your drain helps ensure it is healthy and clogs are removed earlier, prior to degenerating into stubborn clogs that block your drain. For example, you want to keep a bottle of baking soda or vinegar for use after every shower.  This way, you remove potential clogs immediately after using your shower, before they accumulate and solidify. 

Conclusion

Cleaning a clogged shower drain might appear like a mountain hard to climb for most homeowners due to the lack of plumbing skills. However, cleaning a shower drain that is clogged is what any determined mind can do.  With simple tools and materials around you, you can remove dirt from your shower drain and regain your original shower drain where water flows smoothly. This helps you save $200 that should go to a plumber.