HELP AND ADVICE

How to unblock a clogged bath or shower

Is your bath/shower blocked or slow to drain? The following easy to follow guide will help you to get it draining smoothly once again
A clogged drain in your bath or shower is never good news, especially if you were planning a nice relaxing soak. Slow drainage in your shower or bath can also result in a buildup of grease and bacteria in the bottom of the bath or shower, presenting a significant slip and hygiene risk for anyone using it. 
 
Fortunately clearing a blocked drain in your bath or shower is easier than you may think using the following tips.
 

What you’ll need

Before you get started on unblocking your bath or shower drain you’ll need the following items to hand to get the job done: 

  • Rubber gloves (elbow length if possible)
  • Protective glasses
  • A plunger (with a cup-shaped rubber end)
  • Duct tape (or an old dishcloth)
  • A drain snake (available from most DIY shops)
  • A flat head screwdriver
  • Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda)
  • White vinegar
  • Bleach 
 

1. Get yourself prepared 

Put on the rubber gloves and protective glasses. This will help to keep your hands clean and prevent any bacteria-laden water or chemicals from accidentally splashing into your eyes.  
 

2. Find the blockage 

The first thing you need to do is remove the plughole so you can inspect the drain. Usually, slow drainage or a total blockage in your bath or shower is caused by an accumulation of hair, soap and dirt in the pipe. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to remove this material from the pipe using your fingers and get your drain working correctly again. 

Tip: If you have trouble grabbing the blockage with your fingers you can also use pliers, or an unwrapped coat hanger. Just be careful not to damage your pipe or the surface of your bath/shower tray.  

3. Use a plunger 

You should always try using a plunger first before resorting to bleach or other chemicals. This is because the act of plunging often results in being splashed by the water and could result in chemicals getting on your skin or clothing.   To get the most out of your plunger you should run the rubber end under the hot tap for several minutes to soften the rubber. This will make the rubber more flexible and better able to generate the required suction to clear the pipe.  

Start by placing the plunger over the plughole and fill the bath or shower with enough water to cover the plungers head. You should also cover the overflow in the bath with duct tape or block it with the dishcloth. 

When you’re ready, grip the plunger handle firmly and plunge up and down rapidly to create suction. Keep this going for around 30 seconds and inspect the drain. If the first attempt hasn’t cleared the blockage you should try again several times.  

4. Use the drain snake 

A snake drain (or plumber’s snake) is a type of flexible auger that’s designed to clear problematic drain clogs that can’t be fixed using a plunger. Make sure you use a drain snake with a 1/4 or 5/16-inch cable to avoid damaging your pipe. 

For a bath, you’ll need to feed the snake down the overflow pipe below the taps until you reach the clog. You should carefully twist the drain snake clockwise into the blockage (to avoid unscrewing the pipe) and then pull it back up to the surface.  

For the shower, feed the drain snake down the drain, following the same steps as above. If the first attempt doesn’t work, repeat several times until you clear the blockage. 

5. Baking soda and white vinegar 

Baking soda is a great way to loosen dirt and grease from your drain, especially when combined with white vinegar to create a fizzing reaction. An added bonus of using baking soda is that it’s less harsh on the environment than other chemicals such as bleach or acid. 

Start by pouring a kettle full of boiling water down the drain to loosen any grease around the blockage. Now pour down two tablespoons of baking soda and leave it to settle on the blockage for several minutes. Finally, pour a cup of white vinegar down and let the fizzing reaction work its magic for five minutes. 

Once the time is up you should flush the drain with another kettle full of boiling water and then run the taps to see if the blockage is clear. 

6. Use a natural drain cleaner 

Natural drain cleaners that contain enzymes are an excellent way to clear organic materials such as grease and hair. You can purchase them from most DIY stores and as an added bonus they’re kind to the environment.  
 

7. Soda crystals and white vinegar 

You can use soda crystals as an alternative to baking powder for unblocking your bath or shower. Just follow the same instructions as above using soda crystals and white vinegar to break down any blockages.  
 

8. Biological washing powder or washing up liquid  

You can use either of these common household products as an effective way to deal with a buildup of grease and soap scum. However, neither product will be very effective against an accumulation of hair.  
 

9. Using bleach to clear blockages 

Bleach should be used as a last resort as it’s a very harsh chemical. Start by pouring a small amount down the drain and leave it to work on the blockage for five minutes. Then try flushing the bleach down using hot water from the taps.  
 

10. Avoid using stronger chemicals 

It may be tempting to try using stronger chemicals such as caustic soda. Some guides online even recommend using sulphuric acid. You should avoid using either chemical as they can result in dangerous fumes and can often generate enough heat to damage your pipes.  
 

Prevention is the best approach 

You should take steps to reduce the risk of potential blockages from forming in the future, such as clearing excess hair from the bath or shower after washing. Consider adding an additional drain cover to catch smaller objects, too.
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