A blocked shower drain can be a frustrating problem, as it can cause water to drain slowly, leaving you standing in ankle-deep water at the end of a shower!
The most common causes of a blocked shower drain are a build-up of hair, soap scum, dead skin, and other debris. While hair traps and strainers can catch most particulates, some may inevitably get through to block the drain.
Luckily, unblocking a shower drain is straightforward, even without plumbing or DIY experience. Here are a few ways to unblock a shower drain:
Why do shower drains become blocked?
The most common causes of a blocked shower drain are hair, soap scum, and dead skin. Here are the big four reasons why shower drains become blocked:
- Hair: If you don’t have a decent hair strainer, hair will clog your shower drain in no time! Invest in a good-quality strainer to prevent hair-related blockages.
- Soap scum: Soap scum creates a sticky, chalky residue full of minerals. These can solidify when combined with hair and other debris. Soap scum is usually more of an issue if you have hard water. It also depends on what products you’re using.
- Dead skin: Dead skin is one of the main culprits for a blocked shower drain. When dead skin collects together with soap scum and hair, it congeals into a sticky paste that can block shower drains.
- Dirt and mud: If you or someone else is jumping in the shower after a game of football or rugby in the mud, or something similar, then the dirt might collect in the drain and mix with everything above.
Main methods of unblocking a shower drain
1: Identify the obstruction
The first step in clearing a clogged shower drain is to remove the hair trap or strainer and examine the blockage.
Use a torch to inspect the drain for any immediately obvious obstructions or soap build-up. Blockages close to the top of the drain are easy to remove, but don’t put your hand in the drain, as you might get it stuck!
2: Use boiling water
A simple and cost-effective way to clear a clogged shower drain is to pour boiling water down the drain. Try this before trying anything else.
Simply boil a kettle of water and pour it down the drain. Try to pour the water from a decent height to increase the pressure. However, be cautious not to burn yourself.
You can also add hot (not boiling) water to a 2-litre bottle and aggressively squeeze it down the drain, essentially acting as a mini plunger.
3: Try baking soda and vinegar
Mixing baking soda and vinegar and squirting it down the drain can break down soap scum and loosen blockages, allowing them to be washed away with water.
Mix around a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar, and pour the mixture down the drain. Don’t mix it until you’re ready to pour it down the drain. Wait around 5 to 15 minutes before flushing the drain with hot or boiling water, as above.
4: Use a wire or coat hanger
If the previous methods fail, the blockage might be too solid and stubborn to remove with liquid action alone. Instead, you can use a stiff wire or coat hanger to manually remove the blockage.
If you don't have a stiff wire to hand, you can use a metal coat hanger and fashion it into a small hook. Extend the wire down the drain, feel out the blockage and attempt to remove it with the wire. Don’t be alarmed if you pull up loads of hair mixed with soap scum, as is often the case!
5: Use a plunger
If using a wire hanger doesn't work, try using a plunger. However, a traditional toilet plunger may not work well - you’ll be better off with a plunger designed specifically for shower drains.
To use a plunger, partially fill the shower tray with warm, soapy water and place the plunger over the drain. Then, administer a few hard plunges, ensuring you keep the plunger straight and well-aligned with the drain.
6: Use a plumbing snake
If the above fails, you’re probably looking at a deeper blockage.
A plumbing snake is a long, coiled tool that can be used to break up and remove blockages from deep within the drain. Insert the snake into the drain, lower it until you feel resistance, twist it to screw/drill it into the blockage, and unscrew and pull to forcibly clear the obstruction.
7: Chemical cleaners
You can buy various chemical cleaners to help unblock drains. Look for a product designed specifically for shower drains.
Which magazine reviews some of the best chemical shower cleaning products here. Always read the directions before using.
How to prevent shower flooding
1: Install a shower strainer
A shower strainer is a barrier that sits over the plughole. It will collect hair, soap scum and other large dirt particles, preventing them from clogging the drain.
Investing in a high-quality shower strainer or hair catcher is the single best thing you can do to prevent the drain from blocking.
2: Clean and maintain your shower
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your shower can prevent scum buildup, which will help protect the drain from blockages.
3: Be mindful of what you put down the drain
Avoid putting non-biodegradable materials, such as cotton swabs, sanitary products, and wipes, down the drain, as they can cause blockages. Of course, this is unlikely in a shower drain.
If you’re covered in dirt or mud, then try to avoid flushing it all down the shower drain, as the shower drain isn’t really designed to cope with it. Instead, wash yourself down outside first!
When to call a plumber
In the vast majority of cases, you can unblock shower drains with the above methods. Invest in a good-quality strainer/hair catcher to prevent future blockages.
If all else fails, call us for a hand. Don’t resort to brute force - you might crack or dislodge pipe.
