How to Unclog a Bathtub

Bathtubs are prone to drain clogs because of hair, soap scum buildup and other materials that get stuck in the pipes. Bathtubs are also a place where you might be hesitant to use harsh commercial drain cleaners because of the toxic residue that can be left behind. There are many ways to unclog a bathtub drain that do not require any dangerous or harsh chemicals.

Things You'll Need

• Wire coat hanger
• Plunger
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• Enzyme cleaner

Instructions

1. Take off the drain cover and take a look inside. Pull out anything that is reachable inside the drain. Use a straightened coat hanger to pull out anything that is too far to reach with fingers.

2. Use a toilet plunger to unclog a drain with a deeper clog. Put water into the bathtub to allow the plunger some suction. Unclog the drain as if it were a toilet.

3. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1/2 cup of baking soda.

4. Pour the mixture in the drain and allow it to sit, sometimes for as long as several hours.

5. Allow the mixture to break up the clog and then pour a pot of boiling water to wash it down the drain.

6. Repeat this procedure a few times to make sure the entire clog is gone.

7. Use a commercially available enzyme cleaner, which is often available in natural food stores. Use the enzyme cleaner to eat away any organic material that is clogging the drain.

Tips & Warnings

• Continue using the enzyme solution after the drain has cleared to create an active enzyme community in the drain, which will help keep a new clog from forming in the future.