How to Unclog a Tub Drain

Clean a tub drain with a plastic tool or a coat hanger.

It can be frustrating to have a clogged tub drain. The water backs up and makes it practically impossible to clean the tub. Most tub clogs are caused by hair stuck in the drain trap, relatively close to the drain opening. This kind of clog is easiest to remove using a barbed plastic drain-cleaning tool or a wire coat hanger. The same technique works for unclogging a sink drain.

Things You'll Need

• Barbed plastic drain cleaning tool or wire coat hanger
• Pliers (for coat hanger)

Instructions

1. Remove the drain cover. Some are very easy to remove and just pop out. Other covers may need to be unscrewed. If the drain has a metal basket that's not easy to remove, it's likely that the holes are large enough to clean the drain with the basket in place.

2. Insert the pointed end of the barbed tool into the drain opening, feeding it down until the handle of the tool is at the opening. If you can't get the tool all the way in due to the clog, just push it as far as it will go. To use a coat hanger, cut and straighten the wire, using pliers, then form a small hook on one end of the wire; insert this end into the drain as far as it will go.

3. Wiggle the barbed tool to help it grab the clog, or twist the wire to do the same. Slowly pull out the tool or wire to extract the hair clog. Repeat the process as needed to remove any additional material, then flush the drain with a full blast of water from the tub faucet. Replace the drain cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Pull the Zipit out slowly so that you are not splashed by sewer water and do not lose the clog.

• Reinsert the Zip it after cleaning it, as many times as is necessary to unclog the tub drain.

• Use a drain cover to prevent future tub drain clogs.

• Thoroughly clean your Zip it tool and keep it in a safe place-- away from children.

• Never use the Zip it to unclog a tub drain if you have recently poured chemicals down the drain. The chemicals will splash on you and could burn you.

• The Zip it tool has sharp points on it to unclog the tub drain. Do not hurt yourself on it and keep it out of the reach of children.

Resources

• Zip-It