How to Clear Bathtub Drain Clogs

Build-up in the drain causes your tub to become clogged.

Bathtub drains become clogged due to soap scum, hair and other products being used while taking a shower or bath. Over time these products build up, narrowing the drain passageway and causing your bathtub to drain slowly or not at all. While one way to deal with this is to use a drain screen to catch hair, this still does not eliminate the build-up of other products being washed down the drain. Commercial products exist to remove clogs from bathtub drains, but you can also clear the drain successfully using products already in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Measuring cup
• White vinegar
• 1/2 gallon boiling water
• Chlorine bleach
• Plunger
• Old towel

Instructions

1. Pour one cup of baking soda down your bathtub drain. Follow this with one cup of white vinegar. Close the drain and allow the mixture to foam inside for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Open the drain and pour 1/2 gallon of boiling water down the drain. This will remove most clogs after they've been loosened by the baking soda and vinegar combination.

3. Measure out and pour three cups of bleach down the bathtub drain if it's still draining slowly or not at all. Leave the bleach to work on dissolving the clog for ten minutes. Rinse the bleach away with 1/2 gallon boiling water.

4. Tackle really tough bathtub drain clogs with a plunger. Plug up the overflow hole underneath the faucet with an old towel so the air pressure created by the plunger will stay in the drain. Push the plunger up and down directly over the drain hole.

5. Run hot water to see if the clog has been pushed through. Plunge the drain again if the water is draining but not as quickly as it should. Alternate plunging and running hot water to move the clog through your bathtub drain.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your unclogged drain clean by heating 1/2 cup of table salt in 4 liters of water. When the solution becomes warm, not boiling, pour it down the drain to dissolve minor build-up. Doing so on a weekly or bi-weekly basis will help to cut down on bathtub drain clogs.

• Make three attempts to remove the clog from your bathtub drain. If, after that, your drain is still clogged, call a plumber.

References

• HomeLivingAnswers.com: How To Clear Bathroom Drain Clogs
• EarthEasy.com: Non-Toxic Home Cleaning Solutions