How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain: 5 Methods That Actually Work

It takes a long time for your bathtub to drain. Alternatively, it doesn’t even drain at all. You have to stand in dirty water after every shower you take. In this tutorial, we will look at how to unclog bathtub drain in 5 easy steps. Start with the easiest step first. Go to the next step if that doesn’t work. The most common causes of clogging in bathtubs are hair and soap. If the water is draining slowly, professional drain cleaning can help remove buildup deeper in the pipe.

What Causes a Clogged Bathtub Drain?

Clogging of most bathtub drains happens as a result of soap and hair. Hair will always find its way into the drain as you take a shower. The soap will stick to the hair and combine with it in the pipe to form a ball that blocks the water flow.

Below are the causes of a clogged tub drain:

• Hair: both short and long hair cover the stopper and pipe.
• Soap scum: this is a sticky soap scum created by the bar soap in the pipes.
• Mineral deposits: minerals in the water tend to build up on the pipe surfaces.
• Foreign objects: bottle caps, razor blade covers and pieces of toys can get stuck in the drain.
• Bathtub oils and other bathtub products: these oils will cover pipe traps and trap hair.
• Old or damaged pipes: cracks, rusting and root growth in the main line hinder water flow.

Slow drainage is the first sign that something is wrong. Fix the slow drain before it becomes a major headache. For recurring blockages, clogged drain repair can help address the cause before it worsens. It is much easier to fix a small plug than a big one. If you have such issues in other areas of the bathroom, you may want to check out how to unclog a shower drain.

How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain (5 Methods Ranked)

There is no simpler way to unclog bathtub drain than by manually cleaning out the hair. It is important to understand that hair is the issue. Hair causes the majority of problems with household plumbing. If that fails, move on to the next option from the list.

Do one method at a time. Run hot water after each method. If the water drains fast, the clog is gone.

Method 1: Remove Hair by Hand

Extracting hair manually is the fastest way to unblock a hair-filled drain. Mostly, the hair is found beneath the stopper. No special equipment is required to accomplish this task.

What you will require: rubber gloves, torchlight, screwdriver, and plastic drain tool/ wire hangar.

1. Shine the torchlight inside the drain.
2. Use your fingers to extract the hair.
3. Now put the plastic drain tool or a bent wire hanger into the drain. Gently lift the drain tool to extract some more hair.
4. Rinse the stopper free of hair and soap.
5. Refit the stopper. Pour hot water for two minutes.

Additional Tip: A plastic drain tool can be bought for only a few dollars from any hardware shop. Its teeth are excellent for picking up hair.

Method 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar

The baking soda and vinegar combination will help dissolve soap and grease accumulation in the drain. This is a safe procedure for all types of pipes that people use. This will be more effective on a slow drain than a clogged drain.

1. Empty the bath of any water that might have been collected.
2. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drain.
3. Cover the drain with the drain plug or a wet cloth. The reaction will be fizzy.
4. Patience is the key! 30 minutes.
5. Pour a boiling hot pot of water into the drain.

Repeat the entire procedure if the drain still drains slowly. If after two tries the drain still drains slowly, then proceed with Method 3.

Method 3: Use a Plunger

The plunging technique involves moving the water back and forth to free the clog in the bathtub drain. It uses a cup plunger with a flat rubber cup. You should not use a toilet plunger because it cannot make a good seal on a flat bathtub surface.

1. Remove the stopper.
2. Block the overflow drain with a wet rag. The overflow drain is the round plate beneath the faucet. Blocking the overflow drain will add more pressure on the plunger.
3. Fill the bathtub with water at least 2 to 3 inches high. This ensures that the plunger cup is submerged in the water.
4. Position the plunger over the drain.
5. Move the plunger up and down rapidly about 15 to 20 times.
6. Remove the plunger. Check if the water flows down.

Important note: Never use a plunger after you have put a chemical drain cleaner in the tub. The chemicals might splash into your face and body. 

Method 4: Bathtub Drain Snake

A bathtub drain snake reaches deep blockages that a plunger misses. It travels directly into the clogged drain pipe bathtub assembly to pull out entangled hair and sludge.

For most homes, a 1/4 inch hand auger with a 25-foot cable works well for a bathtub drain.

How to Snake a Bathtub Drain Step by Step

1. Put on your rubber gloves and prepare an old towel next to the bathtub.
2. Pull out the plug. Or remove the overflow plate, which is located around the faucet, using a screwdriver. The overflow provides access to the pipe via a snake.
3. Insert the snake’s end into the drain opening.
4. Crank the handle as you push. Push the cable into the pipe.
5. Stop once you meet with resistance. You have found the blockage.
6. Rotate the handle a little bit more to catch the clog.
7. Gently pull out the snake and wipe away all hair and sludge that got stuck to the cable with the towel.
8. Flush hot water through the drain for 2-3 minutes.
9. Replace the plug or put the overflow plate back in its place.

Don’t use too much force. It may cause scratching of your bathtub or even cracking of the pipe. If you can’t go further with the snake, then there is something deeper in the pipe. Contact a plumber.

Method 5: Call a Plumber for Deep Clogs

Contact a plumber if you cannot remove the blockage yourself, or it keeps coming back. It might be a deep blockage in the main line and will need special equipment for removal. A camera drain inspection can help locate hidden clogs, while sewer line services may be needed if several fixtures are affected.

Warning signs of the problem include the following:

• Clogging the bathtub drain a few weeks after cleaning it.
• Slow draining of the sink, shower, and toilet.
• Sounds of air in the drain.
• Water in the bathtub when the toilet is flushed.
• Bad smell from the drain.

These symptoms often point to a deeper issue beyond a standard tub clog. If more than one drain is backing up, professional sewer line services may be needed. Read our complete guide on main sewer line clog signs, causes, and fixes to identify if your entire system is impacted.

Clogged drain repair in Norcross, GA. The Plumb Hero unclogs the most persistent blockages in Norcross, GA and surrounding areas. Our professional plumbers employ camera drain inspection to determine the location of the blockage and immediately perform drain cleaning or hydro jetting, which involves removing the hair, soap, and grease with high-pressure water. See all of our plumbing repair services or call us for clogged drain repair.

How to Prevent a Clogged Bathtub Drain?

The simplest and most efficient solution to stop the drain from being clogged is to install a hair catcher. Regular drain cleaning can also help remove soap scum and residue before they build up. This device is located above the drain and helps catch all the hair before it reaches the drain pipe.

Simple tips that need to be followed:

• Cleaning the hair catcher should be done twice a week.
• Brushing your hair before having a bath helps prevent so much hair from entering the drain pipe.
• Washing the stopper monthly, cleaning the soap and the hair from the plug.
• Rinsing with hot water for one minute after having a bath.
• Regular cleaning of the pipe with the help of baking soda and vinegar once a month.
• Changing the type of soap to liquid soap.
• Not leaving anything near the open drain pipe.

Key Takeaways

• Primary Cause: Hair and soap scum cause most clogged bathtub drains.
• Start Simple: Remove hair near the top by hand before trying other methods.
• Chemical Alternatives: Baking soda and vinegar clear light buildup, not full blockages.
• Right Tools: A cup plunger works better than a toilet plunger on a tub.
• Deep Clogs: Use a bathtub drain snake for deep hair blockages.
• Professional Help: Call a plumber when the clog returns repeatedly or affects multiple drains.
• Prevention: Installing a hair catcher prevents most bathtub clogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to unclog a bathtub drain?

The fastest way to unclog a bathtub drain is to remove the stopper and pull out the hair by hand. This method takes 5 to 10 minutes. Most bathtub clogs sit just under the stopper.

How do you unclog a bathtub drain full of hair?

To unclog a bathtub drain full of hair, remove the stopper first. Then pull the hair out with gloves or a plastic drain tool. For deep hair clogs, use a bathtub drain snake. Run hot water after you remove the hair.

Can I use Drano to unclog a bathtub drain?

Drano and other chemical drain cleaners are not the best choice for a bathtub drain. Strong chemicals damage old pipes over time. The chemicals also burn skin and eyes. Chemical cleaners often fail on thick hair clogs. Try hand removal, a plunger, or a drain snake first.

Why does my bathtub drain keep clogging?

Your bathtub drain keeps clogging because hair and soap build up in the pipe again and again. A clog deep in the pipe also traps new hair fast. If the drain clogs often even after cleaning, the main line has a problem. A camera drain inspection can help identify where the blockage is located. A plumber finds the cause with a camera drain inspection.

When should I call a plumber for a clogged bathtub drain?

Call a plumber for how to unclog a bathtub drain when home methods do not work. Also call a plumber when the clog comes back, many drains are slow, or water backs up into the tub. These signs point to a deeper clog in the pipe or main sewer line.