How To Unblock Your Shower Drain (And It's Ridiculously Easy)

Shower won't drain? Use our helpful hints to banish blocked drains

Shower drains that are blocked can be a real pain. A few inches of warm water around your feet can make a shower more pleasant than any other. It can be tempting to grab a phone and call a plumber to clear out all the hair and soap that has clogged your drain. This should not be your last resort.

For blocked shower drains, plumbers are not necessary. However, specialty drain unblockers can cause severe damage to your pipes if they are used frequently. We will show you how to unblock your shower drain without causing damage or costing you the earth.

Six ways to unblock your shower head

1. Hot water

Although it is unlikely that this will unblock your shower drain, it is a good place to start. 

Pouring hot water down the blocked drain will loosen any soap scum. Boil the kettle for several minutes, then let it cool down before pouring it down. Do not boil water as too much can cause pipes to swell and distort.

2. Take the plunge

In the hopes of a quick fix, we'll start simple. A plunger can be used to draw out any blockages that are near the plughole. To make the seal stronger, add Vaseline to your plunger.

3. You know the ones!

It was only natural that white vinegar would eventually rise to the surface. Fill a cup with baking powder and pour it down the drain. After waiting two to three minutes, add a cup of white vinegar. The mixture should bubble up. Plug it in and allow the mixture to bubble away. After about an hour, pour hot water down the drain. This should remove any hair or gunk. Try again if it fails. If this fails, you can escalate the situation. This is an eco-friendly and less harsh method to clean your shower drains. However, it can still be quite caustic so don't do it too often.

4. It's all down the drain

If all else fails, you will need to climb into the drain and remove any obstructions yourself. You will need to remove the plughole cover - there may be a screw that holds it in or a flat-head screwdriver. Use a flashlight to check the area and make sure the blockage is visible. To pull it out, you can use a hook. To get rid of the blockage, you can straighten a wire coat hanger by using the hook part. If that fails to remove the clog, you can use a plumber's snake to insert it into the drain. Push it in until the drain clog is reached, then turn the handle to pull it out.

5. Chemical warfare

This is a stubborn blockage. We've already tried physical and gentle cajoling. Now we need to resort to the last resort. A variety of drain unblockers can be found at your local DIY store or supermarket. The instructions on the bottle will tell you how to flush the drain and then your blockage should disappear. This is not a good option and should only be used as a last resort. It will cause corrosion to your pipes.

6. The professionals

You can't do anything but call a plumber. Although it is unlikely that a blocked drain will occur, it is worth calling a plumber if you have tried all of the above.