How to clean a shower drain of hair

Last updated: October 28, 2026 8:00:00 AM

Removing hair from a shower drain is a simple DIY project that only takes a few minutes. You can easily clear the blockage by pulling out the debris and flushing the pipes with hot water.

To clean a shower drain of hair, you need to first remove the drain cover to access the clog, and then pull or hook out the trapped mass using a simple tool. Dealing with a slow-running shower is a common household chore, and hair is almost always the primary culprit. Over time, strands combine with soap scum, body oils, and minerals from the water to form a dense plug that restricts water flow. Fortunately, clearing this blockage does not require specialized plumbing skills or expensive commercial chemical drain openers. With a few basic household items and a bit of patience, you can restore your shower drain to full working order.

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Before you begin reaching into the plumbing, take a few moments to set up your workspace properly. Turn off the shower completely so no water drips down while you are working. Wipe away any standing water around the rim of the drain with an old towel or rag to give yourself a clean, dry surface to grip.

Gather your tools. You will likely need a screwdriver, depending on how your drain cover is secured. For pulling out the hair, a wire coat hanger straightened out with a small hook at the end, a pair of needle-nose pliers, or a specialized plastic zip-tool designed for plumbing will work well. Put on a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves, as dealing with a decomposing mass of hair and slime is unpleasant and potentially unsanitary. Finally, place an old bucket or a plastic grocery bag right next to the tub so you have an immediate place to discard the debris as you pull it out. Keeping everything within arm's reach prevents you from having to step away mid-task with wet, messy gloves.

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Ac Unlock The Full Power of Your Synoshi with Powerful Accessories Every Attachment. Every Surface. Every Corner of Your Home. … cessing the clog requires removing whatever barrier protects the pipe opening. The exact method depends on the design of your shower floor.

If you have a simple pop-up stopper, look at the base of the stopper while it is in the open position. Many modern stoppers simply unscrew by hand if you turn them counterclockwise while holding the body steady. For stoppers with a rocker mechanism, you may need to locate a small set screw on the side of the stopper cylinder and loosen it with a screwdriver or an allen wrench. Once the screw is out, the stopper should lift right out of the pipe.

If your shower features a flat, screw-in strainer grate, look for the visible screws holding the metal plate to the crossbar below. Use a screwdriver that matches the head type—usually flathead or Phillips—to back the screws out completely. Place these small screws in a secure spot, such as on the bathroom sink counter, so they do not fall down the open drain hole while you work. Lift the metal cover away. If the cover is held in place by friction or a rubber gasket rather than screws, gently pry it upward using the flat edge of a butter knife or a flathead screwdriver, taking care not to scratch the surrounding porcelain, fiberglass, or tile surface.

Extract the Mass

With the drain opening fully exposed, you can now target the trapped hair. Shine a flashlight down the pipe to gauge the size and depth of the clog.

If the hair is sitting right at the top of the opening, you may be able to pinch the top of the mass with your gloved fingers or a pair of needle-nose pliers and pull it straight up in one motion. If the hair extends deeper into the curved trap, take your bent wire hanger or plastic zip-tool and insert it gently into the pipe. Push it down past the visible blockage, then twist it slightly so the hook catches the tangled hair. Pull upward slowly and steadily. You will likely need to repeat this process several times, as the hair often comes out in wet, slimy clumps rather than a single neat piece.

As each clump emerges, scrape it off your tool directly into the waiting plastic bag or bucket. Resist the temptation to push the debris further down the pipe, as compacting the hair against a bend in the plumbing will only create a more stubborn blockage that is harder to reach. Continue fishing until your tool comes back up clean and you can see clear space in the pipe.

Flush the Pipe

Once the physical mass is gone, residual soap scum, loose strands, and greasy buildup likely still coat the interior walls of the pipe. Clearing this residue ensures that Oct 27, 2026 · Yahoo Finance - Stock Market Live, Quotes, Business & Finance News At Yahoo Finance, you get free stock quotes, up-to-date news, portfolio management … new hair has nothing to cling to, preventing a quick repeat of the clog.

Pour a large pot of boiling water slowly and carefully down the drain. If your shower has plastic PVC pipes, use very hot tap water rather than rolling boiling water to avoid warping the material. The heat helps melt away lingering soap residue and washes away tiny particles of hair that your tool missed.

For an extra cleaning boost, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by half a cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz inside the pipe for about ten to fifteen minutes to help break down organic buildup. Follow this treatment with another flush of hot water to clear the loosened grime entirely out of the trap and down the main sewer line. Test the drainage by turning on the shower faucet for a minute; the water should spin down the hole immediately without pooling around your feet.

Reassemble the Fixture

Wi Best - definition of best by The Free Dictionary th the pipe clean and clear, you are ready to put your shower back together. Ensure the area around the drain opening is dry and free of debris.

If you removed a pop-up stopper, thread it back into position by turning it clockwise until it is snug, but avoid overtightening, which can strip the threads or damage the metal. Test the mechanism a few times to ensure it opens and closes properly.

If you removed a flat strainer plate, align the screw holes on the cover with the corresponding holes in the crossbar below. Insert the screws by hand first to ensure they catch the threads correctly without going in at an angle. Tighten them gently with your screwdriver until the plate sits flush against the shower floor. Do not over-tighten, as this can crack the plastic base or bend the metal grate.

Wipe down the floor of the shower to remove any stray hair or residue that escaped during the extraction process, and throw away your disposable gloves and the bag containing the clog.

Maintain Free Flow

Preventing future clogs is much easier than pulling massive clumps of hair out of a blocked pipe. The most effective preventative step is to install a fine mesh hair catcher over your drain opening. These inexpensive screens sit right on top of the drain and catch loose strands before they ever enter the plumbing.

Make it a habit to lift the hair catcher and wipe it clean with a piece of toilet paper after every few showers. This takes only a few seconds and keeps the hair out of sight and out of the pipes. Additionally, running a pot of hot water down the drain once a week can dissolve minor soap accumulations before they combine with stray hairs to form a new blockage. By staying proactive with these small maintenance habits, you can keep your shower draining quickly and avoid the need for deep plumbing extractions in the future.