Cleaning and Unclogging a Shower Drain

Cleaning and Unclogging a Shower Drain

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As you try to take a shower, water may be spinning around your ankles due to hair clumps, soap scum buildup, and the little toy bits your child promised to keep out of the bathtub. Sometimes shower drains get clogged, but you don’t want to let them get worse. Make bath and shower time more enjoyable by following this guide on how to clean a shower during your house cleaning in Los Alamitos.

What Causes Clogged Shower Drains?

There is a tendency for hair and debris to build up in shower drains over time, especially in those without drain covers. A drain can become clogged with substances such as soap scum, hair clumps, bath oil, and other substances as they build up and harden, which makes it harder for the water to escape. In addition, dropping objects down drains such as the cap from your face-wash bottle might cause them to clog.

Indicators of a Clogged Shower Drain

You will be aware if your drain is clogged. A blockage or object may be seen in the drain, or the vicinity of the drain may smell unpleasant. This signals that you need to do a deep cleaning of your drainage. 

Before doing the deep cleaning, observe these indicators:

  • Water gradually rises around your feet when you take a shower.

  • Water drains more slowly.

  • The drain is producing unpleasant odors that resemble sewage or rotting eggs

Five Techniques for Cleaning and Unclogging a Shower Drain

Unclogging and deep cleaning a drain can be done in a number of methods, including using a drain snake or your hands to physically remove the blockage and using a standard cleaner to break up the buildup. 

The following instructions will teach you how to clear a clogged shower drain, but if they don’t seem to be working, call a plumber to rule out any more significant plumbing problems.

1. Remove the Clog by Hand

Without using any specialized cleaner or tools, you might be able to see and remove the blockage. You can put on a pair of cleaning gloves and reach into the drain to remove whatever is causing the clog, which might make you uncomfortable.

2. Use DIY Remedies

You probably already have the materials around your home, but there are a few homemade solutions or cleaners that can assist unclog the drain.

  • Citric Acid with Baking Soda

Did you know that baking soda and vinegar may be combined and may be used not only as the best housekeeping cleaners but also as drain declogging agents? There are many places in the house that can be cleaned with baking soda and vinegar. Pour hot water down the drain first but not boiling water. Next, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain.

Allow the baking soda and vinegar to react and bubble for 10 to 15 minutes. Add more hot water to the drain to rinse it away.

  • Bleach

Bleach as an active cleaner helps in eliminating offensive mold or mildew in the drain. Mix 2 cups of boiling water with 1/2 cup of bleach. After that, pour the bleach solution down the drain and let it sit for an hour. Rinse the drain with hot water in order to remove any remaining debris.

  • Hot Water

For lesser blockages, hot water can also be used as a cleaner. It works best when combined with baking soda, vinegar, or bleach to remove clogging.

3. Add a Commercial Drain Cleaner.

You can try to unclog and dissolve shower drain clogs with a commercial drain cleaner, but you should be informed of its benefits and drawbacks. In older homes, they can lead to corrosion and pipe wear and strain. If you choose this option, clear the drain as directed on the product label.

4. Utilize a Drain Snake.

During a deep cleaning, an adaptable cleaner called a drain snake may reach into the drain to catch and get rid of clogs. Although power snakes can clear clogs several feet down, you can also find shorter, plastic snakes that are more effective on clogs just at the drain opening.

Push the snake into the drain with caution. When you encounter resistance, turn the snake around. To remove the residue or capture the blockage, keep moving the snake around. Retract the snake as soon as there is no longer any resistance.

5. Plunge It

Plungers aren’t simply for use in toilets. In reality, a lot of the little plungers you see in the market work best as cleaners for clearing clogs from the shower and sink drains. Make sure the plunger you have set aside for the shower drain is clean before you begin.

Close or cover the shower drain. Then, add enough water to the tub or shower to cover the plunger’s base. In doing so, the plunger is able to create a tight seal over the drain. The drain cover can be opened or taken off. Place the plunger over the drain right away, before the water runs out. Repeatedly pull up and down on the plunger. If the initial try doesn’t work, try it again a few times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you know that baking soda and vinegar may be combined and may be used not only as best housekeeping cleaners but also as drain declogging agents? There are many places in the house that can be cleaned with baking soda and vinegar. Pour hot water down the drain first but not boiling water. Next, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain.

For lesser blockages, hot water can also be used as a cleaner. It works best when combined with baking soda, vinegar, or bleach to remove clogging. When deep cleaning, just be careful not to use hot water if you have PVC pipes because it can melt or deform the plastic piping.

Conclusion

Drain odors can be caused by clogs, but they may also indicate other issues, such as tainted water. Bacteria in the pipes that feed on detritus, like hair strands or soap scum, can also produce unpleasant odors. If unappealing odors are not eliminated by deep cleaning the drain—or if you think you can’t do it on a regular basis or simply don’t have time—you can hire a local company for house cleaning in Los Alamitos or a plumber nearest to you. Book now or call (888) 624-4962 to have Maggy Maid handle it for you, so your home smells as fresh as it looks!

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