If you’re dealing with a shower that’s turning into a mini swimming pool, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Standing water in your shower drain is actually a super common problem, and we’re going to walk through exactly how to fix it.
First things first: why does this happen? Well, think about everything that goes down your drain during a shower. Hair, soap, shampoo, maybe even that bottle cap you accidentally dropped… all this stuff builds up over time until water starts backing up.
DIY Shower Drain Cleaning
1. Getting Started
Wait for the standing water to drain away (I know, it might take a while). Once it’s gone, grab your supplies – you’ll want some basic tools like screwdrivers and pliers, plus baking soda and white vinegar. Trust me, having everything ready makes this way less of a hassle.
2. Remove Your Drain Cover
This part’s pretty straightforward. You’ve probably got either a grate with screws or a twist-off stopper. If it’s screwed down, just grab a screwdriver and take those screws out (Pro tip: put them somewhere safe – those tiny screws love to disappear!). For twist-off stoppers, just grip and turn counterclockwise. Some have a little set screw you’ll need to loosen first. Once the cover is off, you’ll have better access to the drain for cleaning.
3. Remove Hair and Visible Buildup
Now for the gross, but necessary part. Once you’re in, you’ll probably see the culprit – usually a lovely combination of hair and gunk. I know it’s not pleasant, but grab some pliers and pull out whatever you can see. Pour some hot water down the shower drain afterward and see if that did the trick.
4. Deep Cleaning the Drain
Here’s my favorite DIY fix: baking soda and white vinegar (yep, the same stuff from your kitchen). If that doesn’t work, you might need to break out a plumber’s snake.
a. Using Baking Soda and White Vinegar
A natural method using baking soda and vinegar can break down minor clogs:
- Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the drain.
- Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
- Follow with another cup of vinegar to create a fizzing reaction.
- Let the mixture sit for 30 seconds to work through the buildup.
- Rinse with hot water and check if the water drains more freely.
This method works well for soft clogs caused by soap and grime buildup.
b. Using a Plumber’s Snake
For more stubborn clogs, use a plumber’s snake or a homemade wire tool:
- Feed the snake into the drain until you feel resistance.
- Twist or rotate the snake to dislodge the clog.
- Pull the tool out slowly, bringing any debris with it.
- Flush the drain with water to clear out any remaining particles.
This method is effective for tougher clogs that baking soda and vinegar can’t fix. If you haven’t used a plumber’s snake before or are uncomfortable trying it on your own, don’t hesitate to call a plumbing expert at Benjamin Franklin to clean the shower drain for you!
5. Tough-Working Solvents
Still stuck? You might need to use a commercial drain cleaner. Products like Green Goblin or Drano Max Gel can work wonders, but please read the instructions carefully – these are powerful chemicals and you don’t want to mess around with them.
6. Tips to Reduce Future Buildup
Want to avoid doing this again next month? Here’s what plumbing professionals at Benjamin Franklin recommend:
- Get a good drain cover to catch hair (seriously, this is a game-changer).
- Give your drain a monthly baking soda and vinegar treatment.
- Clean up any visible hair after each shower.
- Oh, and never mix vinegar with bleach (unless you want to create a hazardous gas cloud – which you definitely don’t!).
By following these simple habits, you’ll reduce the chances of clogs forming in the future.
And there you have it! A clean shower drain doesn’t have to be complicated. With these steps, you can tackle most clogs yourself and save that emergency plumber call to Ben Franklin for another day. Give it a try – you might be surprised at how satisfying it is to fix this yourself!