Shower drain blockages are an all-too-common household headache that no one wants to deal with. We’ve all been there – trying to wash up in ankle-deep, dirty water because the drain can’t keep up. Or worse yet, having to call in a plumber to deal with a total clog backup. It’s unsanitary, inconvenient, and can lead to costly water damage if left unchecked for too long.
But shower drain clogs don’t have to be an inevitable nightmare. With some simple maintenance habits and preventative know-how, you can keep your shower drain flowing like a dream with minimal effort. In this guide, we’ll cover several easy tips and tricks for avoiding stubborn shower drain blockages before they even begin to form.
From using drain covers and hair catchers to establishing a routine drain cleaning schedule, these straightforward steps can save you from an unpleasant clogged shower headache. We’ll also share some economical, natural drain cleaning solutions that are tough on buildup but gentle on your pipes. With just a little proactive effort, you can steer clear of nasty shower backups and potential water damage.
Whether you’re a first-time homeowner, long-term renter, or just someone who likes to stay ahead of plumbing woes, this guide has got you covered. Follow along for the simple strategies to keep your shower drain clog-free and flowing smoothly for years to come.
Strategies for Keeping Your Shower Drain Clean
Keeping your shower drain free-flowing doesn’t require any special skills or expensive tools. With a handful of simple preventative habits and cleaning techniques, you can easily avoid nasty clogs and backups in the first place. Implement these straightforward strategies to keep things draining smoothly:
Use a Drain Cover or Strainer
One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your shower drain clog-free is by utilizing a drain cover or strainer. These inexpensive mesh or perforated covers simply sit over the drain opening to catch hair, soap scum, and other debris before it has a chance to make its way down the pipes.
Opt for a drain cover with a sturdy stainless steel or plastic construction and a fine mesh pattern to trap as much particulate matter as possible. Look for one with a wide rim that creates a slight basin to collect hair and gunk. be sure to remove the cover frequently – at least once a week – to give it a thorough cleaning and clear away the captured nastiness.
Drain covers are incredibly low-maintenance yet high-impact for shower drain protection. With one simple $5-10 purchase, you create a physical barrier against all the gunky things that commonly catalyze drain clogs. Just that easy first line of defense can drastically reduce the amount of time and effort spent dealing with clogged pipes.
Regular Cleaning
Along with using a drain cover, developing consistent cleaning habits for your shower drain is crucial for preventing blockages over time. Even with a cover, some debris will inevitably get rinsed down the drain and start accumulating. That’s why you need to get on a routine of regularly flushing out gunk and dissolved buildup.
A good rule of thumb is to give your shower drain some focused cleaning attention at least once a month. This can be as simple as removing the drain cover and using a pipe brush or zip-it tool to dislodge any gunky obstructions you can reach. Follow up by flushing with very hot water or an eco-friendly drain cleaning solution.
You can also get proactive by running really hot tap water down the drain for several minutes once a week or so. The extreme heat helps dissolve and clear away soap residue, hair, and other grimy buildup before it turns into a solid clog. Just be careful with older pipes that may not tolerate such high temperatures.
With a manageable cleaning routine, you’ll ensure your shower drain never gets overly clogged and is always primed for optimal drainage. It’s much easier to spend 5-10 minutes a month on drain cleaning than to have to deal with a full-blown, smelly backup. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way!
Minimize Soap Scum
Soap scum buildup is one of the biggest contributors to gunked up, slow-draining shower pipes over time. That grimy residue coats the interior walls of the drain, causing obstructions and nasty odors. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to cut down on soap scum accumulation.
First, consider switching to a liquid body wash or gel soap instead of a traditional bar soap. The liquid formulas rinse away much more cleanly, leaving less residual soap film behind. If you do use a bar, make sure to keep it on a well-drained soap dish and let it fully dry out between uses.
You can also minimize soap scum by giving the tub or shower walls a quick squeegee after each use. This simple 60-second step wipes away the bulk of the soap film before it has a chance to really stick and build up. A weekly deeper cleaning with a tub and tile spray cleaner will further prevent major scum accumulation.
Finally, be diligent about clearing away any hair or debris from surfaces after each shower when it’s easy to wipe away, before it gets integrated into dried soap scum layers. With some basic cleaning habits, you’ll have far less scummy gunk getting rinsed down the drain.
Hot Water Flush
Sometimes, despite your best preventative efforts, some hair, dirt, and sludge will still make its way into your shower drain pipes. When this happens, your best weapon for clearing it out is a good old-fashioned hot water flush.
Get in the routine of pouring a few kettles’ worth of piping hot tap water down the shower drain every few weeks. The extreme heat helps to dissolve and re-liquify any gunky buildup that’s начала to form, flushing it all away and leaving your pipes cleared out.
You can take it a step further by removing the drain cover first and using a pipe brush or zipper tool to dislodge as much of the visible buildup as possible. Then, when you pour the very hot water down afterward, it has a clear path to wash away anything your brush loosened up.
Just be cautious about water temperature if you have older pipes that may not withstand extreme heat well. Stick to very hot tap water rather than boiling water straight off the stove. With some basic hot water maintenance flushes, you’ll melt away nasty drain buildup before it ever turns into a full-blown clogged nightmare.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Treatment
For an affordable, environmentally-friendly way to dissolve drain buildup, try the classic baking soda and vinegar approach. This two-ingredient combo creates a fizzy reaction that can eat through grimy sludge lining your pipes.
Start by pouring about 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Let it bubble up and do its thing for 10-15 minutes, using a drain cover or rag to contain the fizzy reaction.
While it’s working, you can use a pipe brush or zipper tool to dislodge as much of the visible gunk as possible from the drain opening. This will help clear a path for the baking soda and vinegar solution to penetrate deeper.
After 15 minutes, flush the drain thoroughly with very hot tap water to wash away the dissolved debris and any remaining baking soda/vinegar mixture. For tough clogs, you may need to repeat this treatment a few times, letting it sit for 30 minutes or more.
This natural drain cleaning method is inexpensive, non-toxic, and surprisingly effective at breaking down hair, soap scum, and other organic matter buildup. Make it part of your monthly drain cleaning routine for lasting clog prevention.
Avoid Dropping Small Items
It’s amazing how easily small items like jewelry, hair ties, washcloths, and even kids’ toys can slip down a shower drain and immediately cause a clog. These objects can get stuck in the bend of the drain pipe, catching hair and debris to quickly create a full blockage.
Be vigilant about keeping anything but water out of the shower drain at all times. Make it a habit to always remove small items from the tub/shower area before getting in. Thoroughly check for fallen hair ties, Bobby pins, or anything else that could have slipped in accidentally.
Teach kids the importance of keeping toys and items out of the shower drain as well. You may even want to use a drain cover or strainer to doubly ensure nothing falls in unnoticed. It’s much easier to prevent dropping items than it is to try dislodging them once they’re stuck!
If something does happen to fall down the drain, don’t run the water excessively which could push it further in. Try using a zipper tool or plunger right away to dislodge and retrieve the item before it causes a clog. If that fails, you’ll likely need to remove the drain cover and use a snake or coat hanger tool to grab the item.
By staying vigilant about keeping all objects clear of the drain, you eliminate a very common yet preventable cause of shower backups. Just a little bit of caution in this area can save you major headaches down the line.
Brush Hair Before Showering
For anyone with long hair, this simple pre-shower routine can drastically cut down on the amount of hair going down the drain. Before you even step into the shower, take a few minutes to thoroughly brush your hair over a trash can or bag.
Use a wide-tooth comb or brush designed for detangling to thoroughly work through any knots or tangles. You’ll be amazed at how much loose hair is pulled out during this process – hair that would have otherwise ended up immediately shedding down the drain during your shower.
Make hair brushing before showering a habit, and you’ll reduce the amount of hair entering the drain pipes by a huge amount. The less hair that bypasses the drain cover, the less likely it is to catch on existing buildup and create a clog over time.
For extra protection, you can even do a second quick brushing or pick through with your fingers while your hair is wet and lathered up in the shower. This dislodges any loose strands still clinging on before the water washes them down.
This deceptively simple pre-shower brushing habit is one of the most effective things you can do to prevent hair-related drain clogs, especially for those with long, thick hair. Just a few minutes of brushing keeps a surprising amount of hair out of the pipes.
Professional Drain Cleaning
Despite your best preventative efforts with drain covers, regular flushing, and brushing hair before showering, shower drain clogs are still sometimes inevitable, especially in older homes with aging pipes. When you do find yourself dealing with a stubborn, severe clog, it may be time to call in a professional drain cleaning service.
Drain cleaning companies utilize high-pressure water jetting systems and rotating augur cables that can powerfully clear out even the most formidable of drain blockages. Their commercial-grade equipment is much more heavy-duty than any DIY drain snake or liquid cleaner you can buy.
Having your shower’s drain lines professionally cleared by a plumber at least once every year or two is recommended to remove accumulated buildup that basic maintenance can’t fix. This thorough, high-pressure cleaning restores maximum water flow and totally refreshes aging drain pipes.
The pros can also use a drain camera inspection system to precisely locate the positioning of clogs deep within the pipes. They can then use targeted techniques to thoroughly dissolve and dislodge any obstructions.
While professional drain cleaning does come at a higher cost, it’s an investment that extends the lifespan of your plumbing by removing stubborn blockages and buildup that inevitably occurs over time. Consider it an essential part of home maintenance to avoid having to deal with major clogged drain headaches.
Educate Household Members
If you live with roommates, family members or frequent guests, it’s important to educate them on proper shower drain care and maintenance. Clogs often occur due to lack of knowledge about what should and shouldn’t go down drains.
Take the time to explain the importance of using a drain cover, not dropping items down the drain, minimizing soap scum buildup, and brushing out loose hair before showering. Make sure everyone understands which drain cleaning products are safe to use and how often pipes should be flushed.
You can even print out the shower drain clog prevention tips and post them somewhere visible as a reminder. The more vigilant everyone is about adopting good drain habits, the fewer surprise blockages you’ll encounter.
Check for Minor Clogs Regularly
Don’t wait until you have a full-blown clog backup to investigate the shower drain. Get in the routine of frequently checking for early signs of slower drainage or blockages that are just starting to form.
When you notice water pooling up and draining more sluggishly than normal, that’s your cue that some buildup is occurring and needs to be cleared before it escalates. Remove the drain cover and use a drain stick or zip-it tool to dislodge hair and gunk you may be able to manually pull out.
Catching these minor clogs early on saves you from having to deal with a nastier, more stubborn full blockage later down the line. Make it a habit to check on shower drain flow rate every couple of weeks so you can stay ahead of issues.
Use Enzymatic Cleaners
While baking soda and vinegar treatments are excellent for basic drain cleaning, you may need to upgrade to enzymatic cleaner products for tougher hair and organic matter buildups.
These cleaners contain concentrations of multi-strain enzymes and bacteria that rapidly break down materials like hair, soap scum, paper, and other organic matter causing obstructions. The enzymes essentially “eat” through the clog over time by digesting it.
Look for eco-friendly, bio-enzymatic drain cleaner formulas that are safe for all plumbing systems. Follow the product directions for best results, typically allowing it to work overnight before flushing with hot water.
Enzymatic cleaners can powerfully dissolve even the most stubborn of hair clogs and grimy sludge without harsh chemical action that damages pipes. Use them monthly as part of your routine drain cleaning regimen.
By implementing these simple shower drain maintenance strategies, you’ll save yourself from ever having to deal with a majorly clogged drain nightmare. From using covers to catch hair and debris, to regularly flushing pipes and applying natural cleaning solutions, these tips make clog prevention incredibly easy.
Remember, a little bit of routine care and proactive effort goes a long way. Establishing good shower drain habits means fewer clogs, less plumbing headaches, and pipes that keep draining effortlessly for years to come. Follow this guide, and you can say goodbye to that dreadful feeling of showering in ankle-deep backup!
When to Call the Professionals
Despite your best efforts at routine drain cleaning and clog prevention, there may come a time when you’re dealing with a shower drain blockage that just won’t budge. Whether it’s an extremely stubborn clog or accumulated buildup deep within aging pipes, some situations call for the expertise of a professional plumber.
If you find yourself facing any of the following scenarios, it’s wise to skip the DIY approach and get an experienced drain cleaning company involved:
Recurring Frequent Clogs
If you seem to get shower drain clogs on a monthly or even weekly basis no matter how much you treat the drain, this signals a bigger underlying issue. Repeated minor blockages are often a sign of excessive buildup, broken pipes, or pipes that may be improperly pitched allowing debris to settle.
Complete Drain Blockage
When the shower drain is 100% clogged with absolutely no water draining at all, this warrants professional assistance. At-home snaking tools and cleaners may not have the power to bore through a complete solid blockage. Pros have stronger jetting and cabling equipment.
Presence of Harmful Clogs
Certain drain clogging culprits like excessive grease, food debris, sanitary items, or even small children’s toys require professional removal to avoid potential piping damage or contamination. Don’t try to dissolve these items yourself.
Slow Drains In Multiple Locations
If you notice slow drainage issues spanning multiple bathrooms or other drain locations in the home, there may be a mainline sewer clog that needs to be rootered. This widespread problem is best left to plumbers with whole-line cable machines.
Recurring Mystery Clogs
In older homes with aging pipe systems, clogs can keep mysteriously returning due to mineral buildup, pipe corrosion, or tree root infiltration. Getting a professional video drain inspection can illuminate these hidden issues.
Essentially, if you have a clog that is completely unyielding to typical drain cleaning methods, it’s time to call in the professionals. Plumbers have specialized tools like hydro-jetting, drain snakes, and camera inspections to diagnose and eliminate even the worst of clogs.
Don’t keep struggling with recurring major drain blockages on your own. A drain cleaning service will get your showers and pipes flowing smoothly again in no time using their expert techniques and equipment. Avoid potential piping issues or water damage by knowing when to call in the pros.
Keep Your Showers Flowing Freely with CPI Plumbing
Implementing the simple drain maintenance tips from this guide will go a long way in preventing frustrating shower clogs and backups. From using drain covers and brushing out hair before showering, to monthly hot water flushes and natural cleaning treatments, these strategies make clog prevention easy and headache-free.
However, even with diligent homeowner care, sometimes you’ll inevitably face a stubborn shower drain clog that requires more heavy-duty professional intervention. When you find yourself battling a blockage that just won’t budge or suspect deeper piping issues at play, it’s time to call in the experts at CPI Plumbing.
As the Skagit County area’s trusted plumbing authorities, our skilled technicians have the specialized tools and expertise to tackle any shower drain predicament. Using state-of-the-art hydro-jetting and cabling equipment, we can power through even the most formidable of clogs with ease. Our drain camera inspections also allow us to get a comprehensive look inside pipes to identify problem areas like buildup, corrosion, or invasive tree roots.
From routine annual drain cleaning services that refresh aging pipes to emergency 24/7 clog clearing, CPI Plumbing has you covered. Our commitment to exceptional customer service means you can always count on upfront pricing, tidy workspaces, and professional technicians you can trust in your home.
Don’t let shower drain disasters get you down – keep our number handy for all your plumbing needs! Call us today at (360) 822-9306 to schedule service or get advice from one of our friendly plumbing experts. With CPI Plumbing on your side, you can leave clogged drain headaches in the past and get back to enjoying showers that drain like a dream.
