How to Get Hair out of Shower Drain

Sometimes while using the shower different things clog in the shower; like soap scum, hair clump and tissue slice. It does not mean that you avoid taking a shower, just find out ways of draining and unclogging. Search out how to get the hair out of the shower drain and start working on draining the shower. You also do not need to pay a professional plumber for it, it is a very and simple task do it yourself by following the mentioned techniques, remedies and tools.

Reasons for Clogging Hair in Shower

The major reason for clogging hair in the shower is carelessness. You have to be very careful before and after taking a shower. If you throw any piece of shopper, tissue slices, soap scum, hair clumps etc. it must happen and the water you use while taking a shower may rise to your ankles. 

People often ignore this thing in haste and the draining pipe gets more and more clogging. If the case is so with you, do not panic and start collecting tools and safety measures for draining your shower.

What is Needed?

You should take the following preservative measures to avoid any damage to your skin and collect the following tools for unclogging the shower: -

• Hand gloves
• Safety cloths
• Screwdriver
• Plier
• Tweezers
• Flashlight
• Tape
• Dustbin
• Tissue roll

While using tools and chemicals the most important thing is wearing safety clothes, hand gloves and safety glasses to avoid the risks. Chemicals may not only harm you but also the nearby children. So it is advised to keep children away. Using tools like wire hooks and tweezers may also harm children so keep everything away from the rich children.

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Methods to bring hair out of shower drain

The problem of getting hair out of the shower drain can be cured in many ways. The answer to this question cannot be abrupt rather it requires discussing different methods, precautions, risks involved and so on. However, there are the following situation and methods used to get the hair out of the shower drain: -

Hair is clogged on the Surface, Use Own Hands

The first most effective and safe way is using only hands. If you see the hair on the surface of the draining pipe, it is very easy to remove. Just unpack your hands and gloves and wear them to avoid bacterial and fungus attacks. If doing so start scratching the clogged hair and trash it in a dustbin. It would be better to use a glass of hot water before and after the process to ensure the cleaning process is well. You can use also a toothpick or any other pointed stick for the surface pores of the pipe.

Hair is not Clogged on the Surface, Use Tools

If you try your own hands, something is left out or if the clogged hairs are not on the surface you should take different tools. The usage of such tools is the manual and natural methods or draining. The tools used to get the hair out of the shower drain are discussed below in detail.

a. Pliers and Tweezers

If you have clogged hair a little bit to the inner of the draining pipe and is out of reach of hands, you should use pliers and tweezers. Wear your hand gloves, take a screwdriver and loosen the screws. Remove the cover and start using pliers and tweezers. The hair within the reach of these tools will be easily taken out and then carefully put on the cover and tighten the screws. If still there is hair or the hair is there then you are suggested to use the next tool.

b. Use Wire Hook or Hanger to Get Hair Out of the Shower Drain

Wire hook or wire hanger is the best thing to get hair out of shower drain. Take on your hand gloves and make a wire hook or wire hanger yourself. Take a long wire, twist one side of it like a hook and the other side like a half square. The former side will be used for getting out the hair whereas the later will be used for a strong grip to hold, pull or push the wire in the pipe.

c. Hair Snaking Tool or Plumbing Snake

Other best and effective way of getting out the clogged hair is the use of a hair snake, which is also termed as Auger method. You can get it online or in every nearby hardware shop. It has thorn-like projections for catching and firmly holding the hair. Extend the hair snake in the shower draining pipe and push it with care, give it a few twirls and pull it out. Repeat the process twice or thrice and enjoy using your shower. Wear your hand gloves be careful with the thorns and do not hurt yourself.

d. Plunger For suction

The safest method of all but only for less clogged hair is the suction method done with the use of a plunger. A plunger has a cup-like shape at the end for pressure and suction. If the hair clogged in the shower drain is not much, start your faucet and collect water. Fit the plunger to the opening of the shower drain and push it repeatedly. Do so more than three times and the pipe will be all set for water draining.

e. Fix a Nail to the Head of a Wooden Stick

If you are left with nothing and also running out of time for the office, a business meet up or any other function and faces the problem of draining in the shower. Use the manual and simplest method for getting out the hair. Just fix a nail to the head of a wooden stick and start cleaning the draining pipe carefully. The risk involved in this method is if you are not vigilant while using it, you may probably damage the pipe if is made of plastic.

Risk Involved in The Use of Tools for Getting Hair out of Shower Drain

Using these tools is helpful and success is guaranteed. However, there are some risks involved in using these tools. The only big risk is that of damage and leakage. If you are not careful or in haste you may probably damage the shower drain and there are high chances of leakage.

3) Usage of Chemicals

If the clogged hair is out of reach and using tools is useless, there is another method of getting hair out of the shower. Different chemicals are used to react with the blocked hair and remove it. The chemicals used for such purposes are explained below.

Preservative Measures for Using Chemicals

Always prefer using a plastic funnel, It is the most basic safety measure that must be taken into account before pouring chemicals into any pipe or drainage. Without using it the chemical may spread on the floor and there is a high risk of burning your skin. Besides, always wear safety clothes, shoes and hand gloves before touching chemicals.

a). Use Boiled & Water to Get Hair Out of Drain

Boiled water itself is a home remedy that can be used for numerous purposes. If you are using any type of chemical always boil water and give it to the targeted surface before and after the process. The boiled water softens the hair clump and melts the soap scum and widens the blockage. So the first thing used should be boiled water.

b). Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Another home remedy is the combination of baking soda (Sodium Hydroxide NAOH) and White Vinegar (Acetic Acid CH3COOH). It is the most effective combination of chemicals for removing the blocked hair. Take three or four teaspoons of baking soda and add it to a moderate amount of white Vinegar. Leave it for half an hour to react and then apply it to the targeted surface. Wait for 2 hours and then add boiled water. It would easily remove the blocked hair.

Never Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Always

Although the most suggested way of getting hair out of shower drain is the use of baking soda and vinegar still this method is not always preferred. The reason is very simple; the reaction of both gives birth to a product, carbon dioxide. This gas spreads and may crack the plumbing pipes causing leakage. To avoid such unpleasant circumstances baking soda and white vinegar are not always preferred to use.

c). Other Chemicals for Getting Hair Out of Bathroom Drain

In addition to the above-mentioned home remedies, there are some chemicals only formulated for clog-clearing purposes. Green Gobbler liquid, Drano, Liquid Plumr, Drano Max Gel and Washing powders mixed with boiled water are effective for draining. These chemicals are caustic and widely used by professionals to clear large clogs. Draining gels like Drano Max Gel are used also for getting out the clogged hair in the shower drain.

Risk involved in the Use of Chemicals for Getting Hair out of Shower Drain

Using chemicals is much better than using tools to avoid the risk of leakage. However, chemicals are harmful to human bodies. It can burn your skin and eyes and addicted people to such chemicals may get some infections. Among the chemicals, there are Drano and Liquid Plumr which are like parasites and vanish out gradually the plastic pipes. Baking Soda and White Vinegar produce carbon dioxide and may crack the plumbing pipes.

If Necessary ask Professional Plumbers

Hiring a professional may cost more than the methods you can use just without purchasing much. First, ensure and observe the situation if it is done by yourself do it yourself. Damaging pipes, making leaks and buying and installing new ones would be a bigger problem than hiring a plumber on time to get the hairs out of pipes.

Coca Cola can also be used for Draining out the Clogged Hairs: A Myth or Reality?

It is believed that Coca-Cola is effective for getting out the blocked hair in the shower. It is accepted up to certain limits and is tested for such purpose. It works on only the clogs in fewer amounts. Why it works? The answer is that it has phosphoric acid which possesses the capacity to engulf the clogs in fewer amounts. However, it contains sugar and attracts pests. It is its demerit and cannot be used widely.

Effective Method among All

Every method has its advantages and disadvantages, the most effective we would suggest based on its easiness and less risk involved. Chemicals may be harmful not only for humans but also for the plumbing pipes. The usage of tools also can damage the pipes which lead to leakage. So it would be better to get the hair out of bath drain with hands. Moreover, it would be better to set a hair catcher in the bath room to avoid clogging or you can hire professional plumbers to drain out the hairs.

How to Avoid Blocking Hair in Shower Drain

If you’re the one looking for the ways to avoid the clogging of hairs or you have recently drained out all the clogging, you are at the right place. This section is for you to get benefits from. The following are the ways:

Always Maintain Your Shower Drain

Always make sure that your shower drain is clean and there is nothing stuck. Besides using a drain screen, brushing hairs before taking a shower and instantly removing the hairs, use baking soda and white Vinegar often to remove the clogged hairs. It is recommended to use it once a month or pour hot water and vinegar into the shower drain.

Conclusion

To give a final and quick review, how to get hair out of the shower drain is the question often asked because almost everyone faces the same issue. The ways which work best are; using your own hands wearing your hand gloves, and using tools like plumbing snakes, pliers, tweezers, wire hooks and suction plungers.

You can also use different kinds of chemicals like baking soda, white vinegar, boiled water, draining gel, washing detergents and many more. If you cannot rely on such methods and tools then you are directed to hire a professional plumber.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Get Hair out of the Shower Drain?

Clogged hairs can be drained out in different ways; use your own hands wear your hand gloves, and use tools like plumbing snake, pliers, tweezers, wire hooks and suction plungers. You can also use different kinds of chemicals like baking soda, white vinegar, boiled water, draining gel, washing detergents and many more. If you are unable to use such methods and tools then you are directed to hire a professional plumber.

Why do hairs clog in Shower Drain?

The major reason for clogging hair in the shower is carelessness. You have to be very careful before and after taking a shower. If you throw any piece of shopper, tissue slices, soap scum, hair clumps etc. it must happen and the water you use while taking a shower may rise to your ankles. People often ignore this thing in haste and the draining pipe gets more and more clogging. If the case is so with you, do not panic and start studying this article.

Why the use of Baking Soda and White Vinegar is not always recommended?

Although the most suggested way of getting hair out of shower drain is the use of baking soda and vinegar still this method is not always preferred. The reason is very simple; the reaction of both gives birth to a product, carbon dioxide. This gas spreads and may crack the plumbing pipes causing leakage. To avoid such unpleasant circumstances baking soda and white vinegar are not always preferred to use.

Can Coca-Cola be used to get hair out of the shower drain?

It is believed that Coca-Cola is effective for getting out the blocked hair in the shower. It is accepted up to certain limits and is tested for such purposes. It works on only the clogs in fewer amounts. Why it works? The answer is that it has phosphoric acid which possesses the capacity to engulf the clogs in fewer amounts. However, it contains sugar and attracts pests. It is its demerit and cannot be used widely.

How to avoid blocking hair in shower drain?

You can avoid blocking hair in shower drain by using a drain screen, brushing hairs before taking shower and instantly removing the hairs. Get the best hair shower catcher which stops the unwanted materials from going in. Moreover, if you are aware of your excessive hair-fall then before taking shower brush your hair well out of your bathroom. If you get hairs in your shower drain remove them instantly.