Dirty Showers: 6 Expert Tips for Preventing a Clogged Shower Drain

A clogged shower drain is one of the most common plumbing issues you can deal with, whether you’re a homeowner or a renter.

Do you find yourself trying to unclog your drain on a regular basis? Are you tired of standing in six inches of water whenever you take a shower?

If you’re struggling with a clogged shower drain, it’s important to figure out what’s causing it. Then, you can take steps to avoid it in the future.

Not sure what’s clogging your drain? Don’t worry, just keep reading. Here are six tips that will help you prevent a clogged shower drain.

1. Invest in a Hair Catcher

If you have a clogged shower drain, loose hair is almost always the culprit.

There’s not much you can do to prevent your hair from coming loose while you’re washing it in the shower. It’s a natural part of life. But, you can keep your hair from getting caught in your drain.

The easiest way to do this is to invest in a hair catching device.

This is an inexpensive plastic tool that sits over your shower drain. It features several small holes designed to let water flow through. But, it also catches the hair that falls out when you’re showering and keeps it from going down the drain.

When your shower is over, you only have to remove the hair catcher, clear away the hair, and throw it in the trash. Problem solved!

2. Change the Way You Use Body and Hair Oils

Most people think of oil as being a common cause of clogged drains in the kitchen. But, it can also contribute to clogs in your shower drain.

You may not be using vegetable oil or olive oil in the shower. But, are you rinsing off body or hair oils? These products, like cooking oils, can stick in your shower drain and lead to clogs.

Does this mean you have to give up your favorite hair or body oil? Not necessarily. You only need to change the way you use it to avoid needing to rely on regular drain cleaning services.

Instead of putting the oil on your skin or hair and then rinsing it off in the shower, try applying the products after you’ve showered and dried off. Then, they can soak in fully and won’t get rinsed down the drain.

When you use them this way, you get way more out of your products. And, they don’t clog up and damage your shower drains — it’s a win-win!

3. Avoid Activities that Clog the Drains

How often do you empty the bucket into the bathtub or shower after you’ve mopped the floor or washed your car? Or dumped carpet cleaning liquid down the drain?

These are common practices, but they’re not doing your drains any favors.

If you do any of these activities on a regular basis, you could be clogging your shower drain up with dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris.

If you have nowhere else to empty your buckets, at least place a mesh screen (or even your hair catcher) over the top of your shower drain. This will catch the dirt, pet hair, and debris and keep it from sticking in your shower drain.

When you’re finished, empty the contents of the screen into the trash. Then, wipe out the shower or bathtub to keep your drain clear.

4. Clear Your Drains on a Regular Basis

Regular maintenance is one of the best steps you can take to prevent clogged drains.

When was the last time you cleared out your drain for the sake of keeping it clean (not because your tub was filling with water faster than a rowboat with a hole in the bottom)? Can’t remember? Well, that might be part of the problem.

Cleaning your drain out on a regular basis will help you avoid clogs and keep the water flowing smoothly.

So, how often should you be cleaning them? For most people, cleaning out the drains once a month is plenty.

If you have a lot of hair, or if you share a bathroom with lots of people, you may need to clean the drain more often.

5. Keep Vinegar or Baking Soda in Your Bathroom

Another great way to maintain your shower drain and keep clogs at bay is to keep a bottle of white vinegar or a box of baking soda in your bathroom. Both of these products do a great job of keeping drains clear.

If you’re using white vinegar, pour a half a bottle down the drain once every few months. Let the vinegar sit for about ten minutes. Then, let the hot water from the shower run over it for a few minutes to clear out any clogs that are beginning to form.

Don’t like the smell of vinegar? You can use baking soda in the same way. Pour it down the drain and rinse with hot water. This will neutralize odors and help to break down clogs so they will rinse away.

6. Let the Water Run When You’re Finished Showering

To keep your drains clear, try letting the water continue to run after you’ve finished showering.

This is a simple act that will help push any hair that escaped the hair catcher down the drain and keep it from getting stuck.

Worried about wasting water? Keep in mind that you don’t have to let the water run for very long to keep the drain from getting clogged.

Letting it run for a minute is often all you need to prevent clogs and keep the water draining in an efficient way.

Need Help with a Clogged Shower Drain?

As you can see, there are lots of steps you can take to prevent future clogs. Implementing these strategies will help you keep your drain clear and your pipes working as they’re supposed to.

But, what do you do if you’re already dealing with a clogged shower drain?

If you need help unclogging your shower drain, or handling any other plumbing issues, we’re here to help at Hays Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing.

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an estimate.