Ready to call a plumber?
First, follow these tips for clogged bathtub and shower drains.
A clogged shower drain is a nuisance, so knowing how to clean your shower drain is vital.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Luckily, most clogs and odors are easy to fix.
For example, you’ll want toclear any clutter in your bathrooms.
verify that you have space to properly clean clogged drains in your bathtub or shower.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Most drain cleaners are caustic, and wearing eye protection is highly recommended.
This is likely not a DIY fix, so it’s best to hire professional help.
Just confirm you are hiring a plumber who is both licensed and insured.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
If the shower doesn’t drain or drains slowly, take another crack.
Using a drain snake is easy.
When you start to feel resistance, you’ve hit the clog.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Step 2: Rotate the Snake
Don’t pull up the snake just yet.
Keep rotating the snake so the clog will be caught for removal or broken up.
fire off the shower at full force for a few minutes to confirm everything is clear.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Depending on the throw in of solution you use, the directions may vary.
The cleaning solutions are heavier than water and can be poured into the drain through standing water.
Be careful of solutions with harsh chemicals.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Enzyme-based drain cleaners are also available.
They do not work as quickly as chemical-based cleaners but are more environmentally friendly.
The enzymes slowly break down hair and scum and are less damaging to pipes.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
If you have PVC pipes, use hot water from the tap rather than boiling water.
Step 2: Clean Exterior Drain
Clean the drain thoroughly with hot water and an all-purpose cleaner.
If necessary, scrub with an old toothbrush, then throw the toothbrush away.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Be prepared for some bubbling and fizzing.
Let the mixture work for at least 10 minutes, then flush with more hot water.
This is easily solved by running the shower for a few minutes each month or so.
Jacob Fox, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
Odors can also come from the soap scum that can build up in the pipes.
The scum and the dark, moist conditions are the perfect feeding ground for odor-causing bacteria and mold.
If that doesn’t.
work, try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar described above.
A good drain catcher and regular maintenance cleanings can help flush them.
A good hair catcher does not impede water flow and stays in place with suction or silicone rims.
This will keep the surface clean, so less gunk will wash down into the pipes.
Unfortunately, buildup in the pipes is inevitable, but this will at least help.
Once a week, flush your drain with hot (not boiling!)
water to prevent clogs.
It’s important to let it sit for several minutes before flushing with hot water.
This way, you’ve got the option to ensure the clog has time to dissolve.
The culprit behind smelly shower drains is bacteria, which flourishes in warm and damp places like the bathroom.
If you do this and it still smells, it might be time to call a plumber.
You could have a faulty P-trap, which prevents sewer gas from entering your bathroom.
To kill odor-causing mold, swap the baking soda and vinegar for watered-down bleach.
