Published on February 26th, 2022
If you’ve noticed a dramatic slowdown in the way your bathroom tub, shower, or sink drains work, blame hair. Hair in a drain, when allowed to build up, creates a nasty, gunky clump. It makes a drain run slower and slower.
How do you clear a clogged drain?
The good news? You can try to remove a hair clog on your own.
Explore five tips to unclog bathroom drains. None of them require drastic measures or strange chemical concoctions.
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Homemade Hair Clog Remedies
Many people swear by dish detergent as a hair clog remover. There’s nothing in it that can harm your plumbing, and it might dissolve any FOG buildup.
Using a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water may help move the gunky hair mass. Be careful using this method if you have PVC plumbing pipes. Boiling water could melt the plastic.
Hint: This tip can work for preventative maintenance against hair clogs.
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Pull The Clog Out With Pliers
If you don’t own a pair of pliers, now is a great time to invest in your toolbox. Specifically, needle nose pliers can work as a clogged drain fix.
In addition to the pliers, gather your screwdriver, a flashlight, and a pair of household gloves.
It won’t take long to see why we recommend wearing gloves when removing hair in pipes. Hair mixed with soap and grime smells awful!
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Use A Plunger To Move Hair In A Drain
Every home needs a plunger. It’s the easiest and most economical tool you can use to clear a clogged drain.
Using a plunger means you’re applying pressure to loosen the blockage.
If you’re dealing with a relatively small hair clog, this should work, but for a more extensive blockage, you may need to bring in a snake.
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How To Fix A Clogged Drain With A Snake
A drain snake is a tool all plumbers carry in their trucks. A drain snake works for small drains, like the sink, while a drain auger works better on toilets. If you experience frequent clogs, consider investing in one.
Drain augers use a pointed tip to grab the hair clog. The rotating motion chops up the clog or puts enough spin on it to move it down the line.
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Call The Plumber
When the previous methods and tools don’t clear the hair clog, it’s best to call a professional. There’s a possibility you’re dealing with more than a simple clogged drain.
Hair clogs don’t always cause slow drains.
You could have a problem with your main sewer line. Plumbers use various tools to diagnose stubborn drain problems, including video cameras.
Ready To Tackle Your Clogged Drain?
We hope you find success with the options we’ve put together to help you deal with hair in a drain. You can try a homemade remedy, buy a tool, or call a plumber.
By the way, plumbers don’t only clear clogged drains. They usually enjoy sharing tips to help you prevent future problems.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, check out our other articles. You’ll find a range of topics, including more home maintenance ideas.
