There’s nothing worse than taking a morning shower to find that the shower drain is blocked and water is pooling at your feet. Over time, soap and hair build up, and if not cleaned out, will block the drain. Not only will the water fail to shift, but you might also notice a nasty smell.
But rather than resorting to harsh chemical cleaners, there’s a natural way to clean your shower drain that is cheap and easy to do. What’s more, it won’t cost you much time.
How to clean your shower drain
Taking a natural approach, @experthometips on TikTok explains how to clean a shower drain without chemicals, using one household staple.
If your shower isn’t draining as it should be you probably have a blocked drain, and the narrator explains how to give your shower drain a deep clean.
@experthometips There’s no better time to unblock your shower drain than now! 💥 Follow these simple steps to stop the tray from filling up with water every time 🚿 #HomeHacks #ShowerCleaning #CleaningTip #DeepClean #DrainCleaning #Vinegar #BakingSoda #BathroomHacks #BathroomCleaning
♬ Daylight - Gakuen
In the video, she says, “Firstly, pop on a pair of rubber gloves and remove the cover on the plug hole. You should be able to do this by unscrewing it or prising it off.”
She also mentions that there might be a filter at the top of the hole. If so, remove it by pulling it out.
Your next step is to remove any blockages that you can reach by hand, but if they are out of reach, she suggests using a hook or drain snake. A drain snake is a flexible tool that will reach deep into a drain and pipes to remove hair and other blockages. I use one regularly to clean out my own shower drain.
She adds, “You can get these online or from most hardware shops and they are handy to have on hand.”
Once you’ve cleared away as much gunk as you can, she says, “Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes.”
While you’re waiting for the baking soda to work, you could try some other bathroom cleaning hacks to clean tile grout, remove bathroom mold or add some sparkle to your faucets.
Once the 30 minutes are up, she says, “Carefully pour boiling water directly into the plug hole. This will help clear any grime or bad smells.”
You can then return the filter and plug hole to cover the drain and continue using your shower as normal.
Top tip
For ongoing maintenance, regularly use a drain snake to clear out your drain to prevent blockages.
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