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How to Unclog a Bathroom Drain Without Calling a Plumber Download Article Handy techniques for removing hair and other gunk from your tub’s stopper and drainpipe Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Strainer/Stopper 2 Manual Removal 3 Plunger 4 Boiling Water 5 Baking Soda & Vinegar 6 Bleach 7 Coat Hanger 8 Drain Stick 9 Drain Claw 10 Drain Auger 11 Drain Cleaning Products 12 Pro Help + Show 9 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Kadi Dulude and Christopher M. Osborne, PhD
Last Updated: September 26, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Kadi Dulude and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,761,359 times.
It’s really frustrating when your tub takes 20 minutes to drain after a bath, or when water creeps up over your ankles during a shower. But you probably don’t need to call a plumber to fix the problem. We’ve listed a bunch of great DIY options here—start with the first two items on the list (cleaning the strainer/stopper and drain mouth), then try the others until you find one that does the job. Now it’s time to bust that clog without busting your budget!
Things You Should Know
Remove the stopper and/or strainer and clean hair and gunk from it as well as the mouth of the drain. Always start with these steps.
Use a plunger on the drain if there’s standing water; otherwise, pour in a clog-buster like boiling water or vinegar and baking soda.
Manually remove deeper clogs by reaching a tool like a wire hanger or drain stick into the drain and pulling out the gunk.
Steps
1
Strainer/Stopper
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Take out the stopper and/or strainer and remove any gunk. Some tubs have separate stoppers and strainers, while others have combination stoppers and strainers—but they all end up full of tangled hair and other gunk! After removing the stopper/strainer, clean off this gunk with paper towels or an old toothbrush, maybe after a 10-15 minute soak in a mix of vinegar and baking soda. First, though, here’s a quick rundown of common strainer/stopper types:[1]XResearch source
Lift-and-turn stoppers: Twist off the knob on top, unscrew the bolt underneath the knob, and lift out the stopper.
Pop-up stoppers: With the stopper in the open (“popped-up”) position, unscrew the top cap, then loosen the screw underneath and pull out the assembly.
O-ring stoppers: The specifics vary by brand type here, but generally you can just lift these straight out (possibly with the help of a suction cup).
Faceplate lever stoppers: With the drain lever in the open position, unscrew the faceplate (where the tub overflow drain is, usually just below the tub faucet). Pull off the faceplate, then pull out the attached overflow assembly—typically 2 lengths of metal attached to a stopper.[2]XResearch source
Advertisement 2
Manual Removal
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Pull any visible hair clogs out of the top of the tub drain. Use your fingers (preferably with cleaning gloves on) or a paper towel to pinch and pull out the hair that’s gotten caught up on the X-shaped built-in strainer at the mouth of the drain. You can also use needle nose pliers to grasp more hard-to-reach hair clogs.[3]XResearch source
If you don’t have standing water in the tub, put the stopper/strainer back in place and run the water to test the drain. If you’re really lucky, the clog will already be busted—which means you’re all finished!
3
Plunger
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Use a plunger if there’s standing water in the tub. Submerge the head (the rubber part) of the plunger fully in the water to get the best results—add a little more water to the tub if necessary. Then do the following:[4]XResearch source
Put the head of the plunger over the drain so that the rubber lip is in contact with the tub surface all the way around. This creates the air seal you need to create suction and clear the clog.
Once you have a good seal, forcefully pump the plunger stick up and down for 15-20 seconds. You may get splashed with some dirty water while plunging, so it pays to wear old clothes for this job!
After 15-20 seconds, lift the plunger and see if the water drains out quickly. Repeat the process 1-2 more times if the drain is still clogged.
Advertisement 4
Boiling Water
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Break up gunked-up clogs with boiling water from a kettle. A tea kettle works best here because the spout allows you to pour the boiling water directly into the drain pipe. (If the tub has been reglazed or is made of fiberglass, there’s a chance boiling water could damage the finish.)[5]XResearch source
Be careful to avoid splashing the hot water on yourself.
Adding boiling water may instantly unclog the drain. Run the faucet to see if it is now draining normally.
Repeat the process one or two more times as needed. However, don’t use boiling water repeatedly or too frequently—say, weekly—if you have PVC drain pipes, since it may loosen the adhesive. Try a manual removal method (like a drain stick) for frequent clogs in this case.
5
Baking Soda & Vinegar
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Use baking soda and vinegar with boiling water. Start by pouring boiling water from a tea kettle down the drain, then pour in about 1/4 c (55 g) of baking soda. Follow up with approximately 8 fl oz (240 ml) of white vinegar.[6]XResearch source Wait about 15-20 minutes, then pour another kettle of boiling water down the drain.[7]X Expert Source Kadi DuludeHouse Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview
If this method doesn’t work after 1-2 tries, move on to another option.
Like a school science experiment, the mixture will foam up inside (and out of) the drain pipe—this reaction may be enough to break up clogs of gunk.
Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a fairly mild chemical reaction, so this method may not work for every clog. But it’s easy, cheap, and definitely worth a try!
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Bleach
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Try bleach ONLY if you haven’t used vinegar or chemicals. Bleach is inexpensive, readily available, and can dissolve some drain clogs. However, it can cause potentially dangerous fumes if combined with vinegar or other chemicals (like commercial drain cleaners). If you’ve only used mechanical clog-busters (plunger, drain stick, etc.) and/or boiling water, it’s okay to try bleach; otherwise, skip this option.[8]XResearch source
If you do choose to use bleach, simply pour about 8 fl oz (240 ml) straight into the drain, wait 15 minutes, then flush the drain with hot (or boiling) water.
Don’t use vinegar or a drain cleaner after using bleach, either.
7
Coat Hanger
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This classic drain clog-grabber might do the job in a pinch. There are better alternatives—keep reading to find them!—but a hanger may work if you don’t have a drain stick, drain claw, or drain auger. Bend the triangular part of the hanger flat so the hanger looks like a candy cane, then bend the hook so it’s small enough to fit into your drain. Push the hanger as far as you can into the drain, then pull it back out—hopefully with the gunk causing the clog hooked at the end.[9]XResearch source
Advertisement 8
Drain Stick
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Reach the stick into the drain to yank out deeper clogs. Drain sticks look like plastic zip ties, but with “teeth” along the sides to grab onto hair and other gunk. Push the flexible stick as far into the drain as you can, then pull it back out (hopefully with the clog tangled up in it). Run some water to see if the clog is cleared.[10]XResearch source
The teeth on the stick should grab onto the tangled hair and allow you to pull the entire clog out.
Clean the gunk off of the drain stick to use it again in the future, or just toss it—they’re not very expensive!
9
Drain Claw
Download Article
This works like a drain stick, but really “grabs” the clog. As the name “drain claw” indicates, this long, flexible metal tool has 3 or 4 little claws at one end. Feed the claw end as far down into the drain as you can, then squeeze the plunger at the other end—this causes the claws to clamp together. Keep squeezing the plunger as you pull the tool (and the snatched clog) out of the drain.[11]XResearch source
Advertisement 10
Drain Auger
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This spinning tool reaches even further down into the drain. Try a drain auger (also called a drain snake) if options like a drain stick can’t reach down far enough to snag the clog. Feed the flexible metal wire down into the drain, then rotate the handle on the drum (by hand if it’s a manual model, or with a power drill or other mechanical means) to spin the wire in the pipe and grab the clog. Retract the wire to pull out the clog.[12]XResearch source
11
Drain Cleaning Products
Download Article
Use commercial drain cleaners sparingly, if at all. Commercial drain cleaners (like Drano and Liquid Plumr) break up clogs with strong chemicals such as potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid. When properly used, they will clear most drain clogs. However, they can also damage your pipes, and they present a significant safety hazard if used improperly. If you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner, keep the following tips in mind:[13]XResearch source
Buy a product specifically intended for bathtubs. Not all drain cleaners are intended for use in tubs.
Read and follow all product instructions exactly.
Wear cleaning gloves and eye protection at all times.
If there is any standing water in the tub, remove all of it (with buckets, cups, towels, etc.) before using the drain cleaner.
Let the product work for the recommended time (usually 15-30 minutes), then flush the drain with cold water.
NEVER mix drain cleaner products in the same drain, or use drain cleaner before or after using bleach.
Advertisement 12
Pro Help
Download Article
Contact a plumber if the drain still hasn’t been cleared. If you’ve tried all the methods listed above without success, pat yourself on the back—then give the pros a call! Plumbers have the drain-busting tools, techniques, and experience that DIYers simply can’t match.[14]XResearch source
It’ll probably cost you around $100-$250 USD to have a plumber do a straightforward drain unclogging job, but those amounts can increase quickly if the job ends up being more complex.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup, Plumbing, Drain, Water Cleanup, and Water Quality Service Company
For especially stubborn clogs, consider contacting a professional plumber for assistance. wikiHow has partnered with Roto-Rooter so you can get expert help in residential plumbing repair and drain service. Give them a call and schedule an appointment to get your drain unclogged in no time!
If you buy through these links, we may earn a commission.
Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question What will dissolve hair in a drain? Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional Expert Answer If you can't get the hair out, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain. Let it fizz up and sit for 20 minutes and then pour hot water down the drain. That will typically do the trick and clear out any blockages. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 6
Question What if I don't have a drain claw to pull hair out? Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional Expert Answer Get a metal clothes hanger and unravel it. Stick the hook end down into the drain and move it around or twist it to grab any hair. Then, pull that up and remove the hair by hand. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 7
Question What will clog tough bathtub drains? Mark Spelman Construction Professional Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987. Mark Spelman Construction Professional Expert Answer It is usually a buildup of hair and soap. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 80
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Consider replacing your current tub strainer with one designed to catch hair before it ends up down the drain, such as the Tub Shroom. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional This article was co-authored by Kadi Dulude and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. This article has been viewed 4,761,359 times. 35 votes - 68% Co-authors: 50Updated: September 26, 2025 Views: 4,761,359 Categories: Featured Articles | Drains | BathtubsArticle SummaryX
If your bathtub drain is clogged, it’s usually an easy fix. Most of the time, bathtub clogs are caused by a build up of hair and other debris in the drain. To remove the clog, start by unscrewing the tub drain stopper. Depending on the type of stopper you have, you can do this by twisting it off by hand or using a screwdriver. Once that’s off, use needle-nose pliers to pull all of the junk out of the drain. You can also use the end of a bent metal coat hanger. If you don’t find a clog underneath the stopper, it may be deeper in the drain. To access it, unscrew the overflow plate in your tub, and pull it out along with the linkage and stopper that are attached. Clean off any gunk in the stopper and linkage, then run water down the drain to flush out anything that’s left. If your bathtub is still clogged, you can try plunging the drain. Remove the overflow plate if you haven’t already, and stuff a rag into the opening to prevent air from escaping as you plunge the drain. Then, place the head of a plunger over the drain, and start plunging until the water starts to drain. Another option you can try is using baking soda and vinegar. Just pour ½ cup (90 g) of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar. Cover the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, pour hot water down the drain to flush out the clog. If this method doesn't work, keep reading to learn how to use a toilet plunger or a chemical drain cleaner to solve your problem!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Toria C.
Oct 25, 2017
"The baking soda and vinegar method is the best - safe and clean for me and for the environment. I did it three times in a row. The first try was 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar which didn't work. Then I did it twice, each time 1 cup of baking soda and 4 cups of vinegar. After the final try, when pouring the boiling hot water I could tell the effect right away. Now I can take showers without worrying about water accumulating. The downside: I may waste water by taking a longer shower."..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional 35 votes - 68% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 50Updated: September 26, 2025 Views: 4,761,359
Toria C.
Oct 25, 2017
"The baking soda and vinegar method is the best - safe and clean for me and for the environment. I did it three times in a row. The first try was 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar which didn't work. Then I did it twice, each time 1 cup of baking soda and 4 cups of vinegar. After the final try, when pouring the boiling hot water I could tell the effect right away. Now I can take showers without worrying about water accumulating. The downside: I may waste water by taking a longer shower."..." more Rated this article:
Philly A.
Jun 23, 2018
"Thought it was just a buildup of hair, soap and gunk. Unscrewed the drain cap, which was difficult to do because the screw holding the drain cap had rusted and some of the rust particles had accumulated in a the drain. Used the soda and vinegar method and it worked, thank you."..." more Rated this article:
John R.
Jun 13, 2024
"The idea is to first use warm water, then add 1 cup of baking soda for 5-10 minutes. Next, add 1 cup of white vinegar and let it sit for another 10-15 minutes. Finally, rinse with boiling hot water. Hopefully, your clog will disappear just as fast as mine did! Peace."..." more
Nan D.
May 27, 2017
"Incredible! I was able to unclog my tub in just a few minutes! I didn't know that all you had to do is unscrew the drain cover and pull out the gunk! I cleaned it, turned on the water and the water ran down as quickly as it ever had! Thanks!!"..." more
Ellie G.
Apr 12, 2019
"I was told by many people to get a plumber and not to do this myself, but I'm glad I did. 5 minutes and the drain was unclogged. So much hair gone. Just unscrewed the plughole and stuck a bendy hook down. Thanks, wikiHow!"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Handy techniques for removing hair and other gunk from your tub’s stopper and drainpipe Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Strainer/Stopper 2 Manual Removal 3 Plunger 4 Boiling Water 5 Baking Soda & Vinegar 6 Bleach 7 Coat Hanger 8 Drain Stick 9 Drain Claw 10 Drain Auger 11 Drain Cleaning Products 12 Pro Help + Show 9 more... - Show less... Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Kadi Dulude and Christopher M. Osborne, PhD 
How to Clear a Clogged Drain with Standing Water 
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Co-authored by: Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional This article was co-authored by Kadi Dulude and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. This article has been viewed 4,761,359 times. 35 votes - 68% Co-authors: 50 Updated: September 26, 2025 Views: 4,761,359 Categories: Featured Articles | Drains | Bathtubs Article SummaryX
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1012 
Take out the stopper and/or strainer and remove any gunk. Some tubs have separate stoppers and strainers, while others have combination stoppers and strainers—but they all end up full of tangled hair and other gunk! After removing the stopper/strainer, clean off this gunk with paper towels or an old toothbrush, maybe after a 10-15 minute soak in a mix of vinegar and baking soda. First, though, here’s a quick rundown of common strainer/stopper types:[1] 
Pull any visible hair clogs out of the top of the tub drain. Use your fingers (preferably with cleaning gloves on) or a paper towel to pinch and pull out the hair that’s gotten caught up on the X-shaped built-in strainer at the mouth of the drain. You can also use needle nose pliers to grasp more hard-to-reach hair clogs.[3] 
Use a plunger if there’s standing water in the tub. Submerge the head (the rubber part) of the plunger fully in the water to get the best results—add a little more water to the tub if necessary. Then do the following:[4] 
Break up gunked-up clogs with boiling water from a kettle. A tea kettle works best here because the spout allows you to pour the boiling water directly into the drain pipe. (If the tub has been reglazed or is made of fiberglass, there’s a chance boiling water could damage the finish.)[5] 
Use baking soda and vinegar with boiling water. Start by pouring boiling water from a tea kettle down the drain, then pour in about 1/4 c (55 g) of baking soda. Follow up with approximately 8 fl oz (240 ml) of white vinegar.[6] Wait about 15-20 minutes, then pour another kettle of boiling water down the drain.[7] 
Try bleach ONLY if you haven’t used vinegar or chemicals. Bleach is inexpensive, readily available, and can dissolve some drain clogs. However, it can cause potentially dangerous fumes if combined with vinegar or other chemicals (like commercial drain cleaners). If you’ve only used mechanical clog-busters (plunger, drain stick, etc.) and/or boiling water, it’s okay to try bleach; otherwise, skip this option.[8] 
This classic drain clog-grabber might do the job in a pinch. There are better alternatives—keep reading to find them!—but a hanger may work if you don’t have a drain stick, drain claw, or drain auger. Bend the triangular part of the hanger flat so the hanger looks like a candy cane, then bend the hook so it’s small enough to fit into your drain. Push the hanger as far as you can into the drain, then pull it back out—hopefully with the gunk causing the clog hooked at the end.[9] Advertisement 
Reach the stick into the drain to yank out deeper clogs. Drain sticks look like plastic zip ties, but with “teeth” along the sides to grab onto hair and other gunk. Push the flexible stick as far into the drain as you can, then pull it back out (hopefully with the clog tangled up in it). Run some water to see if the clog is cleared.[10] 
This works like a drain stick, but really “grabs” the clog. As the name “drain claw” indicates, this long, flexible metal tool has 3 or 4 little claws at one end. Feed the claw end as far down into the drain as you can, then squeeze the plunger at the other end—this causes the claws to clamp together. Keep squeezing the plunger as you pull the tool (and the snatched clog) out of the drain.[11] Advertisement 
This spinning tool reaches even further down into the drain. Try a drain auger (also called a drain snake) if options like a drain stick can’t reach down far enough to snag the clog. Feed the flexible metal wire down into the drain, then rotate the handle on the drum (by hand if it’s a manual model, or with a power drill or other mechanical means) to spin the wire in the pipe and grab the clog. Retract the wire to pull out the clog.[12] 
Use commercial drain cleaners sparingly, if at all. Commercial drain cleaners (like Drano and Liquid Plumr) break up clogs with strong chemicals such as potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid. When properly used, they will clear most drain clogs. However, they can also damage your pipes, and they present a significant safety hazard if used improperly. If you choose to use a chemical drain cleaner, keep the following tips in mind:[13] 
Contact a plumber if the drain still hasn’t been cleared. If you’ve tried all the methods listed above without success, pat yourself on the back—then give the pros a call! Plumbers have the drain-busting tools, techniques, and experience that DIYers simply can’t match.[14] 
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup, Plumbing, Drain, Water Cleanup, and Water Quality Service Company 
Kadi Dulude House Cleaning Professional Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine. 
Mark Spelman Construction Professional Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.