Drains

Clogged drains are very normal.  With a couple of tools including a screwdriver and a simple drain cleaner tool, you may be able to take care of it yourself and save yourself money as well as save you from having to wait on a plumber. Hair and soap scum are two main culprits when it comes to clogged bathroom drains such as tub, shower, and sink drains.  In bathtubs, you can start by removing the stopper.  Mine is attached using a set screw, so I just unscrew it and remove the stopper.  Sometimes the stoppers are screwed on and just need to be unscrewed.  For sinks, the stopper can usually be removed by releasing the stopper and unscrewing it from the drainpipe found under the sink. (Remember this saying when screwing and unscrewing things; “righty tighty, lefty loosey” – to tighten something turn it to the right and to untighten something turn it to the left.  When using a screwdriver to tighten a set screw, you turn it clockwise to the right and to loosen it, you turn it counterclockwise.)

Once you have access to the drain, use your fingers to remove any debris.  Then to unclog the drain, I like to use a yellow Velcro-like pipe cleaner tool seen in the middle picture below.  It can be found in most home improvement departments and is not very expensive.  There are plastic drain clearing tools too, but I don’t recommend them as I have gotten them caught in the drain and then I end up with a clogged drain and a piece of plastic stuck in it which just makes the plumber laugh. Take the drain cleaner tool and push it into the drain.  It is flexible and will bend to the shape needed.  Once it hits the clogged area, start pulling it back out slowly.  The hair and soap scum will get stuck to the Velcro-like tool and can be pulled out of the drain.  You can wear gloves if you want to avoid having to touch the slimy mess.  Repeat this process until you have as much of the debris removed as possible.  Then I like to pour about a cup of Dawn platinum dish washing soap down the drain to help break up any additional grease or scum.