How To Unclog a Bathtub Drain Effectively

Water draining slowly from tubs and showers is usually caused by hair stuck in the drain. Soap, shampoo, and dirt stick to the hair, slowly making the clog bigger, and eventually slowing and clogging the drain.

You end up standing in dirty water while you shower and have to clean a grimy bathtub. Use some of the following methods to clean out your drain. One of them or a combination of them work 90% of the time.

Get the Hair Out

Hot water, vinegar, and chemicals do not dissolve hair. You have to physically remove it for effective drain cleaning. Remove the stopper and strainer if there is one and use one of the following tools to pull out the hair.

Homemade Hair Pick

Cut a wire coat hanger at least 12” long to reach the bottom of the P-trap. (Any stiff 12 gauge wire works.) Bend a half-inch hook into one end of the wire. Make sure the hook is tight enough to move easily in the drain. It should hook any hair in the drain and pull it out.

Drain Stick

Drain sticks look like zip ties with barbs. They are flexible and long enough to pass through the P-trap and pull out the hair. They may not be stiff enough to push through large hard clogs. They are available in 5-packs and cost very little.

Drain Claw

Drain claws are flexible metal tubes that encase three or four metal claws. They are relatively inexpensive and available in lengths up to 5’. Push it down the drain until you feel resistance, then depress the plunger to extend the claws and grab the clog.

Dissolve the Clog

Once the hair is out of the drain, move on to getting rid of the rest of the clog and clean out the drain pipe using any of these methods. Or a combination of them. Any remaining hairs should pass through the pipes with the other material.

Plunger

Plungers are usually the first option you think of when water runs slow. Use yours properly for the best results.

• Remove the drain cover or stopper.
• Seal the tub or sink overflow with painter’s tape to prevent air from escaping.
• Position the plunger to create an airtight seal over the drain. Soft bell-shaped plungers work best.
• Run enough water into the tub or sink to cover the plunger.
• Plunge vigorously for 20 or 30 seconds without losing the seal.
• Remove the plunger to make sure water is draining well.
• Repeat if necessary.

Hot Water and Dish Detergent

Dish detergent and hot water remove caked-on material. Pour about a half cup of any liquid dish detergent into the drain. Make sure it runs down the entire circumference of the drain. Pour a gallon of hot water down the drain. Use boiling water in metal pipes and hot tap water on ABS plastic to prevent damage to the pipe.

Ensure the water is draining properly. Repeat the treatment to remove any remains of the clog. Hair and soap scum sticks easier to the remnants of old clogs and build up new clogs quicker.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

The foaming action of vinegar mixed with baking soda removes clogs and caked-on grime from drains. Pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain. Dry pipes allow it to slide down to the clog or P-trap. Pour a half cup of white vinegar into the drain. The mixture turns into a hot foam that eats away at the clog.

Cover the drain with a wet cloth and let the mixture work for an hour. Flush out the drain pipes with a gallon of hot water. Repeat if the water is not running freely.

Plumbing Snake

You may need a plumbing snake to get rid of stubborn clogs or clogs farther down the pipes. Hand-operated 25’ long snakes are available for under $50.00. Slide them into the drain and follow the instructions to cut through clogs and remove caked-on grime from the pipes.

Call a Plumber

If you can’t get the water running, it is a sign you need a plumber. The clog might be in the main drain pipe. It is probably caused by something more serious than hair and soap scum. Plumbers have the equipment and expertise to diagnose and repair the problem.

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How To Clean a Grimy Bathtub

Regular bathtub cleaning prevents mold and grime buildup. A family bathing and showering regularly deposit cleaning products, body oils, dirt, and skin flakes on tub walls, tiles, and shower enclosures. Wiping them down after every use is very helpful, but grime eventually builds up.

Tub Cleaning Tips You Should Know

Cleaning the tub every week or two usually prevents grime buildup. Wiping the tub dry and running the exhaust fan during and after every use prevents humidity and scum buildup.

Stop Using Bar Soap

Bar soaps cause most soap scum buildup in tubs and showers. Bar soap scum sticks to everything it touches. It is a food source for mildew, mold, and pink mold. Dirt and hair conditioner stick to soap scum and leave dark rings in tubs after they are drained. Replace bar soap with liquid body wash for cleaner tubs.

Dish Soap and Vinegar

Fill a spray bottle with equal amounts of vinegar and dish soap. Shake well to mix the ingredients. Spray the walls and floor of the tub or shower stall. Let it work for up to an hour, then wipe the tub clean with warm soapy water. Rinse with warm clear water. It works great to remove soap scum.

Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Fill your tub with warm water to cover the dirt ring. Add about a half cup each of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Mix well and let sit for 15 or 20 minutes. The foaming mixture loosens grime and sticks to the sides of the tub. Drain the tub, rinse, and dry for a clean tub.

Bar Keepers Friend

Bar Keepers Friend is a cleaner that has been around for over 100 years. Its main ingredient is oxalic acid–originally discovered in rhubarb–which removes soap scum, grime, rust stains, and limescale. The cleanser sticks to vertical surfaces and wipes off easily–taking scum and grime with it.

Magic Eraser

Magic Erasers remove soap scum, grease, and surface dirt. They contain bleach that gets rid of mold and cleans grout lines. Available in multiple combinations to clean tubs, showers, shower doors, and tiles. They are great for general bathroom cleaning.

Tub Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts

These suggestions make cleaning the tub quicker, easier, and safer.

Do’s:

• Power Brush – Buy a rechargeable electric cleaning brush–with a long handle–to save effort. They are inexpensive, efficient, and save time.
• Follow Instructions – Read and follow the instructions on commercial cleaning products for the best results and personal safety.
• Soft Tools – Use soft tools like sponges, microfiber cloths, and soft nylon brushes to prevent damage to the tub.
• Preventive Maintenance – Wipe the tub dry after every use. Spray it with vinegar once or twice a week to prevent soap scum and grime buildup.

Don’ts:

• Abrasive Cleaners – Abrasive cleaners like some powders, and tools like steel wool and stiff bristle brushes easily scratch and scar acrylic and fiberglass tubs. Damaged tubs are more difficult to clean.
• Mixing Cleaners – Mixing vinegar and bleach produces chlorine gas. Mixing bleach and ammonia produces chloramine gas. Both can be fatal–especially in small enclosed spaces like bathrooms. Read the list of ingredients and cautions on any commercial cleaner.

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Bathroom Cleaning Tips and Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew

Regular bathroom cleaning is necessary to eliminate grime, bacteria, and mold. Clean bathrooms smell better. Bathrooms are used regularly by a number of people–some of whom may leave it messy. Bathrooms are full of hard-to-clean fixtures like faucets, toilets, drains, mirrors, and vanities. Use some of these tips and tricks to make the job easier and the bathroom cleaner.

Few people look forward to cleaning bathrooms but using these tips makes the job go quicker and the results more successful.

Vinegar, Water, and Baking Soda

Vinegar and baking soda are popular inexpensive cleaners in most households. They have many uses in bathrooms.

• On the Shower Curtain – Use a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture to spray showers, doors, and curtains after every shower or every second shower to keep soap scum from building up.
• In the Toilet – Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl regularly before flushing. It is slightly abrasive and helps keep the bowl clean between scrubbings.
• In the Drains – Pour about six tablespoons of baking soda down bathroom drains if they are running slowly. Add the same amount of vinegar. Let sit for about 30 minutes, then rinse it away with warm water. Let the water run for at least five minutes for a good drain flush. This works on soap scum and other blockages. It does not work on hair.
• For the Shower Head – Remove the shower head and soak it in distilled white vinegar overnight to clean off built-up mineral deposits.
• Grout Cleaner – Make a paste with baking soda and water. Use a toothbrush to scrub the grout lines, then rinse clean.

Use Clean Tools

Clean your cleaning equipment after every use. Dirty mops, dusters, cloths, and brushes spread dirt around instead of removing it. Dried, crusty, and gritty dusters and cleaning cloths can scratch some surfaces.

Toothbrushes and Chopsticks

Don’t throw out old toothbrushes. They make great cleaning tools for tight hard-to-get-at places like faucets, vanity handles, grout lines, and more. The bristles remove grime and mold.

A microfiber cleaning cloth on the end of a chopstick also gets into tight spots when you don’t need the friction of a bristle brush.

Microfiber Cloth Cleaning

Buy and use microfiber cleaning cloths. They trap bacteria and dirt. They don’t leave lint or streaks and clean easily in the washing machine.

Courtesy: freepik.com – Cleaning with a microfiber cloth.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Mold and Mildew

Hydrogen peroxide kills mold and mildew just like bleach but without the odor or potential health problems. Spray it onto the affected area, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then scrub the area clean.

Dust First, Then Clean

Get the dust out of the bathroom before cleaning. Dust clogs up cleaning tools and leaves streaks. You may just be moving it around and leaving it stuck in a different spot.

Electric Power Scrubbers and Toothbrushes

Battery-powered electric bathroom scrubbers make a quick and efficient job of cleaning tubs, toilets, sinks, and tile. There are many options with various attachments available for $50.00 or less. You can also get attachments for electric drills but drills are bulkier and heavier.

An electric toothbrush saves scrubbing effort in small tight spaces. Save the old brush heads for cleaning when you change to a new one.

Clean Family Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes remove the bacteria from your mouth, then they dry on the brush until the next use. Electric toothbrushes collect bacteria, saliva, and toothpaste between the brush head and motor.

Soak the bristle parts of toothbrushes in hydrogen peroxide overnight. Remove the brush head from electric toothbrushes and soak them and the motor end. Rinse clean in the morning. Soak toothbrushes in hydrogen peroxide weekly.

Use Shaving Cream As a Cleaner

Use shaving cream in the bathroom for more than just shaving.

• Jewelry. Gentle and effective. Rub jewelry for a couple of minutes in shaving cream, then rinse well to restore the shine.
• Mirrors. Spray bathroom mirrors and shower doors with a thin layer, then wipe it off to prevent fogging after a shower.
• Faucets. Polishes bathroom and kitchen faucets to a bright shine. Especially effective on stainless steel.
• Makeup Stains. Spot clean towels, facecloths, and other fabric. Let sit for 10 minutes. Blot off the shaving cream and wash normally.

Use Aspirin for Cleaning Pain

Two aspirins dissolved in water removes soap scum from faucets and sinks and showers. Aspirin works because it is slightly acidic and can substitute for regular cleaners if you run out.

Use Cooking Spray In the Bathroom

The oil in non-stick cooking spray breaks down and removes lime deposits. It is a safe and easy-to-use cleaner.

• Vanity Hinges. Lubricates and prevents squeaking.
• Faucets. Put a shine on sink and tub faucets by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and wiping clean.
• Soap Scum. Works on shower stalls and tiles. Rinse with hot water so the shower floor is not slippery.
• Shower Doors. Removes soap scum and lime deposits. Rinse with hot water to remove the oil film.

Keep It Dry

Use your hand towel or bath towel to dry faucets and fixtures every time you wash or shower. Removing drips and spray regularly keeps chrome shiny and makes regular cleaning easier. Make sure the floor is dry after showering. Wet dust sticks better to floors, countertops, and toilets. Dry floors are safer to walk on.

Use a Bleach Pen

Bleach pens make cleaning grout lines easy without bleaching the entire surface. Run the pen over the grout, leave it sit overnight, and wipe it clean with warm water.

Clorox bleach pens are difficult to get (discontinued?) and expensive. Similar products work well on fabric but may not clean grout as effectively.

Recycle Silica Gel Packets and Used Dryer Sheets

Silica gel packets absorb moisture. Save a few that come with your purchases and place them in the medicine cabinet. They reduce the humidity that rusts razor blades and affects medicines. The bath fan can’t remove humidity from an enclosed cabinet.

Used dryer sheets are slightly abrasive. They remove lime deposits from tubs, fixtures, and bathroom tile. Make the slightly damp and rub out the lime.

Toilet Brush Etiquette

Dirty wet toilet brushes put back in the holder grow mold and bacteria. After use, disinfect the brush with hydrogen peroxide. Trap the handle between the toilet seat and bowl so it can drip into the toilet. Make sure the brush holder is clean before putting the brush away.

Use Pumice Stone For Toilet Rings

Pumice stone is a soft abrasive that scrubs away limescale, rust, and hard water stains in toilets without damaging the porcelain surface. For best results, lower the toilet’s water level but keep the stained area wet while working on it.

Shower Squeegee

Wiping down showers and tubs after using them is a must to prevent soap scum buildup, streaks, and mold. A shower squeegee makes it easy to remove water drops and mineral deposits from shower doors, tiles, and tubs.

Dry the Shower Curtain

Spread out your shower curtain to get air to the whole thing. An open window or bathroom exhaust fan moves drier air around it. Wet curtains promote mold and mildew growth. They can stay damp between showers if pushed into a bunch.

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