How to Get Hair Out of Your Shower or Bathtub Drain

If a hair-clogged drain is turning your shower into a bath, it’s time to take action. You can pour boiling water or baking soda and vinegar down the drain to dissolve the hair or use a coat hanger hook or a drain snake to break up the clog. We interviewed professional plumbers James Schuelke and David Balkin to find the best at-home methods to remove hair from a shower or bathtub drain. We’ll also cover how to prevent hair from going down your drain so you won’t have to unclog it anytime soon!

Getting Hair Out of a Shower Drain

Pour 1 cup (128 grams) baking soda down the drain, then pour 1 cup (240 mL) distilled white vinegar. Let the mixture fix and bubble for 15 minutes while it dissolves the hair. Heat a pot or kettle of boiling water and pour it down the drain to flush the baking soda, vinegar, hair, and other grime from your pipes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 10:

Using Boiling Water

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1
Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain. This is the easiest way to take care of a hair-clogged shower or bathtub drain.^{[1]XResearch source} Fill a tea kettle or pot with water and bring it to a boil. Slowly pour the water down the drain, giving the hot liquid time to move through the hair and melt the grease that’s holding the clog together.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Wait 15 minutes, then run the shower to see if the water runs freely down the drain. If the clog is still there, try one of the other methods below.
- For larger clogs, you may need to use a large pot or multiple tea kettles full of boiling water.

Method 2

Method 2 of 10:

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

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1
Pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain. Carefully pour 1 cup (128 grams) baking soda down the drain, then chase it with 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled white vinegar. The drain should start bubbling and fizzing, dissolving the hair, grease, and dirt clogging the pipes.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Optionally, use a funnel to make sure all the baking soda goes under the drain guard.
- Mix the baking soda with ½ cup of table salt and heat up the vinegar for extra cleaning power.^{[4]XResearch source}
2
Let the drain bubble for 15 minutes, then pour boiling water. Heat a pot or kettle of boiling water, then pour it down the drain to flush the baking soda, vinegar, and dissolved hair from your pipes.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Wait another 15 minutes, then turn on the water. If the water still pools in your tub, try another method.

Method 3

Method 3 of 10:

Using a Vacuum

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1
Remove the drain guard and suck the hair out with a wet vacuum hose. Professional plumber James Schuelke says to “take the drain cover off the shower, and you literally put the [wet] vacuum hose right up against the drain and turn the vacuum on.”^{[6]XExpert SourceJames Schuelke
Professional PlumberExpert Interview. 1 October 2019.}
- To remove the drain guard or cover, unscrew it or pry it up using a flathead screwdriver and a pair of pliers.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Schuelke says “That will extract all of the organic matter, hair, soap scum, all of that, that literally will just take everything out of there.”^{[8]XExpert SourceJames Schuelke
  Professional PlumberExpert Interview. 1 October 2019.}
- After you’re done, put the drain guard back on and run the water. If the water doesn’t flow smoothly down the drain, try another method.

Method 4

Method 4 of 10:

Using Your Hand

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1
Take the drain guard off and pull out the hair by hand. Plumber David Balkan says “balls of hair or other debris” might be at the top of your drain and all you need to do is “put a pair of rubber gloves on and pull it right out.”^{[9]XExpert SourceDavid Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water MainExpert Interview. 29 April 2021.} Twist, screw off, or pry up the drain guard, then reach into the drain and try to pull anything you can see out of it.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Use a flashlight to spot the clog if you can’t see it immediately.
- Optionally, use pliers or tweezers to remove the hair.
- You can also use a chopstick, fork, or long screwdriver to grab the hair. Twirl the tool slightly as you pull the hair out of the drain and repeat until the pathway is clear.
- Replace the drain guard and run the water. If your shower or bathtub drain is still clogged, try a different method.

Method 5

Method 5 of 10:

Using a Coat Hanger Hook

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1
Bend a wire hanger into a straight line, leaving a small hook at one end. Use your hands to bend a wire hanger as flat and straight as you can. Make a small curl at one end of the hanger that can fit into the drain.^{[11]XResearch source}
- You may need to wear work gloves to give you enough traction to bend the wire.
- It doesn’t matter if there are a few slight bends in the hanger. Just try to bend the center part as straight as you can so it can fit down the drain.
- Optionally, bend the other end of the hanger into a half-square shape you can use as a twisting handle.^{[12]XResearch source}
2
Remove the guard, insert the hook into the drain, and pull up the hair. Unscrew the drain guard, twist it counterclockwise, or pry it up with a flathead screwdriver. If you find a screw underneath, unscrew that too. Push the hook end of the wire into the drain until you feel resistance. Fish the hook under the hair blockage and pull it up.^{[13]XResearch source}
- If you have a shower and tub combination, you might be able to take out the drain guard by pushing it down and twisting it to the left.
- Carefully move the wire up and down through the blockage to collect as much hair as possible.
- The hanger shouldn’t get stuck on anything, but if it does, push it back down, wiggle it, and try pulling it out again.
3
Rinse the drain with baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. This can help flush out any leftover hair or grime in the drain. Sprinkle 1 cup (128 grams) baking soda into the drain, then pour 1 cup (240 mL) white vinegar. Let it fizz for 15 minutes before flushing the drain with a pot or kettle of boiling water.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Alternatively, just pour a kettle or pot full of boiling water directly down the drain.
- After you’re done, reattach the drain guard. Turn on the shower—if the water doesn’t flow down the drain, try another unclogging method.

Method 6

Method 6 of 10:

Using a Drain Snake or Auger

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1
Remove the guard and insert the snake or auger into the drain. Twist, unscrew, or pry the guard off the drain. Insert the end of a plastic drain snake or metal auger into the drain pipe until it won’t move any further.^{[15]XResearch source} When you feel resistance, you’ve hit the clog.
- If you have a tub and shower combination, try pressing the guard down and twisting it to the left to remove it.
- Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves while handling an auger or drain snake to protect yourself from debris and standing water that may splash up.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceConsumer ReportsNonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testingGo to source}
2
Rotate the snake or auger counterclockwise until the clog is gone. Rotate the plastic drain snake or crank the metal auger’s handle counterclockwise to break up the clog. Continue to crank and push the auger or snake down until you don’t feel resistance anymore. Slowly pull the snake or auger out of the drain and dispose of the hair.^{[17]XResearch source}
- If your tool gets stuck, wiggle it up, down, and side to side until it comes out easily.
- Plastic drain snakes are meant to only be used once, while metal augers can be reused.
3
Rinse the drain with hot water and put the guard back on. Turn the hot water tap on full force and rinse out the drain for about a minute to make sure the drain is clear.^{[18]XResearch source} You might see bits of grime and debris come out of the drain. Once the drain is clear, put the drain guard back on.
- If you see large globs of hair rise to the surface, pull them out with your hands and discard them.
- If the drain is still clogged, use a second drain snake or try a different method.

Method 7

Method 7 of 10:

Using a Plunger

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1
Take off the drain guard and use a cup plunger to dislodge the hair. Fill the shower or tub with enough water to cover the lip of the plunger cup. Place the plunger so the cup covers the drain opening and push it up and down for a few minutes.^{[19]XResearch source} The force of the pressurized water can push the hair clog through the drain.^{[20]XResearch source}
- If you have a drain with standing water on top of it, Balkan says that a “good old typical plunger works well” to unclog it.^{[21]XExpert SourceDavid Balkan
  Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water MainExpert Interview. 29 April 2021.}
- Optionally, flush out the drain with a pot or kettle of boiling water.
- Put the drain guard back on and turn on the water. If the clog is still there, try again or use a different method.

Method 8

Method 8 of 10:

Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

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1
Pour a chemical cleaner down the drain as a last resort. Shower drain cleaners are easy to use—all you need to do is open the bottle and pour it down the drain. Most hair and grime clogs will disappear in 10 to 15 minutes. However, chemical cleaners can be environmentally harmful and can weaken PVC and old metal pipes.^{[22]XResearch source}
- Enzymatic drain cleaners are a gentle and eco-friendly alternative, but they may have to sit in the drain longer than 15 minutes.^{[23]XResearch source} Look for one that targets hair clogs.^{[24]XTrustworthy SourceConsumer ReportsNonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testingGo to source}
- Check the label to see how much of the bottle to pour into the drain and if you need to wear protective clothing, like safety glasses or rubber gloves.
- Optionally, flush the drain with warm or hot water for 1 minute to clear away the chemicals and any leftover debris. If the clog is still there, it may be time to contact a professional.

Method 9

Method 9 of 10:

Calling a Professional Plumber

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Contact a plumber if none of the methods above unclog the drain. If none of the above at-home methods work, you may have roots or other small objects stuck in your pipes that need to be removed by a professional.^{[25]XResearch source}
- Balkan says that “a professional drain cleaner has an air pressure gun and when you pump it up, it will blow the clog out.”^{[26]XExpert SourceDavid Balkan
  Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water MainExpert Interview. 29 April 2021.}
- If you see rust debris coming out from your pipes, that’s another sign to call a professional.
- Let the plumber know what cleaners and methods you used to avoid any damage to your pipes.

Method 10

Method 10 of 10:

Preventing Hair Clogs in Your Shower Drain

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A shower hair catcher can be an efficient way to prevent clumps of hair from collecting and eventually causing a clog in your drain.^{[27]XResearch source} To clean it daily, just pull it out of the drain and scoop the hair into the trash.
2
Brush your hair before or after you shower to keep hair out of the drain. This way, the majority of your loose hair follicles end up in the trash instead of collecting in your shower drain.^{[28]XResearch source}
- If you need to brush your hair in the shower, designate a place to collect the hair instead of letting it collect in the tub or on top of the drain.
3
Flush the drain every month with baking soda and vinegar. To prevent hair and grime buildup, pour 1 cup (128 grams) baking soda and 1 cup (240 mL) of white distilled vinegar down the drain. Wait 10 minutes, then flush out the pipes with a pot or kettle full of boiling water.^{[29]XResearch source}
- If you think hard water is building up in your pipes and causing clogs, you may have to ask a plumber to install a water softening system in your home.^{[30]XResearch source}
- In addition, take off the guard and remove the hair and grime at the top of the drain every month.^{[31]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
How can I easily get hair out of my shower drain?
James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.
James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
Expert Answer
If you have a wet/dry vacuum, take off the drain cover and hold the vacuum's hose against the drain. When you turn it on, the hair will get sucked out.
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Warnings

If there is standing water in your tub or shower, wait until it has drained away before trying to clean the hair out of the drain.
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Wear protective eyewear to avoid any nasty grime that might splash upwards when you remove the snaking tools.
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Try to avoid mixing two cleaning products. Read all the instructions on each product carefully before using it.
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Store chemical drain cleaners in a place out of reach of children and pets.
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