DIY Tricks to Fix a Clogged Tub Drain

A clogged tub drain is more than an inconvenient nuisance, a can be a grimy, smelly mess.  Clearing a clogged drain as soon as possible is important to regain the use of your bathtub and eliminate any foul odor.  Calling a plumber can be expensive, however, so here are some tips and tricks to try to fix your drain yourself.

Try the following home remedies to clear a clogged drain before calling a plumber:
Use a wire hanger - if you can find on old fashion wire hanger and untwist it with a hook at the end, it can work like a snake for the drain to remove clumps of hair or debris. A plastic snake that you can purchase at any hardware store is more pliable and will not scratch your drain pipe at all, but if you can reach the clog with a hanger it may free up the clog.

Drain cleaner or vinegar - try to use some drain cleaner if you have any, most brands are quite effective at loosening and releasing clogged drains. If you prefer to not use the toxic chemicals in drain cleaners, baking soda and vinegar may do the trick. Mix some baking soda in with a pot of boiling hot water and pour it in your drain, follow with a generous amount of vinegar. Just like the old volcano science experiments, vinegar and baking soda will create a fizzy reaction which is effective at clearing up some clogged drains. Wait for about 20 minutes and follow with another pot of hot, boiling water to see if it does the trick.

Salt - this is very similar to using a vinegar solution although substituting salt instead of vinegar. It can also be very effective without a vinegary smell.

The best solution? Prevent a clogged tub drain from occurring in the first place!

How to Prevent a Clogged Tub Drain

It’s always best to prevent a drain from becoming clogged in the first place.  You can prevent hair and foreign debris from entering your drain by installing a mesh grid drain cover. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix solution by Watco is a push pull stopper with a mesh grid drain cover that is easy to install in under five minutes. The helpful folks at FixMyDrain.com can assist you in selecting the right stopper replacement and installation method.


FixMyDrain.com offers innovative bathtub repair and replacement products by Watco, a name trusted by professionals. We provide helpful videos to show you the easiest way to remove existing bathtub stoppers and install a shiny new stopper with a mesh grid drain cover. Contact us to learn how to fix your drain yourself and protect your drain in the future.