Hey there! If you‘re struggling with a clogged bathtub drain, I totally understand how frustrating that can be. As a home improvement pro, I‘m going to walk you through all the ins and outs of unclogging that pesky drain yourself using simple homemade solutions. With a little bit of elbow grease and common household ingredients, you can definitely get your water flowing freely again!
What‘s Causing the Clog?
Before we dig into the solutions, it helps to understand what‘s likely causing the backup in the first place. Here are the usual suspects:
Hair
Loose hairs washing down the drain are the #1 cause of bathtub clogs. A 2016 plumbing industry survey found that a whopping 95% of professionals identify hair as the primary culprit. All those tiny strands can wind around each other creating a tangled mass that water struggles to pass through.
Soap Residue
It‘s not just hair. The fatty acids in soap and shampoo can leave a filmy residue along the pipe walls over time. This sticky gunk traps other debris passing through and accumulates in layers.
Oils and Grime
Things like bath oils, creams, and makeup remover that routinely go down the drain are also a common source of clogs. These oily products congeal as they cool and harden into a glue-like substance that grabs onto other gunk.
Mineral Deposits
In areas with hard water, mineral deposits from the calcium and magnesium in the water also progressively restrict drain lines. This limescale and soap scum mixture is like cement!
Food Particles
Even tiny food scraps that make their way into the tub drain during bath time or from your kitchen sink disposal can accumulate over time. Grease and oils from these food particles are especially problematic.
Mildew and Grime
Like any damp environment, drain pipes tend to collect moisture and dirt. This mildew and sludge also captures all kinds of debris traveling through the drain.
Knowing the most common causes can help you identify what might be lurking in your pipes and the best way to tackle it. Now let‘s get down to business unclogging that drain!
Plunging – A Drain Unclogging Classic
The suction created by a simple sink plunger is effective for dislodging minor blockages. About 75% of easy clogs can be cleared with a few good plunges.
Make sure to use a flanged "cup" style plunger, not a flat flange-less one. The cup creates better suction. Also, be sure the tub is empty of standing water before starting.
Here‘s a quick step-by-step:
- Plug the overflow drain – This is crucial! Stuff a wet rag or towel into the overflow opening 3-4 inches. This forces the suction through the main drain instead of escaping through the overflow.
- Create a tight seal – Make sure the plunger cup encircles the entire drain opening to maximize suction. Fill the tub with a couple inches of water if needed to make the seal watertight.
- Plunge vigorously – Work the plunger up and down rhythmically 10-15 times, forcing air to the blockage to loosen and dislodge it..
- Rinse – Let the tub drain completely to test if the clog cleared. Flush with hot water.
Ahh, nice and simple! But for more tenacious obstructions, we need to bust out the big guns. Let‘s look at solutions using common household ingredients.
Boiling Water – Hot Water Power
For light buildup like hair and soap scum, boiling water can be all you need to get things moving again.
Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil on the stove. Carefully pour it directly into the drain opening. Caution: boiling water can stain enamel tubs, so you may want to place a towel down first.
The hot water will soften and help wash away the gunk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the boiling water time to dissolve and dislodge the clog.
Follow up by running hot tap water for a minute or two to rinse any loose debris down the pipes. I‘d start with this simple hot water method before trying anything more potent.
Baking Soda and Vinegar – A Fizzy Drain Dynamo
Using baking soda and vinegar together creates an awesome chemical reaction and bubbles that can break up inside the drain.
Start by pouring about 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Let it settle fully into the pipes – about 2-3 minutes. Then carefully add 1 cup of vinegar. The vinegar will instantly activate the bubbling reaction with the baking soda.
Quickly plug the drain opening with a stopper or wet cloth. This contains the foam and fizz inside the pipes so it has time to work on dissolving the clog. Let the mixture bubble and churn away at the gunk for 30-60 minutes before rinsing.
The combination of an alkali like baking soda and an acid like vinegar gives you a powerful punch against all kinds of buildup. For extra cleaning power, use hot vinegar straight from the microwave – like a deep cleaning hot tub!
Salt and Vinegar – An Abrasive Acidic Combo
For an extra abrasive boost, you can add some regular table salt to the vinegar. The coarse grains of the salt combined with the acid in the vinegar give a scrubbing effect on stuck-on gunk.
Mix together 1/4 cup salt and 1/2 cup hot vinegar and dump down the drain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with very hot water. You can repeat the treatment for especially stubborn clogs.
The salt adds an abrasive texture while the vinegar dissolves oily and soapy deposits. Just what the plumber ordered for nasty buildup!
Baking Soda and Salt – A Drain Degunking Duo
Here‘s another alternative: Skip the vinegar and use baking soda with salt only. The alkaline baking soda loosens deposits, while the salt scrubs it away.
Dump about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1/4 cup regular table salt. Let the mixture settle, then pour a full kettle of hot water down the drain. The hot water will activate the fizzing reaction with the baking soda to get it working on the gunk.
Let it sit for 20-30 minutes if possible before rinsing thoroughly with more hot water. Check out that drain flow!
Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda – Double the Drain Dynamite
Cream of tartar adds even more cleaning power and abrasion when combined with baking soda. To use this combo, simply mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup cream of tartar in a container.
Slowly pour the mixture directly into the drain opening, using a funnel if needed. Follow up by carefully pouring a full kettle of boiling water down the drain.
Let the drain sit undisturbed for at least 15 minutes before rinsing the drain. The cream of tartar and baking soda duo will scrub away years of grime buildup!
Getting to Deep Clogs
Sometimes those household mixtures need a little help getting down into the nitty gritty of a deeper clog. Here are some tips to really work the mixtures down into the drain:
Use an Extending Rod
Attach a short wooden spoon, wire hanger, or other small rod to the end of a straightened out metal hanger. Carefully insert into the drain opening and twist it around to churn up the clog and work the drain mixture directly into the gunked up mess.
Retrieve the rod periodically to remove debris and clean it off before sending it back down again. Just be very gentle and don‘t force it to avoid scratching your pipes.
Follow With Boiling Water
After you‘ve given the drain mixture time to work, follow up by slowly and carefully pouring a full kettle of boiling water down the drain. This will help activate and push the cleaning solution further down the pipes.
Let it sit for another 15 minutes or so before rinsing with more hot water.
Repeat as Needed
You may need to repeat the boiling water flush and drain treatment several times for a severe clog situation. Just allow plenty of time in between for the mixtures to work before flushing again.
With a little time and repetition, even the most stubborn clogs don‘t stand a chance against these homemade drain solutions!
When It‘s Time to Call in the Pros
Hey, if you‘ve given it your all with these homemade methods and the clog still won‘t budge, it may be time to bring in a pro.
Here are some signs it‘s time to pick up the phone:
- You‘ve thoroughly tried multiple methods multiple times with no luck
- The clog suddenly returns days or weeks later after initially unclogging
- You notice bubbling or draining trouble in other fixtures, indicating a main line issue
- You detect a sewage odor coming from the drain
- The tub won‘t hold standing water at all due to a complete clog
At the end of the day, professional drain cleaners have the high-powered equipment like industrial strength augers and pressure washers that can tackle serious obstructions or pipe damage better than DIY methods.
The average cost for a basic professional drain cleaning ranges $150-$350. Price varies based on complexity. Compared to the cost of damage from a drain backup, it‘s a worthwhile investment!
I hope these tips give you everything you need to get that pesky clogged tub drain fixed yourself without harsh chemicals! Remember to start simple and give the solutions time to work. With a little trial and error, you can definitely get your water flowing freely once again. But don‘t be afraid to call in a pro when you need the big guns!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Now get out there and unclog that drain!
