A slow drain usually builds up over weeks. Hair washes down with every bath, soap scum coats it, and gradually a plug forms just below the drain cover. By the time you notice water pooling around your feet, the blockage is already big. Preventing it is much easier than clearing it.
Why bathroom drains clog
- Hair: the biggest cause, especially in homes with long hair.
- Soap scum: soap mixes with minerals in hard water and leaves a sticky residue that traps hair.
- Dirt and grit: sand and dust from feet and washed clothes settle in the pipe.
1. Catch the hair before it goes down
If you do one thing, do this. Cover the drain with something that lets water through but holds back hair. Disposable drain stickers stick flat over the floor drain. The fine mesh lets water flow, and when the sticker looks full of hair or water starts draining slowly, you peel it off, throw it away and stick on a new one.
2. Brush your hair before bathing
Loose hair comes out when you brush, so brushing before a bath means less of it ends up in the drain.
3. Flush with hot water once a week
A kettle of hot water poured slowly down the drain once a week helps loosen soap scum before it hardens. Use hot, not boiling, water if your pipes are PVC.
4. Try baking soda and vinegar for a mild clean
For a light monthly clean, pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, then a cup of white vinegar. Leave it for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. It's gentler than chemical drain cleaners, which can be harsh on pipes and skin.
5. Push water to the drain, not around it
When water sits on the floor, the grit in it settles in corners and around the drain. Squeegee the floor towards the drain after every bath with a silicone floor wiper, so dirt goes down with plenty of water instead of drying in place.
When to call a plumber
If water still drains slowly after cleaning, comes back up through other drains, or smells bad even when the drain is clean, the blockage may be deeper in the pipe. Call a plumber rather than using more chemicals.
See all our bathroom helpers in the Bath & Shower collection.