It’s summertime, and that means lots of showers to cool off after sunny days (we hope), and maybe a lot more guests. So, this summer, while your shower works overtime, here’s some top tips on what to do if you need to unblock your drain.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
Most of us probably know this hack as it’s great for unblocking all kinds of drains, not just showers. It’s a great alternative to strong chemical products as everything is natural and can be made at home. To clean your shower drain with Baking Soda and White Vinegar pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar (not the brown fish and chip kind!). Let it fizz away and leave for at least 20 minutes before pouring a kettle full of hot water down to flush it all away.
TIP – Clean your drain when you won’t need to use it for a good few hours and leave it as long as possible to let it work its magic if you can.
Grab the kettle
Boiling water is ideal for getting rid of soap scum build-ups and other shower blockages. It can be a great alternative to chemical cleaners as can help to melt away anything which is stuck to the inners of your pipes.
TIP – Do this once a week to keep your shower drain in tip top condition.
Shop bought drain cleaners & unblockers
If you need something with a bit more strength, alchemical cleaner from the shop might be just what you need. There are many brands, types and ranges to choose from, so when wanting to clean your shower drain, try and get one designed specifically for bathrooms as this will be targeted at banishing that soap scum and hair in your pipes. Just follow the instructions on the product and you’re good to go.
TIP – Always open a window or door and turn on your extractor fan when using chemical products to help ventilate the room.
Use your hands
Can you spy the blockage? If so, you might be more successful popping on some rubber cloves, removing your drain cover and grabbing it out. If you can reach the blockage, remove it with your fingers, but if you need that extra length, you can try using an old metal coat hanger which is bent out of shape to reach the blockage.
TIP – Once the blockage is removed, given the pipes a good flush out with a kettle full of hot water to get things flowing again.
If you need any more help with your shower drain, or any other drains in your home, give Happy Drains a call. We’re friendly professionals who can give you advice and help solve all your drainage problems. Call us today on 07824 757572 or 0800 849 8099.