How to Prevent Your Shower Drain from Getting Clogged
Nobody wants to step into the shower only to realize that the drain is clogged and water is pooling. If you’re noticing more standing water in your shower or bathtub, or that water is taking longer than normal to drain, your shower drain is probably clogged. It’s best to call a professional plumber to clear a blocked drain. However, it’s possible to take preemptive action to keep your shower drain clear and avoid these problems.
Read our tips below to learn some of the main steps you can take on your own to prevent clogs in your shower drain.
If water is actively backing up and not stopping, call a plumber immediately. The friendly plumbers at Trouble Shooters are available 24/7 for all emergency calls.
Place a Drain Strainer in Your Shower Drain
The most straightforward way to keep debris out of your drain is to place a drain strainer on top of it. A drain catcher, or hair catcher, will trap your hair and prevent It from entering your drain. Hair is one of the most common materials that block shower drains.
You’ll need to make sure that you clean off this drain cover at least once per week.
You should also consider brushing your hair before you step into the shower. Your brush will trap loose hairs so that there’s less hair entering your shower that you have to worry about getting stuck in your drain.
Use Products That Are Less Oily
If you use products such as coconut oil to wash your hair, you should use them less often. And if you use oil-based body care products, be sure to apply them to your skin after you get out of the shower. You should also wipe away oil-based products from your skin before taking a shower.
Oils can solidify in pipes and the drain, leading to deposits that collect other substances like hair and result in clogs.
Do Not Empty Cleaning Buckets in Your Drain
Many people make the mistake of pouring the water from their dirty mop bucket down their shower drain. The water in your mop bucket is probably full of hair and debris that can block your shower drain.
Therefore, your drain will be less likely to get clogged if you choose to empty your dirty mop bucket somewhere else.
Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products to Prevent Drain Clogs
Traditional drain cleaners often have dangerous ingredients such as hydrochloric acid, sodium nitrate, and sodium hypochlorite. These ingredients are corrosive, can cause eye and skin irritation, and are bad for the environment.
Thankfully, there are various environmentally-friendly cleaning products you can use to keep your drain clear.
One great DIY solution that you can pour down your drain to prevent clogs involves mixing together one cup of baking soda, one cup of lemon juice, and three cups of boiling water.
When you are shopping for eco-friendly products to use for preventing shower drain clogs, look for items that use natural enzymes to break down organic materials.
It is also a good idea to look at online reviews for eco-friendly products that you are thinking about purchasing.
Take Action to Keep Your Shower Drain Unclogged
If you want to keep your shower drain unclogged, it’s important to take preventative action. Consider adding a mesh shower strainer and periodically flushing your drain.
If your shower drain is still getting clogged after you’ve taken steps to prevent this, or you’re dealing with a blocked drain, contact the professional plumbers at Trouble Shooters Plumbing & Drains. Our team has the experience and equipment to effectively clean drains for homes and businesses in Scarborough and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
