How to Unclog a Shower or Tub Drain in 6 Steps
By Mike Holt, NJ Master Plumber · October 31, 2026 · 3 min read
Quick answer
Most shower clogs are hair caught just below the drain cover. Take off the cover or stopper, pull out the hair with gloves or needle-nose pliers, then pull out the rest with a plastic zip tool. If water still sits, cover the tub overflow with a wet rag and plunge, or run a small drain snake. Skip chemical drain cleaner.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 to 30 minutes
- You need
- Screwdriver, rubber gloves, plastic drain zip tool, plunger, small drain snake
Rather not risk it? A licensed plumber can handle this for you, with written upfront flat-rate pricing options before any work starts.
A slow shower drain is almost always hair and soap scum caught a few inches below the cover. You can usually pull it out in 10 minutes with a cheap plastic tool, no chemicals needed.
How to unclog a shower or tub drain
Step 1: Take off the drain cover or stopper
On a shower floor, the round cover either has a screw in the middle or pops out with a flat screwdriver. On a tub, a lift-and-turn stopper unscrews by hand, and a toe-touch stopper unscrews counterclockwise. Put the screws somewhere they can't roll down the drain.
Step 2: Pull out the hair you can see
Put on rubber gloves and pull out the hair and gunk near the top. Needle-nose pliers help. Most clogs come out in one clump.
Step 3: Use a plastic zip tool
A zip tool is a thin plastic strip with barbs along the edges, sold at any hardware store for a few dollars. Push it down the drain as far as it goes, wiggle it, and pull it straight up slowly. Repeat until it comes up clean. Then run hot water for a minute.
Step 4: Plunge it
If water still sits, use a cup plunger. On a bathtub, first hold a wet rag tightly over the overflow plate under the faucet. Leave enough water to cover the cup, then push and pull firmly 15 to 20 times.
Step 5: Run a small drain snake
Feed a small hand snake into the drain, turning the handle as you push. On a tub, it's often easier to go in through the overflow opening after taking off its plate. When you feel the clog, keep turning, then pull the cable back out with the hair on it.
Step 6: Put it back and test
Put the cover or stopper back. Run the shower for two minutes and watch the drain. If water still pools, the clog is further down the line. That's the time to call.
Is it the shower or the main line?
If the shower is the only slow drain, the clog is close to the drain. If the tub fills with dirty water when you flush the toilet or run the washing machine, the main line is blocked and the tub is just the lowest place for water to come up. Stop using water and call us. See drain cleaning and our toilet guide for the same warning signs.
What not to do
- Don't pour chemical drain cleaner into a shower or tub. It can damage the finish and older pipes, and it rarely clears hair.
- Don't push a wire hanger down the drain. It packs the hair tighter and scratches the finish.
- Don't keep running the shower hoping it will clear. Standing water can leak around an old drain into the ceiling below.
How to keep hair out of the drain
- Put a mesh hair catcher over the drain and empty it every few showers.
- Brush long hair before showering.
- Pull the drain cover and clear the hair every couple of months, before the water starts to pool.
More habits for every drain in the house are in how to keep drains from clogging.
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Stop and call us if
- The shower or tub fills with water when you flush the toilet or run the washer.
- Several drains in the house are slow at the same time.
- The drain cover or stopper won't come off without breaking it.
- Water is leaking through the ceiling below the shower.
- It's clear at the drain but still won't drain after snaking.
Call 908-873-6686.
Michael Holt
Owner and operator of Plumbing Doctor, NJ Master Plumber (Lic. #36BI01345600) and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
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