How to Clear a Hair Clog in Your Bathroom Drain
A slow-draining bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub is one of those small plumbing problems that can quickly become frustrating. In many cases, the culprit is a hair clog. Hair collects inside the drain and gradually combines with soap residue and other debris until water has difficulty getting through.
Fortunately, if the clog is minor and water is still draining, you can try a couple of things yourself before calling a plumber. However, it is also important to recognize when what appears to be a simple hair clog may actually be a different plumbing problem.
562-246-9409
Why Hair Will Clog Your Bathroom Drains
Every time you shower, wash your hair, shave, or use a bathroom sink, small amounts of hair can enter the drain. A few strands aren’t usually a problem. Over time, however, hair can tangle and catch on the drain assembly or inside the drainpipe.
Soap scum, toothpaste, skin oils, and other debris then stick to the hair. Eventually, what began as a few strands can turn into a surprisingly stubborn hair clog.
You may first notice that water takes a little longer to disappear. As the blockage grows, the drain slows and may eventually stop draining altogether.
Try a Plastic Hair Removal Tool First
Before reaching for chemicals, one of the simplest solutions is a small plastic drain-cleaning tool, sometimes called a hair-removal tool or plastic drain snake.
These inexpensive plastic strips are designed to slide down into the drain. Small barbs or teeth along the tool grab onto hair so you can pull it back out.
It isn’t always a pretty sight when you see what comes out, but these little tools can be surprisingly effective!
Carefully insert the tool into the drain, move it around slightly, and slowly pull it back out. You may need to repeat the process several times. If the problem is a hair clog located near the drain opening, you may be able to remove most of it in just a few minutes.
Once you’re finished, run plenty of water through the drain and see whether the flow has improved.
562-246-9409
Can Bleach Dissolve a Hair Clog?
Here’s a plumbing tip Mitch Clemmons originally shared back in 2016: household liquid bleach can break down hair.
Hair is primarily made from a protein called keratin. Household bleach contains strong oxidizing and alkaline chemicals that can break down proteins, which is why bleach may sometimes help dissolve hair trapped inside a drain.
If the drain is still flowing and you are reasonably certain hair is causing the problem, a small amount of ordinary household liquid bleach may help break down the hair clog. Give it some time to work before thoroughly flushing the drain with plenty of water.
However, handle bleach carefully. Wear gloves and eye protection, avoid splashing it on your clothing or surrounding surfaces, and rinse any bleach that gets onto metal finishes.
Most importantly, never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, acids, commercial drain cleaners, or other household chemicals. Mixing bleach with certain products can release dangerous gases.
That Drain Clog May Not Be Hair
This is where knowing when to call a licensed plumber becomes important.
Hair is certainly one of the most common causes of bathroom drain problems, but not every slow drain is caused by a hair clog.
Soap scum can gradually build up inside a pipe. Hard-water minerals can restrict the diameter of older drain lines. Dental floss, cotton swabs, small objects, and other debris can also become lodged in the plumbing. Sometimes, what seems like a simple bathroom drain problem is actually caused by a blockage much farther down the line.
Drain Problems – Could it be Roots?
If several fixtures in your home begin draining slowly at the same time, that’s another indication that you may be dealing with something more significant than hair caught beneath the drain.
In those situations, repeatedly pouring products down the drain won’t solve the underlying problem.
562-246-9409
What About Commercial Chemical Drain Cleaners?
When a drain is moving slowly, it can be tempting to reach for one of the powerful chemical drain cleaners sold at grocery and hardware stores. However, stronger isn’t necessarily better.
Harsh drain-cleaning chemicals can be difficult on certain plumbing materials, and they can create an additional hazard if they remain trapped behind a blockage. They can also be dangerous for the plumber who eventually has to open or work on that drain.
That’s another reason a simple plastic hair-removal tool can be a good first choice when you suspect a hair clog.
Don’t Pour Bleach Into a Completely Clogged Drain
There is an important difference between a drain that is moving slowly and one that is completely stopped.
If water isn’t draining at all, skip the bleach and call a plumber. The bleach may never reach the actual blockage. Instead, it can remain trapped in the pipe along with the standing water.
The same caution applies to other chemical drain cleaners.
When a drain is completely blocked, mechanically clearing the line and identifying the source of the obstruction is usually a much better approach.
562-246-9409
Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging?
A drain that needs attention once every few years may simply have accumulated hair and soap. However, if you’re clearing the same drain repeatedly, there could be another reason for the problem.
The pipe may have significant buildup, an obstruction may be deeper in the drain system, or there could be an issue with the drain line’s condition or configuration.
Repeated clogs are worth investigating because clearing the immediate blockage doesn’t necessarily address the underlying cause.
When It’s Time to Call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing
If you’ve pulled out the visible hair and your sink, shower, or bathtub is still draining slowly, don’t assume you simply need more chemicals. At that point, having a licensed plumber take a look can save you time and potentially prevent a larger plumbing problem.
A professional plumber can determine where the blockage is and what is actually causing it. Once the cause is identified, the plumber can use the appropriate method to clear the line rather than guessing at the problem.
Sometimes the solution really is as simple as pulling out a wad of hair with a plastic drain tool. Sometimes bleach can help break down hair in a slow-moving drain. Other times, however, that stubborn hair clog isn’t a hair clog at all.
If your bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub still isn’t draining properly, call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing. We’ll find the source of the problem, clear the drain properly, and help get your plumbing flowing again. Call us today for help: 562-246-9409
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Clear a Hair Clog
How to Clear a Hair Clog in Your Bathroom Drain
A slow-draining bathroom sink, shower, or bathtub is one of those small plumbing problems that can quickly become frustrating. In many cases, the culprit is a hair clog. Hair collects inside the drain and gradually combines with soap residue and other debris until water has difficulty getting through.
Fortunately, if the clog is minor and water is still draining, you can try a couple of things yourself before calling a plumber. However, it is also important to recognize when what appears to be a simple hair clog may actually be a different plumbing problem.
562-246-9409
Why Hair Will Clog Your Bathroom Drains
Every time you shower, wash your hair, shave, or use a bathroom sink, small amounts of hair can enter the drain. A few strands aren’t usually a problem. Over time, however, hair can tangle and catch on the drain assembly or inside the drainpipe.
Soap scum, toothpaste, skin oils, and other debris then stick to the hair. Eventually, what began as a few strands can turn into a surprisingly stubborn hair clog.
You may first notice that water takes a little longer to disappear. As the blockage grows, the drain slows and may eventually stop draining altogether.
Try a Plastic Hair Removal Tool First
Before reaching for chemicals, one of the simplest solutions is a small plastic drain-cleaning tool, sometimes called a hair-removal tool or plastic drain snake.
These inexpensive plastic strips are designed to slide down into the drain. Small barbs or teeth along the tool grab onto hair so you can pull it back out.
It isn’t always a pretty sight when you see what comes out, but these little tools can be surprisingly effective!
Carefully insert the tool into the drain, move it around slightly, and slowly pull it back out. You may need to repeat the process several times. If the problem is a hair clog located near the drain opening, you may be able to remove most of it in just a few minutes.
Once you’re finished, run plenty of water through the drain and see whether the flow has improved.
562-246-9409
Can Bleach Dissolve a Hair Clog?
Here’s a plumbing tip Mitch Clemmons originally shared back in 2016: household liquid bleach can break down hair.
Hair is primarily made from a protein called keratin. Household bleach contains strong oxidizing and alkaline chemicals that can break down proteins, which is why bleach may sometimes help dissolve hair trapped inside a drain.
If the drain is still flowing and you are reasonably certain hair is causing the problem, a small amount of ordinary household liquid bleach may help break down the hair clog. Give it some time to work before thoroughly flushing the drain with plenty of water.
However, handle bleach carefully. Wear gloves and eye protection, avoid splashing it on your clothing or surrounding surfaces, and rinse any bleach that gets onto metal finishes.
Most importantly, never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, acids, commercial drain cleaners, or other household chemicals. Mixing bleach with certain products can release dangerous gases.
That Drain Clog May Not Be Hair
This is where knowing when to call a licensed plumber becomes important.
Hair is certainly one of the most common causes of bathroom drain problems, but not every slow drain is caused by a hair clog.
Soap scum can gradually build up inside a pipe. Hard-water minerals can restrict the diameter of older drain lines. Dental floss, cotton swabs, small objects, and other debris can also become lodged in the plumbing. Sometimes, what seems like a simple bathroom drain problem is actually caused by a blockage much farther down the line.
Drain Problems – Could it be Roots?
If several fixtures in your home begin draining slowly at the same time, that’s another indication that you may be dealing with something more significant than hair caught beneath the drain.
In those situations, repeatedly pouring products down the drain won’t solve the underlying problem.
562-246-9409
What About Commercial Chemical Drain Cleaners?
When a drain is moving slowly, it can be tempting to reach for one of the powerful chemical drain cleaners sold at grocery and hardware stores. However, stronger isn’t necessarily better.
Harsh drain-cleaning chemicals can be difficult on certain plumbing materials, and they can create an additional hazard if they remain trapped behind a blockage. They can also be dangerous for the plumber who eventually has to open or work on that drain.
That’s another reason a simple plastic hair-removal tool can be a good first choice when you suspect a hair clog.
Don’t Pour Bleach Into a Completely Clogged Drain
There is an important difference between a drain that is moving slowly and one that is completely stopped.
If water isn’t draining at all, skip the bleach and call a plumber. The bleach may never reach the actual blockage. Instead, it can remain trapped in the pipe along with the standing water.
The same caution applies to other chemical drain cleaners.
When a drain is completely blocked, mechanically clearing the line and identifying the source of the obstruction is usually a much better approach.
562-246-9409
Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging?
A drain that needs attention once every few years may simply have accumulated hair and soap. However, if you’re clearing the same drain repeatedly, there could be another reason for the problem.
The pipe may have significant buildup, an obstruction may be deeper in the drain system, or there could be an issue with the drain line’s condition or configuration.
Repeated clogs are worth investigating because clearing the immediate blockage doesn’t necessarily address the underlying cause.
When It’s Time to Call Mitch Clemmons Plumbing
If you’ve pulled out the visible hair and your sink, shower, or bathtub is still draining slowly, don’t assume you simply need more chemicals. At that point, having a licensed plumber take a look can save you time and potentially prevent a larger plumbing problem.
A professional plumber can determine where the blockage is and what is actually causing it. Once the cause is identified, the plumber can use the appropriate method to clear the line rather than guessing at the problem.
Sometimes the solution really is as simple as pulling out a wad of hair with a plastic drain tool. Sometimes bleach can help break down hair in a slow-moving drain. Other times, however, that stubborn hair clog isn’t a hair clog at all.
