Removing hair from a tub drain can be pretty straightforward, but there are several different ways to go about doing it.
Almost all of us will have to unclog a drain at some point, and oftentimes the biggest culprit to the clog is a wad of hair.
Though no one looks forward to fishing these clumps out of a drain, there are different ways to do it that can make the job a little less unpleasant.
In order to remove a hair clog from a tub drain, you can either pull it out with tweezers or pliers, snake it out with a special drain device, flush it out with baking soda and vinegar, or phone a professional to do the job for you.
Some home projects bring us great joy, while also serving a purpose. Others have to be done, but there’s nothing fun about them.
Finding a way to do the “un-fun” ones in a fast and effective manner while using the least amount of time, money, or stress is key to helping keep your life running smoothly (and your sanity in check!)
I’m a big fan of home projects and love the feeling when I’ve checked something off my to-do list.
But certain projects I dread, and removing hair from drains is one of them.
But, it has to be done sometimes, and I’ve put together my 4 favorite ways to check this “hair-raising” job off my list quickly!
How To Remove Hair From a Tub Drain
Okay, I’m going to list the ways to remove hair from a tub drain in the order that I think is the most unpleasant to the one that is the least unpleasant – at least physically.
Let’s be honest…hair clogs are just not one of life’s joys.
But there are certain ways that you can remove them that require less of your effort (though maybe more of your wallet’s involvement!)
Pull It Out With Tweezers or Pliers
This is the least appealing way of getting rid of that hair clog if you ask me. Not fun, but gets the job done.
You’ll probably have to do a bit of dismantling in order to get this method to work.
First, take off your drain stopper, either by pulling it out or using a screwdriver.
Then, reach down in the hole with a pair of tweezers or pliers and see if you can grab hold of the middle part of the hair clump.
It may take a few tries to get to the center of the hair, and you may need to get a flashlight, but once you are able to grab hold of the main part of the clump, you can usually pull the whole thing out, depending on how big it is, and how tight it’s wedged in your drain.
I will warn you…it won’t smell good. And you may want to wear gloves if touching a big, soggy ball of hair grosses you out.
But, if you can sink your tweezers or pliers into the middle of the hairball, you will most likely be able to get the majority out quickly and with one pull.
After, try running hot water down the drain and see if the attempt was fully successful.
Snake It Out With Special Drain Device
If your tweezers or pliers won’t do the trick, you may need to use something more aggressive to pull that hair clog loose.
This still requires you to get up close and personal with your drain, but it may be a more effective way to dislodge a particularly stubborn hair clog.
Purchasing a zip-it is not very expensive and these devices come in handy for a variety of different clogs. You snake it down the drain, then twist.
Not only will it wind the hair around itself, but it will break up any leftover strands that don’t want to come out easily.
Then, you gently pull it back out, and ta-da! Your clog issues are solved.
Again, using a snaking device is still not exactly fun, but they are very effective if tweezers or pliers don’t do the trick.
And, thankfully, the price tag won’t make your stomach turn.
Flush It Out With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Okay, this method may not work for the bigger hair clogs, but it takes less physical involvement on your part.
The combination of baking soda and vinegar has been used for years to solve a myriad of home issues, one of the biggest ones being clogged pipes.
You will want to squirt a tiny bit of soap down your drain first and let that settle for a minute. Then, pour one cup of vinegar and then one cup of baking soda. However, make sure you don’t mix them beforehand.
Be patient while the chemical reaction of these two compounds takes place.
After a few minutes, pour a cup of boiling water down the drain.
This should serve as a “chaser“ to remove any last bits of hair that the vinegar/baking soda cocktail couldn’t.
This option is the most cost-effective without making you have to do much dirty work.
If you’re lucky, your chemical compound will do all the dirty work for you.
Phone In The Professional
This is obviously the least satisfying option financially, but if you have a really tough hair clog and nothing else has worked, phoning a professional may be your only option.
A plumber will have the tools and possible tricks that you may not have at home.
They’ll be able to assess the situation and decide if there is something more than just hair clogging your drain.
And, if your drain needs to be disassembled in order to get at the clog, they will know the best way to do that without causing harm to your tub, drain, or pipes.
Make sure that – regardless of what tactic you try – you do not use liquid drain cleaners to try and remove your clog.
These can cause damage to your pipes and really won’t get rid of the clog. Sometimes they will make it worse.
Summing Up Removing Hair from a Tub Drain
There are a few ways you can remove the hair from a tub drain. Some of them – including using tweezers or a snake tool – are not as pleasant, but flushing it out baking soda and vinegar or phoning a professional make the job easier as well.
Whatever route you decide to go, good luck! Removing hair from a tub drain isn’t as difficult as it may seem.
