When homeowners discover a slow draining shower, it often induces groans of frustration. Shower drains are the most abused in many homes, collecting hair, dead skin cells, soap, and even lost trinket items. Without regular cleaning, these substances build up, tightening their grip on your drain like a stubborn plug. Thankfully, knowing how to clean your shower drain can address this problem. This guide will give you an insight into timely drain maintenance and highlight some effective cleaning approaches.
Why Cleaning Your Shower Drain is Important
Cleaning your shower drain is crucial for various reasons. The buildup causes foul smells that can permeate your bathroom and sometimes the entire house, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Blocked drains can become breeding grounds for bacteria and insects, posing health dangers. It can also lead to water pooling around your feet during showers, creating a slippery hazard. For optimal bathroom hygiene and safety, ensure your shower drain gets frequent cleanings.
The Basic Preparation Steps
Before initiating the cleaning work itself, you need to undertake certain preliminary steps. Gather all equipment and materials you need such as gloves, bucket or bowl, plunger, screwdriver etc. Also clear your bathroom floor of any obstacles.
The Right Tools for The Job
Selecting suitable tools forms an integral part of drain cleaning processes — one of them being a plumbing snake. This handy tool slithers through pipes easily to break down any blockages. If you do not have a plumbing snake on hand, a straightened wire coat-hanger works as a practical alternative.
Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
Chemical cleaners are often used when physical methods fail to remedy slow drainage issues. They are designed to eat away at bio-buildup that is causing blockages. However, they should be utilized as a last resort because they can potentially erode old pipes.
Using a Plunger
Plungers form the first line of defense for most draining issues at home. The suction they create can dislodge and break up minor clogs, ensuring smooth water flow.
The Wet and Dry Vacuum Approach
A wet and dry vacuum possesses incredible suction power to effectively dislodge blockages from your shower drain. Adapting it to fit over the drain can improve its efficacy significantly.
The Vinegar and Baking Soda Method
This DIY friendly and eco-friendly tactic uses standard household materials. Regularly applying this home-made solution to your drains helps keep them clear.
Cleaning Hair from The Drain
If your drains are mainly stopped up by hair, there exist multiple approaches to handling such a situation. Hair Catchers, plastic sticks with barbs, or even sticky tape wound around a stick are all effective means of snagging and removing hair that is choking up your drains.
Removal and Cleaning of The Drain Cover
Over time, scum often accumulates on drain covers acting as an initial blockage point. By removing and cleaning the cover regularly, you can help prevent severe downstream blockages.
Hiring Professional Help
If DIY does not work or if you do not have time yourself for the job then it is recommended to call professional help. Check this out, for genuine people’s experiences with one such service provider.
Maintaining Clean Drains
Proactive maintenance is the best approach to prevent drain clogging issues. Regular use of biodegradable solutions, periodically checking for build-up, and investing in drain covers can all contribute to maintaining clear and healthy shower drains.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While attempting to clean your drain avoid forcing items down the drain as it could lead to bigger issues. Also dumping harsh chemicals haphazardly or using metal snakes on soft plastic pipes should also be avoided.
Recap
It is critical that you understand how to clean your shower drain effectively, as it not only contributes to a hygienic bathroom environment but also safeguards your family’s health. The process involves understanding the importance of clean drains, preparing adequately, choosing the right tools, employing various cleaning methods, maintaining clean drains regularly and avoiding common cleaning mistakes. In some cases, hiring professional help might be the safest and most effective route. So next time you spot a slow draining shower, grab this guide and make that annoying problem disappear.