How to unclog hair from the drain
Picture the scene; it’s been a long day and you’re looking forward to unwinding in a steaming hot shower. You turn the shower on, get in and then find the water inching slowly towards your ankles. Unfortunately, this means it’s highly likely you’ve got a blocked drain.
One of the most common culprits for drain blockages is hair, especially in households with several long-haired family members. When strands of hair are shed, they can slip down the drain, tangling as they go and creating a knot where soap scum and other debris can also accumulate. But how do you unclog hair from a drain? The team here at 1st Call Drain Clearance & Technical Services is here to offer some advice.
Try by hand
The simplest way to try and unclog the drain is by using your hands. Often, strands of hair will wrap around the plughole where they can be easily reached. You could try gently tugging at these strands with your hands – it’s always a good idea to wear gloves to protect yourself from any grime – and you might find that more hair and debris follow.
If you’re a bit squeamish and don’t fancy touching any hair from the drain, you could try using an old pair of tweezers or fashioning a makeshift hook out of a coathanger.
Use a plunger
Plungers can be a handy tool for dislodging clogs of hair in your drain and they’re simple enough to use. First, fill the shower with enough water to cover the bottom of the plunger before forcefully plunging up and then down; this should hopefully create enough suction to free up the blockage.
Pour boiling water
Dealing with a blocked drain can be stressful and you might want to pop the kettle on and have a cup of tea while you’re deciding what to do. However, boiling water may actually be the answer.
Often, clogs of hair can be held in place by soap scum and grease, and by pouring boiling water down the drain, these can be loosened and dissolved, allowing the hair to be properly flushed away.
Use baking soda and vinegar
Often, your drain can be unblocked using things you have in the cupboard at home, namely baking soda and vinegar. Firstly, try and scoop out any standing water that won’t clear and then pour roughly one cup of baking soda down the drain. Immediately follow this with an equal amount of vinegar – ideally white vinegar or apple cider vinegar – and wait for around 10 minutes; you should hear a fizzing sound as the two ingredients react. This combination should dislodge clogs and break down soap scum and grease. Then, slowly pour some boiling water down the drain to rinse this away; if you find the clog still hasn’t cleared, you may need to repeat this process.
Use a commercial drain cleaner
Most supermarkets will sell commercial drain unblockers that can often dissolve stubborn clogs of hair. However, these can contain strong chemicals, so it’s vital that you always follow the instructions on the packaging very carefully, ensure proper ventilation and use protective gloves and equipment. If you’re unsure whether these products are suitable for your drainage system, always consult with a professional first before use to avoid damaging your pipes.
Call in the professionals
Of course, all the DIY methods mentioned above are no substitute for the expertise of a qualified plumber, such as the experts here at 1st Call Drain Clearance & Technical Services. Sometimes, a clog may be lodged too deeply in your drain and require specialist equipment to loosen it, such as a drain snake or pressure jet.
A drain snake is a long, flexible auger that can be pushed deep into your drains to remove or hook up any knot of hair. If this fails, a pressure jet can be used; this dispels water at an extremely high pressure to force loose any blockages. If you find your drains experience frequent clogs, we can also carry out a CCTV drainage survey to identify the root cause.
If you’re struggling with blocked drains, get in touch with the team at 1st Call Drain Clearance & Technical Services today. We’ve been serving domestic and commercial customers across Central London, Brentford and beyond for more than 25 years – contact us to book an appointment.