How to Prevent Clogs in Your Shower Drain

If you have thick hair which you wear rather long, then you're probably aware of some of the pretty hairy problems you often get into. Hair can be the reason why you have blocked drains every few weeks. What you may not know, is that you can prevent hairballs from being your drain's downfall. Here are four different ways to help you keep your drains hair-free.

Use a hair catcher  

Thin strands of hair can easily wash down the drain and clump together to form a stubborn blockage. You can prevent a stubborn blockage using a hair catcher.

A hair catcher is an affordable, practical solution that can save you costly plumbing repairs and reduce the frequency of blocked drains. Hair catchers are made of materials that allow water to drain while preventing foreign objects from falling through.

Hair catchers come in many styles, including dome models that fit around your drain stopper. There are plastic hair catchers as well as metal hair catchers. Make sure to remove and clean your hair catcher after every use to guarantee maximum function.

Pour boiling water down the drain

The effort of pouring a gallon of boiling water down your drain is a fraction of the effort you will need to unclog a blocked drain. Make a habit of pouring boiling water down your drain at least once a week, to help loosen any hair, soap and shampoo residue clogging your drain.

Follow this up by turning on the shower on a warm setting for at least five minutes to continue pushing hair and soap residue far down and out as you can get. This is one of the fastest and cheapest ways of preventing a hairy situation when done routinely.

Use a natural approach

Despite your best efforts of pouring hot water down your drain and using a hair catcher, a clog is still bound to occur. A home-made drain cleaner is a perfect solution for when your shower drain starts to drain slowly than it normally does.

Baking soda and vinegar solution can prevent your shower drain from backing up once there is a clog. Pouring a tablespoon or two of baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar can work well in removing a clog.

Hairy situations happen!

Despite your best prevention strategies, hair will still get stuck in your drains and cause serious clogs. Calling a plumber is the best strategy against a hairy offense. Don't let blocked shower drains ruin your day. A plumber will fix your problem and get you back in your shower in no time.