How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain
Updated September 18, 2026
Can I do this myself?
Safe to DIY
Yes, clearing a bathtub drain is a safe and common DIY repair. The main risks are slipping in a wet tub and chemical burns if drain cleaners have been used, so skip the chemicals and work carefully.
When you find yourself standing in ankle-deep water at the end of a shower, the bathtub drain is almost certainly clogged with hair. Hair tangles with soap scum and conditioner just below the drain opening, forming a dense mat that catches everything else. It builds up slowly, so the drain gets a little slower each week until one day it barely moves.
Clearing it is mostly about getting to the clog. That means removing the drain stopper, which is often the trickiest part because there are several types: lift-and-turn, push-pull, toe-touch (push to open, push to close), flip-lever, and trip-lever stoppers operated from the overflow plate. This guide explains how to remove each common type, then how to pull out the hair with a cheap plastic zip tool or a hand drain snake.
Chemical drain cleaners are a poor choice for bathtubs. Hair is hard to dissolve, and a failed attempt leaves a caustic pool in the tub that you then have to work around. A mechanical approach is faster, cheaper and far safer.
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Signs of the problem
- Water pools around your feet while showering
- The tub takes several minutes or longer to empty after a bath
- Gurgling or sucking sounds from the drain
- Visible hair or grey sludge around the drain or stopper
- A musty or sour smell from the tub drain
Common causes
Hair and soap scum
Most commonHair is the main cause of tub clogs by far. It wraps around the stopper mechanism and crossbars just under the drain opening, and soap scum binds it into a solid mat. Long hair and pet hair from bathing animals make it worse.
Gunked-up stopper or trip-lever linkage
Most commonTrip-lever tubs have a plunger or linkage that runs down inside the overflow pipe. Hair and scum collect on it and slow the flow even when the drain opening looks clear.
Small objects and grit
SometimesBottle caps, razor covers, sand and small toys can lodge in the drain or trap below the tub, catching hair and creating a clog.
Deeper blockage or venting problem
Less commonIf the tub backs up when the toilet is flushed or the washing machine drains, the clog is further down in the shared drain line, or the vent is blocked. That needs a plumber.
Safety first: before you start
- Critical:Never use chemical drain cleaners before or while working on the drain, and never mix cleaning products. If one has been used, do not plunge or snake: ventilate, wear gloves and eye protection, and call a plumber if it will not drain.
- Critical:Put a towel or non-slip mat in the tub before kneeling or leaning in. Wet enamel and acrylic are very slippery.
- Wear rubber gloves. The clog is full of bacteria and old soap.
- Keep hair dryers, heaters and other electrical items out of the bathroom while water is standing in the tub.
- Place small screws and parts in a cup, not on the tub edge, so they do not fall down the drain.
Tools & materials
Tools
- Screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips)
- Needle-nose pliers
- Plastic barbed drain cleaning tool (zip tool)
- Hand drain snake (6 mm/quarter-inch cable, about 7.5 m/25 ft)
- Cup plunger
- Rubber gloves
- Flashlight
- Old towel and a small bag for the gunk
Materials
- Wet rag (to block the overflow)
- Plumber's grease for reassembly
- Replacement stopper or O-ring, if worn
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Drain what you can and prepare
Scoop out any standing water into a bucket. Lay a towel in the tub to kneel on and protect the surface. Look at the drain to identify your stopper type.
- 2
Remove the stopper
Lift-and-turn: open the stopper, hold the body and unscrew the small knob on top, then remove the screw underneath with a screwdriver and lift the stopper out. Toe-touch: open it, unscrew the cap counter-clockwise by hand, then unscrew the post underneath. Push-pull: unscrew the knob, then unscrew the whole stopper counter-clockwise. Flip-lever: pull the stopper up and wiggle it out. Trip-lever (lever on the overflow plate): remove the two screws on the overflow plate and pull the whole linkage out through the overflow opening.
Tip: Take a photo of the linkage from a trip-lever tub before cleaning it, so you can set the length the same way when reinstalling.
- 3
Pull out the hair clog
Look into the drain with a flashlight. Grab visible hair with needle-nose pliers. Then push a plastic zip tool down the drain as far as it goes, twist slightly, and pull it straight out. Repeat several times until it comes out clean. Bag the gunk and throw it in the bin, not the toilet.
- 4
Clean the stopper and linkage
Scrub hair and scum off the stopper, its threads and any trip-lever linkage with an old toothbrush and hot soapy water. Check any rubber O-ring or gasket. If it is cracked or flattened, replace it so the stopper holds water.
- 5
Test the flow
Run hot tap water into the open drain for a minute. If it drains freely, go to reassembly. If it is still slow, the clog is deeper, below the drain or in the trap.
- 6
Plunge the tub drain
Stuff a wet rag firmly into the overflow opening (or hold it over with your hand) so pressure is not lost. Run a few centimetres (an inch or two) of water into the tub, seal a cup plunger over the drain, and plunge firmly 10 to 15 times. Pull off sharply and see if the water rushes away.
- 7
Snake the drain
Feed the snake cable into the drain opening, or through the overflow opening on trip-lever tubs, which gives an easier path to the trap. Push until you meet resistance, lock the cable, and crank clockwise while pushing gently. When it breaks through or grabs something, pull the cable out slowly while cranking, wiping it with a rag as it comes out.
Warning: Do not force the snake if it stops hard. You may be at a pipe fitting, and forcing it can damage older pipes. Back out slightly and try again at a slightly different angle.
- 8
Reassemble and check
Apply a light coat of plumber's grease to threads and O-rings, then reinstall the stopper or linkage in reverse order. For trip-lever tubs, lower the linkage back in the same orientation and screw the overflow plate on snugly. Fill the tub a little with the stopper closed to check that it holds water, then open it and watch it drain.
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How to check it's fixed
- A shower's worth of water drains away without pooling around your feet
- The stopper opens and closes fully and holds water when closed
- No gurgling as the tub empties
When to stop and call a professional
- The tub backs up when the toilet is flushed or the washing machine drains
- Several drains in the house are slow at the same time
- The snake cannot get past the blockage after several tries
- Water leaks through the ceiling below the tub or around the overflow plate
- A chemical drain cleaner has been used and the tub still holds water
How to prevent it
- Fit a mesh hair catcher over the drain and empty it after every few showers.
- Brush long hair before showering to reduce loose hair going down the drain.
- Once a month, pull out the stopper and clean it, or run a zip tool down the drain.
- Bathe pets with a hair catcher in place, or use a separate wash area.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a bathtub stopper with no visible screw?
Toe-touch and push-pull stoppers usually unscrew by hand. Open the stopper and turn the cap or the whole stopper counter-clockwise. If it will not budge, grip it with a cloth for extra grip. Some flip-lever stoppers just pull straight up.
Can I use a drain cleaner on a bathtub clog?
It is not recommended. Chemical cleaners struggle to dissolve hair, can harm older pipes and finishes, and leave a hazardous liquid in the tub if they fail. A zip tool or drain snake removes the hair directly and safely.
What is the overflow drain for, and does it matter for unclogging?
The overflow is the plate with an opening high on the tub wall. It stops the tub overflowing and, on many tubs, houses the stopper linkage. When plunging, block it with a wet rag so the pressure goes toward the clog.
How often should I clean my bathtub drain?
In a busy household with long hair, clean the stopper and run a zip tool down the drain about once a month. A hair catcher reduces this to every few months.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Homes differ, so follow your product manuals and local codes. If anything looks different from what's described, or you feel unsure, stop and call a qualified professional. In an emergency, leave the area and call your local emergency number.
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