How to Drain a Clogged Bathtub with Natural Methods

Nothing’s worse than discovering standing water when you’re about to take a shower. Bathtub clogs are typically caused by hair, soap buildup, and other debris in the drain, but luckily, they’re usually easy to remove without resorting to harsh chemical cleaners. WikiHow interviewed professional plumbers and cleaning experts to teach you all the best ways to unclog a bathtub drain naturally, from using a plunger to cleaning with baking soda and vinegar. We’ll also teach you how to prevent clogs in the first place.

Unclogging a Tub Drain Naturally

Professional plumber David Balkan recommends using a plunger. Place the plunger over the drain hole and fill the tub with enough water to cover the lip of the plunger. Push the plunger up and down for 20 seconds at a time. Alternatively, use a drain snake or pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain.

Section 1 of 7:

Unclogging Your Drain with a Plunger

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Remove the drain cover and place your plunger over the drain hole. Balkan says “the good old typical plunger” works well to unclog drains.^{[1]
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David Balkan
Professional Plumber

Expert Interview} Lift and unscrew the drain stopper, and use a paper towel to wipe away any debris around the drain and stopper. Place a plunger with a bell-shaped rubber cup over the drain.
- Most stoppers require a Phillips head screwdriver to remove. Twist the screw counterclockwise until you can pull the stopper out of the shaft.
- If your drain doesn’t have a stopper, it might have a plug or a metal cover. Pull these out by hand, then clean them off.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

David Balkan is a professional plumber, the CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and the president of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning.

Susan Stocker is a green cleaning expert and the owner of Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 green cleaning company in Seattle, WA.

Chris Willatt is a house cleaning professional and the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning service he founded in 2015.

James Schuelke is a professional plumber and the co-owner of Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, CA.
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Fill the tub with enough water to cover the lip of the plunger. Run enough hot water to submerge the cup of the plunger. This allows the plunger to create an airtight seal over the drain and generate plenty of force to knock the clog loose.^{[2]
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- If your tub has an overflow drain, cover it with a wet towel. It is usually a round, metal plate underneath the faucet. It lets air escape, making plunging less effective.
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Plunge the drain quickly for up to 20 seconds. Push the plunger down gently at first so it adheres to the bottom of the tub. Then, move the plunger up and down at a strong, steady pace. After a few tries, remove the plunger to see if the water drains without a problem.^{[3]
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- If the plunger slips off the drain, stop and set it in place again. Keep it firmly attached to the tub floor to maintain the airtight seal over the drain.
- You may have to repeat the process a few times before the water drains properly.
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Flush the drain with hot water to remove the remaining debris. Once the water drains properly, flush out any remaining gunk by pouring hot water down the drain. Use boiling water only if you have metal pipes; for other pipes, use very hot tap water instead.^{[4]
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- If the water still drains slowly, try plunging again, or use another unclogging method.

Section 2 of 7:

Unclogging Your Drain with Boiling Water

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Pour about ¹⁄₂ c (120 mL) of liquid dish soap down the drain. Remove the drain stopper if you haven’t already, so the soap gets inside the drain. Pour it in and wait for it to run down to the clog. The soap lubricates the pipe walls, making the clog much easier to remove.^{[5]
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- Any liquid dish detergent you have available will work.
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Flush the drain with a bucket of hot water. For the best results, boil about 8 c (1,900 mL) of water on the stove instead of using hot tap water. Be very careful when carrying it back to the tub. Wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself. Then, slowly and carefully pour the water down the drain gradually to force out the clog.^{[6]
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- Use boiling water only if you know you have metal pipes. Boiling water may weaken PVC pipe joints or crack porcelain. Use very hot tap water for non-metal pipes.
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Repeat the treatment to clear up stubborn clogs. You may need to add more soap and water to loosen the worst clogs enough. Add more soap first, then slowly pour hot water in after it. If it works, the water will swirl down the drain as it normally would.^{[7]
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- Using a second round of soap and water eliminates greasy clogs from soap and oil.
- If the water is still draining slowly, try another unclogging method, like using a drain snake.

Section 3 of 7:

Unclogging Your Drain with Baking Soda & Vinegar

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Pour equal amounts of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. In a heat-resistant cup, mix a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and white vinegar (usually about ¹⁄₃ cup (79 mL) each). Remove the drain cover and pour the mixture down the drain. It should start fizzing immediately. The chemical reaction will start to dissolve.^{[8]
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- Green cleaning expert Susan Stocker explains that vinegar “has a very high acid content and will break down a good bit of organic content that is stuck.”^{[9]
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- Alternatively, pour the baking soda down the drain first, followed by the vinegar. Both methods work the same way. It’s just a matter of preference.
- Some recommend pouring hot water down the drain before adding your baking soda and vinegar. This may help loosen the clogs.
- If your tub has a drain stopper, be sure to remove it, as you need to get as much of the baking soda down the pipe as you can.
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Pour hot water down the drain after an hour. Ideally, let the baking soda and vinegar work for an hour (though it may take less time, depending on how big the clog is). If you have metal pipes, heat about 8 cups (1,900 mL) of water in a tea kettle or sturdy pot. Once it’s boiling, carefully pour it down the drain. Alternatively, run hot water from your shower or tub. If the water drains quickly, the clog has been cleared. If it doesn’t, repeat the process and try again.^{[10]
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- If you have PVC pipes or are treating porcelain, use hot tap water. Boiling water may weaken the pipe joints or cause cracks.
- Be sure to cover your hands and arms before handling the hot water. Be extremely careful pouring it down the drain.
- If the water continues to drain slowly, try using dish detergent, more hot water, and a drain snake. The problem may be a solid clog, like hair, that needs to be broken up manually.

Section 4 of 7:

Unclogging Your Drain with a Plumber’s Snake

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Remove the drain cover and insert the drain snake until you hit the clog. A drain snake (also known as a plumber’s snake or auger) is a flexible, coiled metal cable that can remove stubborn clogs. Unscrew your drain cover and feed the snake into your bathtub drain until you feel resistance. This means you’ve found the clog.^{[11]
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- House cleaning professional Chris Willatt says you can rent a drain snake if you don’t have one.^{[12]
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- Willatt also adds that a coat hanger is a good DIY alternative to a drain snake.^{[13]
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  Chris Willatt
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  Expert Interview} Straighten out a metal clothes hanger, leaving a hook on the end. Use the hook to grab the clog and pull it out.
By turning the handle, the drain snake will latch onto the clog. As you continue feeding it down the drain, you will feel more resistance as you pick up clogs.^{[14]
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Slowly pull the snake back up when the resistance lessens. When you no longer feel resistance, this usually means you’ve passed the clog. Give the handle one more clockwise turn to ensure the clog is hooked, then turn it counterclockwise to back the snake out of the drain. Go slowly so you don’t lose the clog.^{[15]
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- Once the snake is completely out of the drain, remove and dispose of debris. Run hot water down the drain to make sure the clog is completely gone.

Section 5 of 7:

Unclogging Your Drain with a Wet/Dry Vacuum

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According to professional plumber James Schuelke, “The best way [to unclog a shower drain] is if you have a wet/dry soft vacuum. Take the cover off the [drain] and put the vacuum hose right up against the drain. Turn the vacuum on, and that will extract all of the organic matter, hair, soap scum, all of that.”^{[16]
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James Schuelke
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Section 6 of 7:

When to Call a Plumber

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If you’ve tried all of the above methods but the clog remains, it may be time to call in a professional. The clog may have moved too far into your piping, or you may be dealing with a blocked sewer line. A plumber will be able to assess the problem and fix it using professional tools.^{[17]
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Section 7 of 7:

How to Prevent Clogs

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Hair is one of the main causes of clogged bathtubs and showers. To help prevent this, brush or comb your hair before you get in the shower. This will remove most of the loose hairs so they’re less likely to wind up in your drain.
Even if you brush your hair before hopping in the shower, hair and other debris will still make their way into your drain. Placing a tub strainer or drain screen over your drain will catch a lot of this debris so that it’s less likely to clog your pipes. Empty the strainer regularly.^{[18]
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Clean your shower once a week. Willatt recommends cleaning your shower drain regularly to prevent clogs. “Make sure you’re getting all the hair out,” he explains.^{[19]
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Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} Flush the drain with hot water to remove any new buildup.
- Once a month, clear your drains more deeply by pouring a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and vinegar down the drain.
The bathtub may seem like a good way to dispose of mop water or other wastewater, but dirty water contains debris that can clog your drains. It can also cause contamination. Instead, flush dirty water down the toilet.^{[20]
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How can I clear a bathtub drain without using chemicals?

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.

James Schuelke

Professional Plumber

Expert Answer

You can try putting a wet/dry vacuum hose against the drain and sucking out any hair or debris. However, it may not work as effectively on deep clogs.

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Sometimes fixing a clog takes repeated efforts. Don’t give up until you’ve exhausted all your options.

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You may get splashed with dirty water, especially if you use a plunger. Wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.

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Working with boiling water is dangerous. Always cover up with long-sleeved clothing and a pair of gloves or oven mitts.

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