PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.

Cleaning shower drain?

EagerLearner
EagerLearner Posts: 4,976 Forumite
edited 28 June 2017 at 9:57AM in Old style MoneySaving
Hi all, shower drain draining really slowly - tried a couple tablespoons of soda crystals with warm water but no good.

I have bicarb of soda - what to do with it? :confused:

Anything but pay a fortune fo Mr Muscle :rolleyes:



[purplesignup][/purplesignup]
MFW #185
Mortgage slowly being offset! £86,987 /58,742 virtual balance
Original mortgage free date 2037/ Now Nov 2034 and counting :T
YNAB lover :D
«134

Comments

  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,690 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If its shower drain likely to be hair.
    Lots of people on here use hair remover........shove it down the drain leave it a while then run water down it.
    Never tried it myself (!!) but seems a good cheap idea to me
  • Cazza
    Cazza Posts: 1,165 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Could try Caustic Soda, but read the back or the packet carefully as it can be quite nasty!
  • EagerLearner
    EagerLearner Posts: 4,976 Forumite
    Hmmm, hair remover costs a fair bit too - have some, but loathe to waste it... looks like a squirt, leave a while, then pour hot water down - will give it a go! Thanks x
    MFW #185
    Mortgage slowly being offset! £86,987 /58,742 virtual balance
    Original mortgage free date 2037/ Now Nov 2034 and counting :T
    YNAB lover :D
  • janetmw
    janetmw Posts: 170 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    A couple of tricks I have tried:

    If you can get to the shower tray before all the water has drained away, use a sink plunger over the drain hole. The extra force exerted can shift the 'gunk'.

    Also, with similar effect, fill a bucket with hot soapy water and pour the water directly over the drain hole from as great a height as possible ( I stand on a stool). Aim to keep a strong steady flow directly over the hole for as long as possible.

    Both these methods could be described as cheap and OS!

    HTH

    Janet
  • razra
    razra Posts: 336 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Try using a handful of bicarb and half a cup of vinegar, put plug in and leave for half an hour then flush through with boiling water.

    Ive used that when my kitchen sink blocked and its like a mini explosion LOL but it works for me
    June Grocery Challenge 270.80/250July Grocery Challenge 0/300
  • dannahaz
    dannahaz Posts: 1,069 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Caustic soda will clear it very quickly, cheaply and easily. You can buy it from hardware shops, also places like B&Q.

    Read the instructions carefully. You add caustic soda to water, NEVER the other way round. This is because water causes the reaction, and the whole mixture heats up. You just pour it down the plughole, come back 20 mins later and rinse.

    As the name suggests, it's caustic, so you should wear rubber gloves when using it.

    But it isn't anything to be afraid of, you just need to folloow the instructions.
  • lil_me
    lil_me Posts: 13,186 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hair remover, reuse it, after you've used it on legs etc scrape off and put down drain. You can usually get it in the £1 shops.

    Caustic soda I have used in the past, another £1 shop buy.
    One day I might be more organised...........:confused:
    GC: £200
    Slinkies target 2018 - another 70lb off (half way to what the NHS says) so far 25lb
  • Pink.
    Pink. Posts: 17,652 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    lil_me wrote: »
    Hair remover, reuse it, after you've used it on legs etc scrape off and put down drain. You can usually get it in the £1 shops.

    What a brilliant idea lil_me!


    Eagerlearner, There are a couple of older threads that might help too:

    Unblocking drain blocked with Hair!

    Unblock bath drain

    Blocked plughole in bath

    Pink
  • lil_me
    lil_me Posts: 13,186 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Some may think urgh but it works, stick the plug back in before you shower off lets it work for a bit. Or could rinse off elsewhere/with a flannel. All goes down the same hole doesn't it eventually :)

    Can get those little drain hole covers to catch it but I keep loosing them when I take them out to empty the bath.
    One day I might be more organised...........:confused:
    GC: £200
    Slinkies target 2018 - another 70lb off (half way to what the NHS says) so far 25lb
  • redsquirrel80
    redsquirrel80 Posts: 12,457 Forumite
    lil_me wrote: »
    Hair remover, reuse it, after you've used it on legs etc scrape off and put down drain. You can usually get it in the £1 shops.

    Has anyone tried this with the stuff that's designed to stay on while you're in the shower? Got some left (brings me out in a rash :( ) and my shower drain could do with a clear-out, but not sure how well it'll work if it's meant to be water resistant?
    Debt@16.12.09 £10,362.38, now debt free as of 29.02.2012.
    "I cannot make my days longer so I strive to make them better."
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 349.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453K Spending & Discounts
  • 242.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 619.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.3K Life & Family
  • 255.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.