How do I remove the shower drainage plug? (Resolved)

Jemma01

Hi 💐

Sorry, this is gag inducing post. It took me a few weeks to get the courage to ask but I really need help 😖

I'm trying to clean the shower drain (the thing in the picture), and I can't find a way to pull it out. I ended up breaking it, as you can see on the right side 😩.

First, I don't know what the inner round piece is called to search for it (ETA: Shower waste trap/grid)
Two, I don't know how to take it out. I tried with a screwdriver to pull it out, and I broke it.

Questions: What is it called, and how do I take it out, please?

I couldn't find a video for the exact one. I've seen a different type. The only video I found, the guy already took it out before he recorded 😖.

Any advice would be very appreciated

ETA: Thank you so much to everyone, I poured limescale remover (HG) and left it there for few hours, and when I returned, I managed to pull it upwards. I'll need to replace the head after the damage I've caused. If someone knows what it could be called, that would be helpful 🥰

Mr.Generous

I'd guess it unscrews anti clockwise from a threaded lower piece.

Murmansk

I agree with the above, but is there by any chance a screw head visible down that centre hole?

victor2

Murmansk said:

I agree with the above, but is there by any chance a screw head visible down that centre hole?

Hard to see in the picture, but are there any screwdriver slots in the centre piece? However, it may be so corroded that it won't undo without further damage. Assuming it's no easy job to lift the shower tray and get access underneath, maybe the only solution is some strong drain cleaner that will dissolve hair?

greyteam1959

You want to be very careful what you are doing. 
If you break anything or it all drops to bits you will need access to the underneath of the shower tray to put a new drain in. 
So be careful 

Jemma01

Mr.Generous said:

I'd guess it unscrews anti clockwise from a threaded lower piece.

Hiw do I do that without causing further damage? Is there a tool I need to use?

Murmansk said:

I agree with the above, but is there by any chance a screw head visible down that centre hole?

No there isn't, the screwdriver I have is 10-15cm long, it went all the way down didn't hit anything 

victor2 said:

Murmansk said:

I agree with the above, but is there by any chance a screw head visible down that centre hole?

Hard to see in the picture, but are there any screwdriver slots in the centre piece? However, it may be so corroded that it won't undo without further damage. Assuming it's no easy job to lift the shower tray and get access underneath, maybe the only solution is some strong drain cleaner that will dissolve hair?

Yeah, not doing a close up of that 😆 

Do you recommend anything to dissolve the bits? I'm not qualified to lift anything unfortunately 

greyteam1959 said:

You want to be very careful what you are doing. 
If you break anything or it all drops to bits you will need access to the underneath of the shower tray to put a new drain in. 
So be careful 

I'm petrified after breaking that piece, I now need to find a replacement, I need something to block the hair before it goes down 😭 

WIAWSNB

If it's like my one, the centre part will unscrew a part-turn, and eject upwards as it does so. Ie, it's not like a screw 'thread' you turn and turn, but just a partial and coarse 'spiral'.
To turn it safely (he says, after breaking my own), you best use a tool with two points, so they act on opposite sides at the same time.
I've used, for example, suitably-large long-nosed pliers, held point down in both hands, opened slightly, inserted either side of the centre, and then pulled open until the jaws meet the outside of the drain. Then give it a steady counterclockwise turn.
See what happens, but stop before the drain spirals break...
There's also a chance it's just push down into place, tho' unlikely as that would make it harder for folk to remove. But, if you can cobble together summat like a stiff wire into a hook - just an L-shaped tip - insert that, turn it so the 'hook' is facing the outside, and see if it can catch the bottom edge of that round drain insert. Pull upwards. If it moves a mm or so and then stops, then assume it also needs turning anticlock at the same time.

Cherryfudge

I can't help with the main part of your question (sorry) but something like this may help you in future.

twopenny

Looks very much like mine. 


Yours has little bits on the side so it won't turn at all.
You just need to pull it upwards.
Use the handle of a teaspoon and gently lever up a little. Do that gently for each section till it starts to loosen.

If you haven't had it out before scrub gently with an old toothbrush to try and loosen any hardened dirt, soap solidified etc. try washing up liquid may dissolve or lubricate.

Try pulling up from one of the brackets, tweezers are useful to loosen.

Or you can put baking soda and white vinegar in there and scrub with a teapot spout brush inserted in each space.

I use one like this to do all the plug holes every so often.
With it is an insert tube that is under the round grating. You may have one. That pulls straight up too.



I now put a sink hole drainer in there instead of the spiral thingy.
It catches a surprising amount of bits and hair and I'm little with 3min showers.

twopenny

This is what I use now 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Kitchen-Sink-Strainer-Protector/dp/B0D86ZBW4P?th=1
Or you can go fancy
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wirquin-39230004-Round-Stainless-Diameter/dp/B00ECXRTBE
Not recommending the A company but that's what seems to understand my inadequate search 🙂

So if it does break you're covered 😉

WIAWSNB

twopenny said:

Yours has little bits on the side so it won't turn at all.
You just need to pull it upwards.

I missed that on my wee pic on the phone. Good call - these wee sticky out bits would indicate it isn't rotated to remove.
If the top grille part feels fragile as tho it could break when pulled on, the wire hook - say a cut wire coat hanger - might be able to catch under the bottom of the tube, and pull it up from below.