Photo by Jennifer Ryan Jones There’s nothing worse than standing in the shower with filthy water rising around your ankles? So gross! Hairy clogs, happen. The best way to avoid one is to have a hair catcher in place and to empty it regularly. But even the best of them can't catch every strand. Maybe the problem is her long tresses or even the dog’s, but trust that you’re shedding on the daily too. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, it's considered normal to shed 50 to 100 strands per day. Her long locks may be more noticeable, but your hair is adding to the collection as well. Baseball caps, man buns and regular shampooing contribute to hair loss which explains why your mane is down the drain. And don't forget about the strands you contribute to the problem when trimming that "handsome" body hair or beard. But before calling in your pricey plumber, try unclogging it yourself.
The best place to start unclogging the drain is simply by pouring boiling water down the drain. It works because it melts the soap scum, grime and even toothpaste holding the pesky hairball together. Be sure to pour the water directly down the drain so that you don't damage your porcelain sink. And skip this method all together if you have plastic PVC pipes as the intense heat can loosen the joints.
If boiling water doesn’t work, try plunging. For maximum suction, empty most of the water from the tub or sink leaving 1-2 inches. Seal the overflow drain with duck tape. It’s the disc located closer to the top of the tub or sink. Take out the drain stopper and plunge that clog away by changing the air pressure in the pipe.
If a plunger doesn’t move the clog, try snaking the drain. Once again, remove the drain stopper. Send down a sink auger, which may require removing the drain trap. Or try the super flexible Drain Weasel by FlexiSnake which can navigate the turns in the pipe without taking things apart. Send the wand down the drain until you feel the clog. Crank the handle until the hooks catch the hair, and pull to remove. So satisfying!
Ask any licensed pro, and they'll tell you when it comes to unclogging the drain it's best to avoid using solutions that contain harsh chemicals, especially bleach. They may work to clear the hair clog but using them often will damage your plumbing. Go au natural with this home remedy.
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