Bathroom

Unclog a slow bathtub drain

A slow tub drain often comes down to hair caught around the stopper or just below it. That's close enough for a cheap plastic drain snake to reach and pull out, without any drain chemicals. Doing this every few months keeps it from getting slow again, and it takes less time than waiting for the tub to drain.

A plastic drain snake pulling a clump of hair out of a bathtub drain, with the stopper set on the tub ledge
Most slow tubs are a clump of hair just below the stopper.
Quick answerTake out the stopper, clean off the hair, and snake the drain with a plastic drain snake. Clean the overflow linkage if it's still slow.
Worth checking firstPull the stopper before anything else; hair usually wraps around it or sits just below it. A cheap plastic drain snake gets the rest. Skip the drain chemicals: they rarely clear a hair clog and make it risky to work in the drain afterward.

Good to knowRenter-friendlyGood first repairUnder $10

Mike TurnerWritten and reviewed byMike TurnerUpdated Sources and safety notes
Easy15–30 min$0–8
Bathtub drain cutaway with hair clog below the stopper, overflow plate and a plastic drain snake
How to unclog a bathtub drain: remove the stopper (1), then pull the hair clog (2) out with a plastic drain snake (4). If it's still slow, clean behind the overflow plate (3).

How a tub drain clogs

A tub has a stopper in the drain and an overflow plate on the wall of the tub, and both connect to the same pipe underneath. Hair builds up around the stopper and a few inches below it. Chemical cleaners tend to burn a small hole through the middle of that clog, which is why it comes back. Pulling the hair out fixes it properly.

What's usually in there

Hair

It wraps around the stopper and knots a few inches down.

Soap

Bar soap leaves a waxy film that binds with hair into a solid plug.

The stopper linkage

In tubs with a lever on the overflow plate, hair collects on the linkage inside the overflow pipe.

A deeper clog

If the tub and a nearby sink or toilet are both slow, the clog is past the tub.

What kind of stopper do you have?
StopperHow to remove it
Push-to-close (toe touch)Unscrew the cap by hand, then the post underneath with a screwdriver.
Lift-and-turnLift it, turn it until it stops, then unscrew. Some have a small set screw.
Lever on the overflow plateUnscrew the plate and pull the linkage up and out.
Flip lever or pop-up in the drainPull it straight up and wiggle it out.
If you've used a chemical cleanerIf you've used a chemical cleaner recently, flush with plenty of water and wear gloves and eye protection before reaching into the drain.

Pull out the clog

0 of 5 done
  1. Take out the stopperMost lift out, twist out counterclockwise, or have a small screw under the cap. Clean off any hair wrapped around it.
    Something went wrong?
    • The stopper won't come out Look for a small set screw on the knob or under the cap, loosen it, and the top should twist off. Some stoppers only come out in the open position.
    Bathtub stopper twisted counterclockwise out of the drain with hair wrapped around its post
  2. Snake the drainPush a plastic drain snake in as far as it goes, twist it, and pull it out slowly. Wipe the hair onto a paper towel and repeat until it comes up clean.
    Plastic barbed drain snake pulled out of a bathtub drain with a clump of hair
  3. Try the overflow if it's still slowUnscrew the overflow plate, pull the linkage out, and clean off any hair caught on it.
    Something went wrong?
    • The overflow plate screws are stuck A drop of penetrating oil and the right size screwdriver help. Don't strip them; if they won't move, clean only what you can reach through the drain.
    Overflow plate unscrewed from the tub wall with the lift linkage pulled out and cleaned
  4. Flush with hot waterRun hot tap water for a couple of minutes to rinse out loosened soap.
    Hot tap water running into the cleared tub drain for a couple of minutes
  5. Put it back togetherReinstall the stopper and overflow plate, then fill and drain the tub to test it.
    Stopper and overflow plate reinstalled and the tub filled and drained quickly as a test

Watch it done

How to Clear a Clogged Bathtub DrainBy This Old House on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.
Watch on YouTube
How you'll know it's fixed
  • The tub drains quickly when you fill and empty it
  • The snake comes up clean
  • The stopper and overflow plate are back in and working

Still slow with a clean snake? Try a hand auger through the overflow.

If the tub still drains slowly

If the snake comes up clean but the tub is still slow, clean the overflow linkage, then try a small hand auger through the overflow opening.

If the tub gurgles when a toilet flushes, there's likely a blockage further down or a problem with the plumbing vent.

Keep it from coming backA $5 hair catcher over the drain stops most of the hair before it gets in. Empty it every few showers, and pour a kettle of hot water down the drain once a month to rinse out soap film.
Reseal the overflowWhen you put the overflow plate back, make sure its rubber gasket sits flat, or the tub can leak behind the wall when it's full.
Call a plumber ifWater backing up into the tub when you run the sink or flush a toilet. That points to a clog further down the line.Fix it yourself or call? Compare the cost →

What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A plumber usually charges $125–$275 to clear a tub drain.

Find a plumber near you

If it's a different drain

Tub drain questions

What dissolves hair in a drain?

Enzyme cleaners break hair down slowly. Pulling it out with a plastic snake is faster and more reliable.

Why is it still slow after I cleared it?

Some hair may still be caught on the overflow linkage. Take off the overflow plate and clean the linkage too.

How do I keep hair out of the tub drain?

A mesh or silicone hair catcher over the drain catches most of it.

Should I use a chemical drain opener on a tub?

We don't recommend it. It rarely clears a hair clog completely, and it makes snaking or pulling the stopper dangerous afterward.

Is it gross?

Honestly, yes. What comes up on the snake is hair and soap scum. Gloves, a paper towel to wipe it onto, and a trash bag nearby make it much easier.

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GrabTheHammer Team

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We're a small team of writers and editors who check every guide against manufacturer instructions and common code requirements. Our goal is to help you understand the problem, tackle what you safely can and know when to call a pro.

Checked against: Manufacturer instructions for the parts and products involved.

How we write and review →
A helpful next stepBathtub stopper not workingIdentify your stopper, remove it, clean out the hair, adjust it so it seals, and replace worn seals or the whole stopper. Toe-touch and lift-and-turn stoppers unscrew; trip-lever stoppers come out through the overflow plate.