VIDEO: How to Unclog Your Bathtub Drain in 7 Simple Steps

by Matt Schmitz
A man wearing black stands inside a residential shower explaining how to unclog a bathtub drain, man, Matt Schmitz, male, shower, shower tile, tile, shower door, sliding glass door, bathtub drain, drain, bathtub

Is water of questionable cleanliness backing up into your bathtub when you shower, and bathing your feet in filth?

You’ve got a clog to clear.

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As you shower, down the drain goes that bodily grit, grime, sloughed-off skin, shampoo residue and hair — all of which collects and congeals into a vomitous glob that can stop up your plumbing.

Here’s how to extract the obstruction …

  1. With the drain stopper in the open position, use a flashlight to help you find the screw holding the assembly together.
  2. Loosen the screw enough to remove the stopper and gain access to the drain hole.
  3. Now it’s time to test your intestinal fortitude: Use a pair of needle-nose pliers or similar tool to grab ahold of the mass of trauma-triggering filth and pull it out.
  4. Keep digging, depositing the gunk onto paper towels as you go — either until you can’t extract any more or till you’re about to lose your lunch.
  5. Now reattach your stopper.
  6. Position the stopper so the screw meets the flat part of the cylinder and tighten it back up.
  7. Now run the water to check your work. If you’ve successfully cleared the clog, it should drain freely.

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Now, if you’d rather speak in front of a packed auditorium than put yourself through this, we totally get it. No one likes dealing with household plumbing issues. You can find someone near you to do it for you at eLocal.com.

Get a full demonstration by watching the video below:

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