How to Unclog a Shower Drain with Standing Water

Before starting, protect yourself and the work area. Put on a pair of waterproof gloves to keep your hands clean and protected from grime. Wear safety glasses to prevent any splashed water or debris from getting in your eyes. Lay down old towels on the floor around the shower drain to absorb any water that may splash out during the unclogging process.

To access the drain pipe, you must first remove the drain cover. For a simple grate, you may be able to pry it off with a flathead screwdriver. For a screw-in cover, locate the central screw and use a Phillips or flathead screwdriver to turn it counter-clockwise until it's loose enough to remove. Lift the cover off and set it aside. If the cover is stuck, you can use a pair of pliers to gently grip and lift it after the screw is removed.

With the cover removed, you can often see the top layer of the clog. Wearing your gloves, reach into the drain opening and pull out any large clumps of hair and soap scum that are immediately accessible. You can use needle-nose pliers to grab and extract debris that is just out of reach of your fingers. Remove as much of this surface-level gunk as possible and dispose of it in a trash can.

Pour approximately one cup of baking soda directly into the drain opening, making sure it goes down into the pipe. Follow this by slowly pouring one cup of white vinegar down the drain. The two ingredients will react, creating a fizzing action that helps to break down soap scum, grease, and other organic matter. Place the removed drain cover or a small cloth over the opening to contain the reaction and direct it down into the clog. Let this mixture sit and work for at least 30 to 60 minutes.

After letting the baking soda and vinegar solution sit, flush the drain with hot water to clear out the loosened debris. Boil a full kettle of water. Carefully and slowly pour the boiling water directly into the drain. The heat and force of the water will help wash away the remaining clog particles and the cleaning solution. If you have PVC (plastic) pipes and are concerned about the high heat, use very hot water from your tap instead of boiling water.

If the drain is still slow, use a plumber's snake (also known as a drain auger) for deeper, more stubborn clogs. Feed the auger's cable end into the drain pipe. Continue pushing the cable down until you feel resistance, which indicates you've reached the clog. Tighten the thumbscrew on the auger's handle to lock the cable in place. Now, turn the handle crank clockwise while applying gentle forward pressure. This will cause the auger tip to either break up the clog or hook into it. If you hook it, pull the snake back slowly to retrieve the obstruction. You may need to repeat this process a few times.

Once the water is flowing freely down the drain, it's time to reassemble and test your work. Clean any gunk off the drain cover before putting it back. Place the cover over the drain opening and secure it with the screw you removed earlier, using your screwdriver. Do not overtighten. Finally, turn on the shower and let the water run for a couple of minutes at full pressure. Watch the drain to confirm that water is draining quickly and not backing up.