To release a drop stopper, first lift it up slightly. It should have screw that sticks up a little. Simply turn the screw a bit to make it looser, then lift the stopper up. For the push/lock drain stopper, first push down once like you are going to stop up the drain. Push it again to unlock it. Once it is unlocked, you should be able to unscrew the whole stopper and then pull it out. In a shower, you may need to just lift up the strainer at the bottom. You may also need to unscrew the grating.
For the coat hanger, straighten it out into a long wire. Bend the end of it with pliers so it makes a smaller hook that will fit down your drain. For the wire, just bend the end in a little hook to catch the hair.
If the hair is particularly stubborn, you may need to use a utility knife to cut it. As you pull the hair up, slice through the middle so you don’t need to untangle it.
Always read the bottle to make sure the product you have can be used on the types of pipes you have and the system you have. For instance, you may need a special product for a septic system. In addition, make sure you buy one appropriate for baths and showers. Never mix more than one type of drain cleaner. For instance, if the clog doesn’t move, you don’t want to pour another kind on top. That can lead to toxic fumes, which can cause you health problems.
This solution can create a large amount of suds, so be careful.
If you have regular PVC pipes, boiling water could damage the pipes. However, if you have metal or CPVC pipes (which can take higher temperatures), using boiling water should be fine. However, according to most city codes, you should have metal or CVPC, not PVC.
Start by pouring a single cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Once you’ve given that about five minutes, follow it up with a baking soda-vinegar combo. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. With the stopper ready to go in, pour in a cup of vinegar. Stop up the drain, and let the baking soda and vinegar foam together. Once it’s done, pour another cup of boiling water down the drain. Once again, make sure you have CPVC or metal pipes, as boiling water may damage regular PVC pipes. Nonetheless, most houses built to code should have pipes that can withstand boiling water.
You may want to get a plunger specifically for this purpose so it will be cleaner. However, since you’ll likely be cleaning out your shower when you’re done, putting a dirty plunger in there won’t be the end of the world.
If there’s a clog further down the line, you may need to feed in more rod or cable to clear that clog out.
However, you do need to clean out these strainers regularly to keep your shower draining properly.
