How to Unclog a Bathtub

Remove the Gunk

You should start the process of unclogging the bathtub by inserting a screwdriver under the drain cover to loosen the screw and then remove the plug. As the plug is lifted, you will likely see debris such as hair, you can remove these by bending a wire coat hanger into a hook, with the aid of needle-nose pliers to clean the plug.

Run some boiling water through the drain

Boil a pot of water and then pour it through the drain, this will help you dislodge the soap scum and remove the remaining hair buildup. You may also want to pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of vinegar to loosen the clog even more.

Make use of a plunger

To use a plunger, you should plug the overflow drain first, to create a vacuum. You can achieve this by removing the cover plate below the faucet of the bathtub before inserting a washcloth, or hand towel inside the hole, in such a way that the air can escape. The next step is to set the plunger on top of the drain before you fill with tub with few inches of hot water. Apply some thrust to get the plunger working.

Make use of a plumbers snake

If the plunger didn't work, you can make use of an auger or plumbers snake which has a very long but flexible cable that has coiled springs at one end and all you need is to turn the crank against the clog, until you reach the blockage inside the bathtub. Continue to push the cable until it enters the clog and then turns the crank in the opposite direction before you pull the cable back up. If the coiled spring has come out empty, then insert it again into the overflow drain to remove the blockages that are far beyond the drain trap.