Almost everyone finds at some point that hair builds up in sink or shower drains and leads to plumbing problems. Even if you use a drain stopper, buildup and ugly lumps can form over time, drastically slowing drainage. Fortunately, there are some cleaning methods and steps you can take to solve such a problem. Below you can find out which simple steps and homemade drain cleaners can help.
What helps against hair in the drain and how can it be removed?
Bathroom drains send all dirty water down the drain, but also hair and grease, so they can eventually become clogged. When it comes to clogged bathtub and shower drains, there's a high chance that hair buildup is the culprit. Both short and long hair find their way into such processes and form clumps, which can sometimes be a real challenge for theCleaning smelly drainscould be. When faced with clogged drains, many people turn to aggressive chemical drain cleaners. However, most of these products could damage the drain pipe over time, making plumbing work costly thereafter. The good news is that there are some simple and inexpensive home remedies that can help remove hair from drains.
Cleaning method using combination of vinegar and baking soda
In many cases, the combination of baking soda and vinegar can prove to be a powerful remedy for household dirt. In addition, you can not only use baking sodaAvoid hair in the drain, but also disinfect the affected area with it. This home remedy prevents bacteria and mold formation thanks to its versatile properties. This can be an extremely effective method for cleaning up many types of debris in drains, including hair.
For the best results, you should start by pouring a little dishwashing liquid down your drain. After that, you can add a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Then let the chemical reaction take place for about ten minutes. Finally, add boiling water. This should effectively eliminate most of the hair in the drain. To get rid of any remaining hair, you can use a plunger. If necessary, you can repeat the process.
Use tweezers for hair in the drain
Unlike thicker clumps, the stringy nature of the hair can make it difficult to push out at times. If you've tried removing a hairy obstruction by sticking it out of your drain but just can't quite get rid of it, you may want to try pulling the hair out with tweezers instead. First you need to remove your drain stopper if you have one. In some cases, you may need to do this manually, although depending on the type of drain fitting you have, you may also need a screwdriver.
While you're at it, you can also remove any accumulated hair from the plug. After that, take a flashlight or your cell phone and use it to illuminate the dark area so that you can better see the clog in question. From there, you should be able to use tweezers or needle-nose pliers to pull out the nasty buildup of hair. It would also be advisable to wear rubber gloves during this process.
Use pliers or wire hangers
A pair of pliers or a wire hanger would be two other good options for clearing hair from clogged drains. You will also need rubber gloves, possibly a screwdriver and a flashlight. First remove the drain plug. If you cannot remove the plug manually, you can use the screwdriver and then use the pliers to remove the dirt. In less severe cases, straightening a wire hanger and sticking it into the drain may actually be enough to clear a clog.
How you can use cola against hair in the drain
Soft drinks such as cola contain phosphoric acid, which gives the drinks their distinctive flavor. However, this also helps prevent the growth of mold and bacteria in the sugary liquid. In addition, phosphoric acid can also be an effective drain cleaner. Phosphorus occurs naturally in many foods. However, like anything with sugar, it should be consumed in moderation, but your drain will certainly not suffer any harm from it. To make sure you have the right type of dark lemonade, look to see if phosphoric acid is listed in the first four ingredients. Here are the simple steps you can follow in this hair in drain trick:
- First, allow a large bottle to come to room temperature.
- Then pour the entire amount of cola down the clogged drain.
- Let the drink sit in the drain for at least an hour or two, or up to 24 hours for stubborn clogs.
- After that, rinse the drain with boiling water.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
This will prevent hair from accumulating in drains
You can always take a few preventive measures to avoid such problems. True, it is impossible to catch all the hair, as some of them simply end up in the drain. Here are some helpful steps that could minimize the risk of a drain clogged with hair.
- When shaving, be sure to keep the faucet running throughout the entire process. This way, any fallen hair will flow out with the water instead of sticking to the pipes.
- Hair falls out every day. That's why you should brush them before showering. As you already know, every time you run your hand through your hair, you get a handful in return. So if you brush them before you shampoo and apply conditioner, you will notice that there are a handful of hairs on your brush.
- One of the best ways to prevent hair in drains is to use a drain guard or sink stopper. These should generally be able to catch all excess hair.
To use other helpful and similar effective methods, also read:Dissolve hair in the drain: Use home remedies as a pipe cleaner & clean the sink or shower drain!
