How To Clean The Drain In Your Shower?

How To Clean The Drain In Your Shower? The drain in the shower requires maintenance that any homeowner should have done regularly. All drains should be kept clean and without excess filth. It is not hard to maintain, but it does involve some effort. The following are steps to be followed to clean your home‘s shower drain.

Steps to keep shower drain cleaner

Step 1: Remove the drain cover in your shower

This step is easy since you can use a screwdriver or pliers without causing damage. Once you have removed the cover, inspect it for any signs of dirt and grime that needs cleaning. If possible avoid using chemicals to clean it, but instead use a toothbrush and soap water on the cover. Rinse well before putting it back on the drain.

Step 2: Remove the drain plug in your shower

Another easy step. You can use a screwdriver to remove the metal plug and you can use pliers or a wrench to undo the nuts that hold it. Once they’re removed, take in all the bits of debris, dirt, and grime that might be attached to the drain cover or lid. Clean off these by hand or with a toothbrush. Put back all parts in place before replacing your cover and drain plugs.

Step 3: Clean the drain pipe in your shower

Loosen the compression nut and remove it. Take out the old rubber gasket and replace it with a new one that is still flexible against water pressure. Tighten it again to ensure a good seal at this end of your drain pipe. There are special rubber gaskets available from plumbing stores and home improvement centers that can help prevent leaks and keep your drain system healthy.

Step 4: Clean the overflow pipe in your shower

This pipe is usually at the top of your drain and has an overflow valve. Remove it by loosening its screws or nuts below it. You can use a thin inner tube cut into half to allow you to fit it into the hole and scrub down any dirt or grime that might have collected there.

Step 5: Clean the drain trap

The trap is behind your drainpipe, under the floor, or on your bathroom sink. Remove the old foul-smelling trap by unscrewing it and removing the overflow tube that usually is stuck in it. Clean the drain in the shower with lukewarm water, a brush, or a toothbrush. Then replace the drain trap and your old rubber gasket and tighten it again so that it serves as a seal at least.

Step 6: Put back the drain pipe and the rubber gasket

Ensure you have properly put back your rubber gasket, screws, or nut where required. This will ensure high water pressure at the end of your drainpipe, which prevents clogs from forming. It also prevents leaks from occurring. Then replace your cover if you have one and finally replace the drain plug on its side. For most people, it is just a matter of using normal household supplies that are available in most grocery stores and hardware stores.

Step 7: Sprinkle vinegar around your drain

Vinegar is a mild acid and can go into your drain easily and clean it out. You can use a little cornstarch or baking soda to help the vinegar go in, but you don’t have to do this step. You can pour pure vinegar down the drain with lukewarm water and leave it overnight. The next day, flush it out with cool water to ensure all the vinegar has been removed.

FAQS

1. How often do I need to change the drain cover?

The answer is that it depends on what kind of water you use. If you don’t use any chemicals, then it’s probably not every day and probably only once every week or two. But if you use harsh household cleaners and abrasive laundry soaps that can cut into the pipes, it could be every day.

2. How do I know if my pipe is clogged?

If you can smell the smell of sewage in your drain, then that’s a good indication of a clog in your drain pipe. If you can’t smell anything, then there is something wrong with your water pressure and it will probably be hard to tell if you have a clog or not without the help from an expert plumber.

3. Do I need to use a wire brush when I clean the drain?

Yes, there are tough bits of debris in your drain that can damage the pipes so a wire brush comes in handy. But you can also use a toothbrush, soap, and water if you feel that it’s necessary to do so. If you want to make it even easier, buy a special pipe cleaner from any hardware store and this will help with the cleaning process for you.

4. Should I use water or vinegar to clean under my sink?

The best thing to do is to mix the vinegar and water with a ratio of one part of each. Add some baking soda if you feel that it’s needed. Pour the mixture into your garbage disposal if it has any bit of dirt in it and runs the garbage disposal at least once before using the solution. Otherwise, pour the solution down the drain and let it work its magic overnight.

5. Does it matter what kind of rubber gasket I use?

If you have a fancy metal cover then a rubber gasket is fairly visible and seems to be made especially for that metal cover. So if you’re taking apart an old drain for your metal cover, the best thing to do is to find a metal gasket specifically made for your make and model of the drain pipe. It will be less expensive in the long run.

6. What should I do if I have a clog in my drain?

If you have a clog in your drain, then there is usually something wrong with your drainage system somewhere. There are specific things that you should do to resolve the issue, including cleaning out your pipes so that the water flows freely through them without any blockage. You can also try plunging them occasionally and hiring a plumber to do it for you if necessary.

How To Clean The Drain In Your Shower? – Conclusion

How To Clean The Drain In Your Shower? You should be able to do a partial drain cleaning on your own, but you can’t just remove everything and clean it all at once. You will only cause more damage if you do so.

You need to make sure that the pipe is completely free of dirt, files, and other debris. Then use the tools that you have chosen to clean out your drains and pipes before using a new rubber gasket or the strainer from another brand of pipes. Use vinegar until it starts to smell bad then use warm water.