If your bath or shower doesn't drain properly, or your bath fills up when you're taking a shower, you've probably got a build up of scum and hair in the drains.
Try the following techniques to clear out the blockage:
- Fish out the blockage
Try to fish out any waste by using a piece of wire bent into a hook to scrape out the gunk.
- Bicarbonate of soda
This is simple and effective drain cleaner, that won't cause any damage to you or your pipes. Simply spoon about 15 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the blocked drain. Then pour 100 millilitres of white vinegar down the drain, wait until it stops fizzing and flush with boiling water.
- Chemical drain cleaner
Chemical drain cleaners can damage pipes, are poisonous when swallowed, can burn skin and clothes and can kill good bacteria in your septic system. So it's always best to use a chemical drain cleaner as a last resort. You can buy this from most DIY stores. If possible, try to choose the most environmentally friendly product available.
Prevent further blockages
To prevent further blockages, use a drop-in hair trap to sit over the plughole and collect any loose hair. These are cheap to buy and if you empty it after every shower you should have no further problems.
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