Shower drains are pretty icky places. As all the water that has washed your body of dirt, grease and oil, it washes down the drain, coating drain covers and pipes in gunk. Hair and elements from your shampoos, conditioners and soaps can also clog the drain. It’s terribly unappealing to think about, but staying on top of the shower draining cleaning will keep it from backing up and covering your feet in gunk.

Daily Maintenance

Every time you use the shower, do a little cleaning to save yourself some elbow grease later. Wash away debris in the shower so it doesn’t clog the drain. After you finish your shower, rinse off the walls, curtain and floor, rinsing away any drops of shampoo and other items. You can also use a shower cleaner to spray down the walls and floor. This will ensure that soap scum doesn’t build up. When you clean built-up soap scum, those chunks of filth can clog the drain, so clean it every day so it never reaches that point. Wipe out any hair fallen to the floor — before it even has time to clog the drain. Leave a cup in the shower and pour a few cupfuls of clean water down the drain to push the gunk far into the pipes. Teach your family to do the same so you can ensure the drain is getting regular maintenance.

Weekly Upkeep

Once a week or so, go in and do a thorough cleaning of the drain. Remove the drain cover and any stoppers. You may need to get a screwdriver to undo the drain cover. Use a scrubby sponge and your favorite cleaning solution to scrub clean the drain cover, removing any collected gunk. If your drain cover consists of a series of holes, make sure each hole is open and clear of any buildup to ensure water can move through without problems. If your shower uses a stopper, pull the whole thing out and scrub it all, removing any hair that has encircled it. Also scrub the hole left from removing the cover or stopper. Remove any hair and scrub away any buildup. Use your favorite cleaning solution, such as vinegar or chlorine bleach, to kill bacteria and mold. Pour a pot full of boiling water down the drain once or twice a month to melt and wash away any buildup.

When There Is A Problem

When a backup occurs, remove any drain covers if they are accessible and fill the shower floor with a couple inches of water. Make sure you cover any overflow drains. A plunger, covering the clogged drain, can release the clog. Once you have released the clog and the water moves again, you can let it drain. Vinegar and baking soda poured down the drain can break up gunk in the drain. Follow it up with boiling water to rinse it all away and remove any greasy buildup. Drain cleaner is dangerous for your skin and a septic system. Use it with caution.