Bathtub Not Draining? Clear the Hair Clog Without Harsh Chemicals
A tub that holds water usually has a hair plug at the stopper or just below it. Pull it out with a drain snake, no chemicals, in about 20 minutes.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 20 min
- Cost
- Under $20
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
A bathtub that will not drain usually has hair and soap scum packed around the stopper or in the first foot of pipe. Remove the stopper, pull out the hair and run a drain snake down the drain. Check the overflow linkage too, since hair builds up there. Skip harsh chemicals. If the sink and toilet are slow as well, the problem is the main line, so call a plumber.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Remove the stopper and plunge
- Take out the stopper and pull off the hair wrapped around it
- Seal the overflow with a wet rag, then plunge with water over the cup
- Flush with hot tap water and dish soap
- Test by filling a few inches and releasing the stopper
How long it lasts: A few weeks to a few months if the clog was near the top. The plug rebuilds because hair keeps going down.
A tub drain snake (hair remover)
Tub clogs are mostly hair wound into a mat just below the stopper. A plunger pushes the mat around, and a chemical cleaner burns a channel through it. A barbed snake hooks the hair and pulls it out in one go, so you remove the clog instead of moving it.
What to get: Tub drain snake hair remover
How long it lasts: The plug is gone, not just loosened. Keep the tool and run it again whenever the drain slows.
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What you'll need
-
Flat screwdriver
Removes the stopper and the overflow plate screws
You have it -
Rubber gloves
For handling the hair mat
You have it -
Plunger and wet rag
The rag seals the overflow so the plunger can build pressure
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Tub drain snake
A flexible barbed hair snake with a handle
- Illustration
Silicone tub hair catcher
Sits over the drain and catches hair afterward
- Illustration
Hand-crank mini drain auger
Only for clogs the snake cannot reach
Why it happens
Hair around the stopper
Hair wraps around the stopper stem and the crossbars of the strainer, and soap scum glues it in place. Water has to squeeze past, so the tub drains slowly.
A clog just below the drain
Hair that slips past the stopper binds with soap scum on the first few inches of pipe. It narrows the pipe until water cannot pass.
Gunk in the overflow linkage
In a lever-operated tub, the linkage inside the overflow tube collects hair too. It can also stick or fall out of adjustment, so the stopper never opens fully.
A deeper or shared line clog
If the sink and toilet are slow, or the tub gurgles when another fixture drains, the clog is downstream, past anything you can pull out by hand.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Remove the stopper and clean it
Tool used: Flat screwdriverLift or unscrew the stopper. Some unscrew with a flat screwdriver or have a set screw underneath. Pull the hair off the stem, rinse it and set it aside.
-
Pull the hair you can see
Tool used: Rubber glovesWear gloves, reach into the drain with your fingers and pull out what you can. Use a flashlight to see down past the strainer crossbars.
-
Plunge with the overflow sealed
Tool used: Plunger and wet ragBlock the overflow opening with a wet rag so the pressure goes down the drain. Run 2 to 3 inches of water so the cup is covered, then push firmly 10 to 15 times. Do not plunge if a chemical cleaner is still in the drain.
-
Run the snake
Tool used: Tub drain snakeFeed the barbed snake slowly into the drain until it stops, twist it, then pull it up slowly. Wipe off the hair, then repeat until it comes up clean.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Tub drain snake · A flexible barbed hair snake with a handle
-
Clear the overflow linkage (lever tubs)
Tool used: Flat screwdriverTake out the two screws on the overflow plate and slide the plate and linkage out slowly. Pull off any hair. A stuck or bent linkage can keep the stopper from opening all the way.
-
Flush and test
Run hot tap water with a squirt of dish soap for 2 minutes. Never use boiling water. Then fill a few inches and release the stopper. A clear tub empties in a minute or two.
When free fixes aren't enough
If water still stands after the snake, the clog is deeper than a plastic snake reaches, so a mini hand-crank auger is the next step. If the tub clogs every few weeks, hair is getting past the strainer each bath, and a hair catcher is the fix that stops it. Call a plumber if the toilet and sink are slow too, the tub gurgles when other drains run, you smell sewage, or water backs up in the tub when you flush or run the washer. Those mean the main line is blocked, and no snake from the tub will reach it. Do not reach into standing water if a chemical cleaner is in it.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Tub drain snake hair remover | a hair plug that keeps a tub from draining | Most people with a slow or standing-water tub who want to avoid chemicals. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Hand-crank mini drain auger | a clog past the trap that a plastic snake cannot reach | People who have used a snake and still have a slow tub, or who clear it often. | Check price |
Tub drain snake hair remover
Fixes: a hair plug that keeps a tub from draining
Look for: Flexible plastic with barbs that grab hair; About 18 inches or longer, to reach past the first bend; A grip or handle so you can twist it without touching the hair; Slim enough to pass the stopper strainer.
- Who it's for
- Most people with a slow or standing-water tub who want to avoid chemicals.
- Honest downside
- The sink and toilet are slow too, or the snake comes up clean and the tub is still slow. That points deeper.
Hand-crank mini drain auger
Fixes: a clog past the trap that a plastic snake cannot reach
Look for: A cable thin enough to pass through a tub drain; A coated head that will not scratch the pipe; A crank handle with a firm grip.
- Who it's for
- People who have used a snake and still have a slow tub, or who clear it often.
- Honest downside
- Your pipes are old, brittle or corroded. A plumber will handle them with more care.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.
How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on plumbing and drain-care guides, instructions from drain tool makers, and the problems and fixes people report in owner reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Which stopper do you have?
- Lift-and-turn: turn the knob counterclockwise to unscrew it. A set screw sometimes holds it.
- Toe-touch: unscrew the cap, then lift or unscrew the stopper body from the drain.
- Lever on the overflow plate: the stopper works through a linkage inside the overflow. Pull it up and out, wiggling it if it resists.
- Strainer with crossbars: hair clings to the bars. Pull it by hand, or lift it out if it unscrews.
What to skip
Harsh drain cleaners and plunging with the overflow open
Liquid cleaners often cut a channel through the hair mat and leave the mat. They can also sit in the tub water and burn skin. A plunger with the overflow open just pushes air out of the overflow and moves nothing. Seal the overflow, or use a snake.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my bathtub not draining after plunging?
Why is my bathtub not draining after using a snake?
Why is my bathtub draining slowly with no clog?
How do I stop my bathtub from clogging again?
Why does my bathtub keep backing up?
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