When water begins pooling around your feet in the shower, the clog usually started much earlier. Hair, soap, conditioner and residue build up gradually until the drain no longer has enough open area to move water quickly.
Many shower clogs are close to the drain opening and can be cleared without taking plumbing apart. Start with what you can see and remove mechanically before pouring products down the drain.
First decide whether the problem is local
Run the shower briefly and watch how it drains. If only the shower is slow, the restriction is likely near the trap or in the first section of pipe. If the sink or tub also gurgles, drains slowly or backs up, the blockage may be farther downstream.
If the shower will not drain at all, stop adding water. Scoop out enough standing water to work without risking an overflow.
Remove the strainer or stopper only if it is meant to come apart
Some strainers use screws, some lift out and some stoppers have mechanisms that can be damaged if forced. Look at how yours is attached and check the manufacturer’s instructions if you are unsure.
Wear gloves and pull out reachable hair and soap buildup. Long tweezers or a flexible plastic drain tool can help. Avoid sharp improvised objects that can scratch finishes, damage seals or break off inside the drain.
Hair usually forms a net rather than one solid plug
That is why simply pouring water over it often does little. Strands catch on edges, then collect soap and debris. Once that mat is physically removed, flow can improve immediately.
Clean the underside of the strainer and the stopper assembly before reinstalling them.
If it is still slow, try a plunger
A cup plunger can move a nearby blockage by changing pressure in the drain. There needs to be enough water to cover the rubber edge and create a seal.
If the shower has another opening that prevents a seal, plunging may be less effective. Use controlled, firm strokes rather than pounding the fixture.
Then run water and see whether the improvement lasts rather than judging from the first few seconds.
A small hand snake can reach beyond your fingers
A manual drain snake may reach a deeper hair clog if it is suitable for the pipe size and material. Feed it slowly and rotate it according to the tool instructions.
If you meet a hard stop that does not yield, do not keep forcing. You may be hitting a bend, a drain component or a blockage that needs a different access point.
What about baking soda and vinegar?
The fizz is dramatic, but it does not replace physically removing a compact mass of hair. It may move light residue, but a mechanical obstruction needs actual space opened in the pipe.
More importantly, if anyone has already poured a commercial drain cleaner into the line, do not add vinegar, bleach or another product. You may not know what chemistry is sitting in the pipe.
Chemical drain cleaners require caution, not improvisation
Drain-opening chemicals can be corrosive and are not appropriate for every pipe, finish or septic system. If you use one, choose a product specifically labeled for the job and follow its directions exactly.
Never mix products. CPSC warns that combining household chemicals can create dangerous gases. If a chemical cleaner fails and you call a plumber, tell them what was used before they work on the drain.
Know when to stop
Call a professional if several drains are slow at once, water backs up through another fixture, widespread gurgling appears, the clog returns shortly after clearing, or a hand snake meets a deep obstruction.
Stop as well if reaching the clog would require dismantling sealed components or working on plumbing you cannot identify.
Prevent the next clog before it enters the pipe
A hair catcher that fits your drain can dramatically reduce buildup. Clean it frequently before hair reaches the trap.
After showering, pick up visible strands and avoid washing large amounts of thick product or debris into the drain.
A shower drain is easier to maintain by catching material before it enters than by trying to dissolve it once it has built a mat inside the plumbing.
Sources
- CPSC — Biological Pollutants in Your Home: Household Chemical Warning — Warns against mixing household chemicals and emphasizes ventilation and label directions.