Clogged or Slow Sink or Tub Drain
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Quick answer: Remove the stopper and clear hair and soap scum, then plunge with the overflow hole covered by a wet cloth. If that fails, use a drain snake: under a sink, through the P-trap; in a tub, through the overflow opening after removing the overflow plate (This Old House). If several drains clog at once, the problem may be the main drain line.
Test order: easiest & free first
- Remove the stopperFREE · 5 min
This Old House lists hair and soap scum as typical bathroom sink and shower clog causes, and food particles and grease in kitchen sinks. Remove the stopper if present. - Plunge a sinkFREE · 5 min
Cover the overflow hole with a wet cloth, fill the sink with a few inches of water, place the plunger over the drain and plunge vigorously (This Old House). - Plunge a tub or showerFREE · 5 min
Make sure the overflow is blocked and use the same technique as for a sink (This Old House). - Snake a sink drainTOOL
Remove the P-trap under the sink if accessible, feed the snake in until you feel resistance, rotate to break up the clog, retract and run water (This Old House). Advance the cable gently and use the lock to keep control. - Snake a tub drain through the overflowTOOL
Unscrew the overflow plate, feed the snake down the overflow opening and through the P-trap, and rotate to break up the clog (This Old House). The Spruce warns never to snake through the drain opening in the bottom of the tub: the bend is normally too sharp and you could damage the pipe. - Several drains clogged? Main linePRO / RENTAL
When multiple fixtures are affected, This Old House says the problem may be the main drain line, cleared with a power auger at the main cleanout; severe clogs may need professional hydro-jetting.
⚠ Safety: This Old House’s plumbing expert advises against reaching for chemical drain cleaners first: they could damage pipes and be dangerous for a plumber if you need to call one. The Spruce suggests covering the tub with a thick drop cloth, since a snake cable can scratch the surface. Call a pro for recurring clogs, multiple drains clogged at once, foul odors or gurgling, water backing up into other fixtures, or visible water damage (This Old House).
Parts to check
| Part | Part number | |
|---|---|---|
| Plunger | — | Check price [PLACEHOLDER – no affiliate link] |
| Cable auger (drain snake) | — | Check price [PLACEHOLDER – no affiliate link] |
| Drain strainer | — | Check price [PLACEHOLDER – no affiliate link] |
We only list part numbers confirmed by a cited source. These are general tools; no specific model is recommended.
💡 Prevent the next clog: This Old House suggests drain strainers in sinks and showers, keeping grease out of kitchen drains, and running hot water through drains regularly.
Watch it done
Video by This Old House on YouTube. FixCode Guide isn't affiliated with this channel.