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If your shower isn't draining easily, it usually means there's a hair clog somewhere in the shower drain line. Hair clogs may sound nasty, but they're not too difficult to deal with. The first thing you'll want to do is check the strainer cover – the perforated cover over the drain hole. It simply may be that the drain cover has hair in it that needs to be cleaned out. If that isn't it, try these steps to clear your shower drain.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

SKILL SCALE
Easy

TIME REQUIRED
You can clear even a stubborn clog in less than an hour.

TOOLS
Screwdrivers
Flashlight
Piece of stiff wire
Plunger
Hand snake

Checking for clogs: Remove the strainer cover using a screwdriver. Use a flashlight to look for hair clogs in the drain opening. Use a stiff wire -- an old coat hanger will do -- to clear shower drain of hair or to snag any obstructions.

Using a plunger: You can clear most shower drain clogs with a plunger. Place the rubber cup over the drain opening, then pour enough water into the shower stall to cover the lip of the cup. Move plunger handle up and down rapidly to force out the clog.

Clearing stubborn clogs: If the plunger didn't work, try a hand snake. Feed the end of the cable into the drain hole. When you feel the cable stop, crank the handle clockwise to snag the clog. Continue cranking while pulling the clog all the way out.

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