Plumbing · checked 5 Oct 2026
Slow bathroom sink or tub drain
Safety first
- Turn off the faucet. Keep children away from pooled water.
- Don't add drain chemicals, bleach, vinegar, or boiling water.
- If drain cleaner was used, stop. Don't plunge or insert tools.
Fix it nowEight steps
- Confirm no chemical cleaner was used; if uncertain, stop and call a plumber.Cleaner can remain trapped and splash during drain work.
- Wear waterproof gloves and eye protection. Place towels around the fixture.Keep dirty water off skin, eyes, and flooring.
- Fully open the stopper. Remove only an easily removable stopper or strainer.Expose accessible hair without dismantling plumbing.
The other five steps
- Pull out visible hair; bag it for trash, not another drain.Remove the blockage instead of moving it downstream.
- Gently insert a plastic barbed hair-removal tool following its directions; never force it.Catch shallow hair clogs without chemical cleaners.
- Withdraw slowly. Stop if the tool catches; never yank or twist hard.Avoid breaking the tool inside the drain.
- Replace removed parts. Run lukewarm water briefly; stop immediately if water rises.Check drainage without filling the sink or tub.
- If drainage stays slow, stop using the fixture and book a plumber.A deeper blockage needs professional clearing.
When to stop
Stop and get a plumber if:
- Chemical cleaner was used or may remain: stop DIY; tell the plumber what and when. Never plunge or add another cleaner.
- Several drains back up, sewage appears, or toilet flushing pushes water into the tub: stop household water use and call a plumber now. Avoid sewage contact.
- Water leaks underneath, reaches flooring, or stains the ceiling below: stop using the fixture and call a plumber now.
- The stopper needs force, the tool catches or breaks, or one gentle cleaning attempt fails: stop and call a plumber.
- Cleaner splashes on skin or eyes, is swallowed, or causes fumes: stop work and call poison-control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. Call 911 if someone is unconscious or not breathing.
What it probably is
Hair and soap buildup near the drainOnly this fixture drains slowly; hair is visible around the stopper.You can check
Stopper not fully openWater drains better when you fully open the stopper.You can check
Blockage farther down the drainpipeRemoving accessible hair does not restore drainage.For a pro
Shared drain or sewer blockageSeveral fixtures back up, or dirty water rises through another drain; call a plumber.For a pro
Time and parts
- Time
- 10–20 minutes for accessible hair removal; stop after one attempt.
- Parts
- Estimated $0–$15 for a plastic hair-removal tool; protective gear extra.
Fair price, if a pro does itUnited States
$45–455per job
Get it done
More than a quick fix? Vora gets quotes privately and recommends one plumber.
The plumbers we’d call in Tyler & Longview · Clogged drain: what to do
Checked against
- Poison Control: What's in drain cleaner and what happens if you drink it?
- Manufacturer plastic drain-tool instructions
- Portland Environmental Services: What to do after a sewer backup
Written for Vora from these public sources and checked on 5 Oct 2026. General guidance, not a substitute for a pro on site. In danger, leave and call 911.