Bleach is not designed to break down organic solids like hair. It may simply wash over a hair-based clog without addressing the root of the problem.
Enzyme drain cleaner (look for "bio-enzymatic" on the label). The Cost: $10–$15. How to do it: Pour the enzymes down the drain before bed. They eat organic waste (hair, skin, soap) overnight. This is safe for all pipes and the environment. Note: This is slow—it works over hours, not seconds. will bleach unclog a shower drain
If the clog is caused by soap scum or grease, boiling water can melt the obstruction away. (Note: Do not use boiling water if you have PVC pipes, as the heat can loosen joints; use the hottest tap water available instead.) Bleach is not designed to break down organic
It cannot effectively cut through the thick grease from body oils or the solid mineral deposits found in soap scum. The Cost: $10–$15
If your shower is backed up, skip the bleach. Here are three methods that actually work:
To understand why bleach fails, you have to understand how it works. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is an oxidizing agent designed to disinfect and whiten. It attacks organic matter on a microscopic level to kill germs. However, shower clogs are macroscopic problems. They are dense, physical obstructions usually comprised of:
The short answer is no. While bleach is excellent at killing bacteria and removing stains, it cannot dissolve the physical matter usually responsible for clogging showers—specifically hair and soap scum.