How do I unclog a bathtub drain?
By the Drain Guru team · Updated September 27, 2026
Quick answer
Remove and clean the tub stopper, pull out hair, then block the overflow plate (the round cover under the faucet) with a wet rag or tape. With the overflow sealed, a plunger or air-pressure drain opener can build real force on the clog instead of pushing air out through the overflow.
1. Clean the stopper
Toe-touch and lift-and-turn stoppers usually unscrew from the top. Trip-lever tubs have a linkage behind the overflow plate: unscrew the plate and pull the whole assembly out to clean the hair off.
2. Seal the overflow
The overflow opening connects to the same drain pipe. Cover it with a wet rag held tight, or duct tape, before you plunge. This one step is the difference between plunging working and not.
3. Plunge or blast
Leave an inch or two of water in the tub, seat the plunger or air-pressure opener's head over the drain, and push. Repeat a few times.
More questions
Why is only my bathtub slow and not the sink?
It's almost always a local hair clog in the tub drain or stopper. If the tub fills when you flush the toilet, that's different: see when to call a plumber.
Related answers
General information only. Plumbing codes, prices and landlord-tenant laws vary by location. For gas, electrical, sewer-line or structural problems, contact a licensed professional.