The drain is slow. You stand in two inches of water every shower. You have already poured half a bottle of drain cleaner down there. It helped for about four days. Now you are back to the same problem, minus half a bottle of harsh chemicals.
Here is what is actually going on — and a fix that lasts.
Why chemical cleaners are a short-term solution
Chemical drain cleaners dissolve organic matter — hair, grease, soap scum — but they do so aggressively. Over repeated use, they can corrode older pipes and the rubber seals in your drain fittings. More practically: they often do not clear the full blockage, only enough to restore partial flow. The underlying clog remains and rebuilds quickly.
What is actually blocking the drain
In most bathroom sinks and showers, the culprit is a combination of hair and soap residue, collected in the P-trap — the curved pipe section directly below the drain. This curve exists to hold water and prevent sewer gases from entering the room; it also catches debris very effectively.
In kitchen sinks, grease and food particles are the usual cause, often combined with soap buildup in the same P-trap area.
The mechanical fix
Method 1: The drain snake
A plastic drain snake (a flexible stick with barbs, available at any hardware store for €3–5) pushes down into the drain and pulls hair and debris back out. Insert it, rotate it, pull slowly. What comes out will be unpleasant. Do it over the bin. It works.
Method 2: Remove the P-trap
If the snake does not clear it, the blockage is in the trap itself. Place a small bucket under the curved pipe beneath the sink. Unscrew the two threaded ring nuts (usually hand-tight) at each end of the curve. Remove the trap. Empty it into the bin. Clean it. Replace it, hand-tighten, run water to check for leaks.
The whole process takes about fifteen minutes and costs nothing beyond the snake.
Method 3: Bicarbonate and vinegar (for partial maintenance)
Pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Wait 30 minutes, then flush with boiling water. This does not clear a serious clog but maintains a clean drain if done monthly.
When to call someone
If the blockage is in the main stack — if multiple drains in the house slow at once — that is a deeper problem requiring a drain rod or professional equipment. Single-drain problems almost never need professional help.
The P-trap removal is one of eight repairs documented in She Fixed It, step by step, with photos.