Like a horse fly in your ice cream, a clogged bathtub drain isn't a pleasant thing to have. A slow draining tub spells trouble and you need to get it fixed. Overtime, your bathtub drain can become clogged with all sorts of material, including hair and soap. There are several different ways to clear out a clogged drain, a few good ideas follow.

If you are environmentally concerned, you might want to try solving your problem without using chemical drain cleaners. You should consider giving these methods a try before falling back on chemical solutions. Boiling water and salt will work together to clean out a clogged drain. First, empty a cup of salt down the drain. Next, flush the drain with an ample amount of boiling water. Use enough boiling water to force the clog out of the drain. If this doesn't work, the drain could be clogged with something made of plastic or some other material that doesn't dissolve easily. The next step calls for using a plunger.

You should discontinue up the overflow for this to work. Just remove the two screws that attach the overflow cover and remove the parts and the tub's stopper. Clean these items up using soap and water, being careful to remove any hair, grease, or anything else lodged on them. With the overflow cover removed, plug the opening with a rag or a cloth. Next, use the plunger to force the water down the drain. The clog will break free from the force of the plunging. If corrected properly simply replace the stopper assembly, cover plate and attaching screws.

More troublesome clogs can be dislodged by inserting a wire coat hanger into the drain in order to break it free. Because coat hangers are both strong and flexible, they are easily pushed into a tub's drain pipe. Use a pair of pliers to make a short loop for a handle on one end. Wrap one end of the hanger wire with a cloth or wear a glove in order to get a firm grip on the wire. Carefully push the hanger wire through the tub's drain and the trap just below it. It should dislodge any foreign objects along the way. Try going through the tub's overflow if the wire refuses to go into the drain pipe.

If this doesn't clear the clog, the next step would be to try using a plumber's snake. Plumber's snakes are an cheap way to unclog any drain. The coiled tip at the end is routed into the drain until it reaches a stoppage. Then it is rotated until it pulls out the clog or works its way past the stoppage which could be a bend in the pipes. Tighten down the binding screw onto the snake and twist. The coiled tip works by wrapping up the clog around itself. This includes clumps of hair, cloth and most other materials. A trap, or bend in the drain pipe won't halt the cable from extending further into the pipe. If using a plumber's snake doesn't unclog the drain, you've got a more plumbing  problem that requires professional equipment. You can rent a drain cleaning router or hire a professional to complete the job.

Commercial drain cleaners are reliable alternatives, as well. Chemical drain cleaners are usually safe for septic systems, but are caustic and dangerous when mixed with water. You should never use them in combination with any other chemicals. Exercise caution when opening and using the chemical drain cleaner. It has a caustic chemical solution in a liquid or dry form that can cause burns. Wear goggles and gloves when handling and using such cleaners. It only makes sense to follow the manufacturers safety precautions printed on the label.

In conclusion, if having tried any or all of these solutions, and the drain is still clogged, the best solution is going to be to call a drain cleaning service. You last resort is to locate a drain cleaning company and hire them to tackle the job.

Well, that's all I have for you here. I hope the know-how can be put to good use. If you wish to uncover more great plumbing repair articles, visit the companion site, PracticalRepairs.com