Plastic drain snake
Tool$3 – $8Hooks hair out of the first 500 mm of pipe. The barbed version grips better than the plain zip strip.
Buy two. They are consumable and one always disappears.
Tool checklist
The whole toolkit, on one page
Six items. Three are tools you already own or can borrow; three are parts that cost less than lunch. Prices are typical retail ranges, not quotes.
Essential
Plastic drain snake
Hooks hair out of the first 500 mm of pipe. The barbed version grips better than the plain zip strip.
Cup plunger
Moves a soft blockage by pressure. Needs a proper seal over the drain, not a flange plunger made for toilets.
Bucket and old towel
Catches what comes back out and keeps the floor dry. A towel under the bucket stops the slip hazard.
Silicone drain cover
Catches hair before it enters the pipe. The single cheapest thing that prevents the whole problem.
Fixes for the cause
Optional, if the job is bigger
| Tool | Typical price | When it earns its keep |
|---|---|---|
| Spring auger (5 m) | $18 – $35 | For blockages past the trap. Manual, no drill required. |
| Wet/dry vacuum | $40 – $80 | Pulls standing water out so you can see the blockage. |
| Head torch | $8 – $15 | You cannot fix what you cannot see down a drain. |
| Nitrile gloves | $5 | Trap contents are grey water with bacteria. Wear them. |
Buying advice
Buy the cheapest plastic snake that has a barb, not the longest one. You are hooking hair at 100 mm, not clearing a main line — a 400 mm tool does the job and fits in a drawer.
Each item in detail
Cup plunger
Tool$8 – $15Moves a soft blockage by pressure. Needs a proper seal over the drain, not a flange plunger made for toilets.
Block the overflow with a wet cloth first or you will just pump air.
Bucket and old towel
Tool$0 – $6Catches what comes back out and keeps the floor dry. A towel under the bucket stops the slip hazard.
A 10 L bucket is enough for a shower trap.
Silicone drain cover
Part$4 – $9Catches hair before it enters the pipe. The single cheapest thing that prevents the whole problem.
Measure the grate first — they are sold by outside diameter.
One-way drain valve
Part$6 – $14A silicone duckbill that opens for water and closes against air. Stops sewer smell and siphonage.
Fits inside a 40 mm or 50 mm bore; check the depth before buying.
Replacement seal
Part$3 – $12Restores a perished rubber flap or water cup. Match the brand on the old one if you can.
Photograph the old seal before you throw it away.