Before Cutting Your Own Hair at Home, Beware of Drain Clogs

So, you’ve decided to cut your own hair or trim your heavy beard. We’re not going to advise you on how to cut your own hair, but as North America’s largest provider of plumbing and drain services, we can speak with authority when we warn you not to cut your hair or trim your beard over a sink unless you close the drain and collect all the hair after you’re finished. Under no circumstances should you rinse hair down a sink drain!

Hair is one of the most effective clog builders inside plumbing drains. In fact, you’re almost guaranteed to cause a clog in your sink drain or somewhere downstream in your home’s drainage system or residential sewer if you push any quantity of hair down a drain. Mix in some soap scum, grease from a kitchen sink drain or a dab of toothpaste, and you’ll have a clog that home remedies and plungers cannot possibly fix.

We know that a bathroom sink seems like the perfect place to trim hair because there’s almost always a big mirror right there to conveniently guide you through your self-shearing adventure. If you can’t resist trimming over the sink, we recommend taking the following precautions:

• Line the sink with a paper towel so you can easily gather up the hair and wad it inside the paper towel to toss into the trash can.
• Vacuum up the clippings with a wet-dry vacuum (do not use a regular vacuum unless the sink is completely dry).

If you’re reading this after you’ve already clogged your sink, please refer to our “How to unclog a sink” video. If you are unable to get the drain flowing on your own, Roto-Rooter provides fast, reliable plumbing and drain service. Click to schedule a service or call 1-800-GET-ROTO.