Last Update: 28 October 2025
Washing pets is a common household task, but it often leads to frustratingly clogged drains due to shedding fur. This guide offers practical tips and tricks to prevent pet hair from accumulating in your plumbing system, ensuring a smoother bathing experience for both you and your furry friend. By implementing these simple strategies, you can avoid the common headache of post-bath drain blockages.
From frequent brushing sessions before baths to using effective drain covers and even considering outdoor bathing, the article outlines several methods to keep your drains clear. For smaller pets, using a dedicated container can also significantly reduce hair entering the drainage system. Should stubborn clogs still occur, the guide advises on when it's best to call a professional plumber for thorough drain cleaning and maintenance.
Are you tired of cleaning clogged drains each time you wash your dog? We are here with tips and tricks to save you from the hassle.
Giving your pet a bath is a lovely way to pamper them, but without taking proper care, you might find your drains in a bit of a mess.
Typically, dogs only require a thorough wash about once a month. However, if your furry friend is particularly playful and prone to getting dirty, you might need to wash them more often.
One big headache after washing your dog is dealing with the aftermath. As you scrub them clean, their fur tends to fall off and accumulate in your drains, causing frustrating clogs.
That’s why we have valuable tips and tricks to prevent your dog hair from clogging the drain.
Washing Your Dog Without Clogging Your Drain
Most dog owners have a lot of things to complain about their naughty yet adorable pooches. However, one complaint seems to be common in most stories - clogging drains after washing your dog.
Clogged drains can be a huge problem in many ways. They disrupt the entire water flow of the house, and you usually have to call a plumber to sort things out.
However, you can avoid an expensive appointment with a plumber by following these simple tips to keep your drain clean.
1. Brush Your Dog Frequently
Dogs shed their fur frequently. Once you own a pet, you must deal with this inevitable excess hair. Combing and brushing your pet whenever possible is a good idea. Frequent brushing sessions will enable you to eliminate the furs at once and give your pet dog the pampering it craves.
This is a very effective way of reducing the accumulation of excess hair when washing them—giving your pup a good brushing about half an hour before the dog baths is also advisable. This can help prevent issues with a clogged tub drain, which can be a common problem after dog baths due to all the excess hair.
2. Cover Your Drains
Dealing with excess dog’s hair is inevitable when owning a pet. Brushing frequently and using a drain cover can prevent clogged tub drains.
Using pop-up drain covers with screens can really help catch dog hair and reduce clogs. Additionally, wiping the drain with baby wipes before and after baths can be particularly helpful, especially if your dog sheds a lot.
3. Linear Shower Drain Hair Catcher
Most households have different kinds of designs when it comes to drains. While some homes have the standard ones, others have pop-up drains.
Then, there are a lot of households that have a linear drainage design. These drains are particularly hard to cover as the standard screens will not fit perfectly.
However, you can always find a hair catcher screen for your linear shower drain online to prevent major accumulation.
4. Take Your Dog Outside To Bathe
Washing your dog in the confined space of the bathroom might make it a monotonous experience for you and your pet. Instead, you can try washing your puppy in your backyard to add fun and flair to the dog wash routine.
This approach allows your dog to soak in the sunlight and fresh air while getting cleaned up, which can be a more enjoyable experience. It’s also an effective way to avoid unwanted furs entering your drain area and clogging the system.
In the long run, bathing your dog without clogging the drain can save you from potential skin conditions and the need to contact Mr. Plumber for costly drain cleaning services. The backyard setup provides a more open and fun environment for your dog’s bath time, benefiting you and your furry friend.
5. Use A Container
If you are a dog owner with a smaller canine, you can try new methods to save your drains from clogging. Getting your little dog a bath in small and adorable containers will give them an enjoyable bathtime experience and help you avoid the hassle of dealing with clogged drains.
Bathing your small dog in a compact container can prevent excess hair from clogging down the drain. This method lets you be more attentive to your dog’s eyes and other sensitive areas during the dog’s bath without worrying about drainage issues.
Additionally, this approach can save you from spending extra money on drain cleaning services due to the accumulation of extra hair. Using smaller, more manageable containers for your dog’s baths can effectively minimize the amount of hair in the drain.
Keep Your Dog Clean And Your Drain Clog-Free!
Bathing your pet, whether a dog or cat, is essential to their maintenance routine. But doing so shouldn’t cause problems for your home’s plumbing!
Although the methods we’ve listed above are effective, there may still be chances of pet hair clogging your drains. For example, you may use a drain cover while bathing your pet and clean its grooming tools or lashes directly in the sink. Over time, such practices can lead to stubborn clogged drains.
In these cases, you may be better off hiring the services of a professional plumber who can clean the drains thoroughly. WP Plumbing Melbourne has an expert team of licensed Melbourne plumbers who can do the job. Whether you need regular drain maintenance or replacement to keep your plumbing issues at bay, give us a call today!
On that note, we will now say goodbye. See you next time!
Published by: Pascal Harb28 October 2025