Blocked drains are the bane of many households, with everything from soap scum and hair to limescale and grease causing pesky clogs. 

While some swear by the classic combo of baking soda and white vinegar for minor blockages, one woman’s plea for help on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page shows that sometimes home remedies just don’t cut it.

Dawn Murphy posted: “Can anyone give me a tip on how to unblock my shower?”

She added a photo of her dilemma: “This is what the drain of my shower looks like when I take the cover off. It’s blocked somewhere as when we shower the cubicle fills up with water.”

Despite trying various solutions including store-bought chemicals and household concoctions, she noted: “I’ve tried store-bought drain unblockers, bleach, white vinegar, and baking soda. It works for a few days then it’s back to slow draining.”

Identifying herself as the likely cause due to her saying: “I have a mane of curly hair so I know I’m the culprit. Nothing is working. What else can I use on it?”

The overwhelming response from over 100 comments was to try a professional tool known as a drain snake, a device designed to tackle stubborn blockages with its cable or coil system.

Gemma Leighfield recommended: “Get a drain snake. It’s a very long spring wire thing with a twisted end with a point on it.

“It wraps around the hair and drags it back out the drain. It goes around corners etc as it’s flexible. Couple of quid and is so handy for any drain or plug etc. Had mine years.”

Patricia Walsh penned: “When I bought a drain snake from Wickes it came with a flexible barbed ‘rod’ and it’s amazing what it pulls out of the pipes.

“The first time I used it I thought it was bringing out a dead mouse! Never had a problem since.”

Colleen Anderson remarked: “Get a drain snake. Works every time for me and you can clean it and reuse it. No chemicals needed and gets out the clogs in under one minute.”

Tanya Hill posted: “Rather than using any chemicals to clear it I found drain snakes much better at unblocking sinks. Absolute magic. Works every time.”

Drain snakes are available in any DIY store. They retail for £15.75 at Wickes, £14.98 at Toolstation and for £14.99 on Amazon.