If you’re like me, you love to care for your hair. Shampooing, conditioning, and detangling. And then there’s body care. Body scrubs, body washes, shaving gels and the general detritus of skin cells. If you’re like me, you might have a reputation for clogging drains.
My husband is SO OVER IT. And so am I. But I can’t help it! Naturally kinky, coily hair just tends to clog up a shower drain like nobody’s business. And so does straight hair, curly hair – if you’re a woman with a substantial head of hair, you might be like me. Doesn’t even matter the texture.
I have used just about every kind of chemical drain declogger on the market. They tend to be expensive, and some can be downright ineffective (after all, that’s how they get you to buy more, right?) When times got lean I learned how to make vinegar bombs to clear out the sludge. But even that doesn’t work as perfectly as I’d like to, sometimes.
Then I found an item that works ALL THE TIME. It’s pretty much the perfect drain declogger. Bellas, let me introduce you to the Zip-It.
zipitclean.com, baby!
Now here’s the thing. The Zip-It is different from other drain cleaners, because it’s manual. It’s a long plastic doohickey you stick down your drain as far down as you can, and then you pull it back out, oooooh chile. Let me prepare you for what you may behold.
With a chemical drain cleaner you never actually come into contact with your shower sludge, or clumps of hair. But with the Zip-It, you are literally pulling this stuff out of your shower drain manually, so for the love of Pete make sure you’re right next to your toilet or bathroom trash can. Because if you’re like me and you’d rather not touch this stuff, it’s the only way to avoid having to do so. It gets gross, it gets real – but it works like nothing else ever has.
I paid $2.50 or thereabouts for my Zip-It, and already it’s saved me like ten bucks on regular chemical drain cleaners. Because it’s plastic and so durable, it’s gonna last for a really long time. Trust and believe, the Zip-It is awesome, and it could make for a really useful stocking stuffer for your natural, curly haired girlfriends over the holidays. So glad I bought it!
Have you tried the Zip-It? Are you good for clogging the shower drain, like I am? Talk to me, bellas!
I don’t have the Zip-It, but some comparable tool and once I figured out how to work it (I was twisting too soon), I was SHOCKED by what I pulled out. My shower drain was working like new again. It’s great though, because it’s natural and you don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals on your house. (If I don’t want them on my hair, I definitely don’t want ’em in the water!)
Aside from shedding (and of course, closely correlated to it), clogged drains are what I hate most in this natural journey. This seems like a life saver, because I agree with you Tara, if I don’t want the chemicals on my body, I definitely don’t want it in my house!
HECK YEAH!!!!! I’ve used this for a few years now and the hubs and I would never go without it. It’s like “tough-acting Tinactin — it works!”
It also pays to do due diligence on the front end and use a hair catcher (found even in the grocery store). If I know for certain that I’m going to be doing a lot of hair related things in the shower I remove the drain cover and plunk this down first.
****IMPORTANT***** Do NOT use something like a Zip-It immediately AFTER using a chemical drain unclogger. YOU CAN GET HURT WHEN THE CHEMICALS COME UP WITH THE GUNK.
I just unclogged my bathroom drain with a chemical drain cleaner this week! This is an item that I’ll be picking up this weekend for my next clogged drain! Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks so much for the tip!!! Will definitely have to try this. I’m also over having to use commercial drainers all the time to unclog my drain.
I keep one of these in my bathroom for drain emergencies! Works wonderfully in the sink drain too.
I’d really rather not see it, so I just use one of those hair catcher cover things. It’s worked well so far! 🙂
I had one of these at my old place. I love it! I introduced it to my parents who have a septic tank and can’t use chemicals and they now swear by it! Thanks for sharing the love 🙂
We’re dealing with a slow draining shower right now. Mr. Husband swears it’s because of me. This dohickey is going to be an early gift! lol Thanks.
Between my cowashing daily during the summer (sometimes 2x), washing 1 weekly and my 2 girls and their cousin all washing at least once a week, this thing is a DRAINSAVER! I keep 1 in the kitchen, and 2 in the bathroom and use it at the end of the month.
If you have a wire hanger you can cut it and use it in a similar way. Just keep working your way down the drain and no more worries. I use it in my shower and on the kitchen and bathroom sinks as needed!
I saw an infomercial for a drain cleaning do hicky and I got it because I was afraid of what a bottle of draino a year was doing tot he water supply.
its the best! even better if you an get someone else to unclog the drain.
Great tip. I have used Zep’s Hair Clog remover, which does work. I now mostly use a drain cover in the shower, which is another cheap fix.
We buy quite a lot of these. I love them – as long as I don’t have to do the actual drain cleaning.
Bella,
We are so in sync. I was looking for a good drain cleaner when my local Lowe’s specialist, hipped me to the Zip it. It worked on my clogged drain so well it is now my go to plumbing item.
I actually used it today on my sink. Clogs are a thing of the past. Now I can concentrate on other more important things.
Yes I love it (of course not the guck) but instant unclogging of the bath tub is great
I recently got my bathroom remodeled and I have a jacuzzi now and the drain is different, it’s kinda like the one you push down at the bottom(like this:http://bathtubsandshowersss.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Bathtub-Drain.jpg) and I haven’t found a hair catcher to use with this so I’ve been trying to not detangle or do my hair in the shower as much because I’m scared of clogging. I wonder if I can even use the zipit with this drain. Does anyone have this drain and what do you use?
I’m as squeamish as they come. I would love to use this but I would need the wastebasket to call “Ralph.” I’m going to look for this.
Amen, Sistha Afrobella – I thought this was my best kept secret. Girl, this is la bomba! Ladies, if you haven’t used it, you MUST get it.
Slow Strut, Rouge Lips – Not Just a Fashion Blog
I literally JUST tried this moments ago.
I’m speechless, yet slightly horrified at the gunk in my drain.
Worked like a dream….
Thank you!!
OHMYGOD! this is revolutionary! Is it available in stores anywhere or do you have to buy it online!? x
Thank you! My mom and I both have thick, abundant heads of hair, and my poor stepdad is always cussing “allyuh and dis hair ting!” Finally, a solution to our problem. I’m going to home depot tonight!
Try Muratic Acid.
All I can say is that men everywhere will thank you.
yikes! i don’t know if i’m ready! i really thought you were gonna say have a toilet or trash can nearby to hurl into when you see the greasy hairball of a lifetime spring out of the drain at you. still it takes what it takes- and Liquid Plumber ain’t gettin it done. Thank you for the tip.
Wow!!!! Best product EVER!!!! Between my daughters and I we have three heads of thick, curly, natural hair and our drains are ALWAYS clogged. After seeing your review of Zip it I ran to Home Depot and bought two of them. Opened it up the second I got home and five minutes later, all my drains were running clean and unclogged!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!
This works great! I saw whoissugar review this on Youtube and immediately went out and bought it. It was pretty disgusting. I went in with gloves and a face mask for the smell. But my drains are clear!!
I use a wire hanger for my daughters’ shower drain. 2 long-haired teenage girls = lots of clogs!
Yes, I have one & love it!!!! I actually bought it years ago before I even became natural, but find it incredibly useful as of late!! Defintely a great, affordable find!!!!