Tub Stopper Styles

Proper stopper

While certainly not the sexiest bathroom accoutrement, the tub stopper has its purpose and those not performing should be duly dismissed from duty.  A tight seal and a means for collecting hair is about all it takes, but some just don't measure up.

Look around at those who regularly use the shower.  Balding men?  Flowing platinum locks?  Lucky you.  If you have a stopper that pops up and down via a lever or other mechanism, expect to frequently suffer the pleasures of hair removal.  Ideally, you would replace this stopper, as it can be the source of an unnecessary headache.  Removing the entire mechanism, however, can be an even greater headache.  It is recommended that you call a qualified plumber and let him or her take care of business. 

Unglamorous DIY

If you are feeling handy, though, get yourself one of several options.  Replace your pop-up stopper with a plunger-style stopper.  This is a mechanism that plugs the interior of the pipes, leaving room for a grate to be fixed at the drain to catch most clog threats.  If there isn't already a hole at the overflow level, you'll need to make one to install the lever.  Upon hearing this information, you are leaning toward a simpler solution or knowledgeable enough to follow through yourself. 

Search a little online.  Most replacement tub stoppers are under ten dollars and do a decent job of collecting shower refuse.  Just make sure you avoid a stopper that has to come out completely to drain the tub. 

The best stand-alone tub stoppers function as filters that open and close while still in the drain.  Most of them can be operated by a quick flick of the toe, which is arguably easier than a plunger-style with a lever anyway.   Sadly, the tub stopper has yet to be widely embraced by top designers, so don't go searching for one that matches your antique bronze. 

Dead ducks

But what if you want fun over function?  After all, drains clog and these are problems we can fix with a variety of tools and noxious chemicals.  Check out the decorative drain plugs shaped like rubber duckies.  They get the job done, and are awful cute.  While some may think otherwise, the manufacturers did not consider it morbid to have a bird submerged underwater for the duration of bath time. 

More information on tub stoppers