Aurelia Butler

Taking a long shower with all your favorite products (or as TikTok would call it, the everything shower) is an essential part of a self-care routine — but, all those body washes, exfoliants, shower steamers and buildup from shampoos and of course hair can cause buildup in your shower drain. If water is pooling up at your feet as you take a shower, chances are your drain is clogged. The reasons you should regularly be cleaning a shower drain go beyond the annoyance of standing in a puddle of water as you shower or waiting for the water to drain down after a shower: Clearing the blockages in your drains and pipes can help keep the water flowing and prevent odors, mold, pests, leaks and pipes from freezing in the wintertime. “Especially during colder months, it’s critical to nip clogs in the bud, since backed-up pipes are prone to freezing and bursting, which can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs,” says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.So, what can you do to fix it? Luckily for you, we’ve made learning how to unclog a shower drain easy with this step-by-step guide, including how to use a snake to unclog a shower drain and the best methods and tips for blasting through debris and buildup in drains. We’ve also rounded up the best drain cleaners approved by our Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab and products like drain strainers to prevent future buildup. First, clear any visible debris and hairBefore using any tools, chemical cleaners or homemade cleaning solutions, you must let all the standing water drain down as much as possible. If it’s draining slowly or not at all, try using a plunger to push the water through the pipes. Once the tub or shower floor is empty, remove any stoppers and drain covers. Either twist or screw off the drain cover and then clean up the hair and any product buildup on the surrounding surface area. Look into the drain and try to clean out loose hairs, debris, soap and any objects that may have fallen into the drain. Run the water again to check if the drain is still clogged. If it is, continue onto the below steps to defeat a bigger problem and deep clean your drain. How to unclog a shower drain with a vinegar and baking soda mixtureOne at-home solution to unclogging a shower is by making a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. (You can use this to clean the kitchen sink as well!) Follow the instructions below to create and use it as follows:Mix ½ cup baking soda with ¼ cup table salt.Pour the mixture down the drain along with 1 cup heated vinegar. After it foams and bubbles, let it stand for 15 minutes (waiting longer will not produce better results).Follow by running hot tap water for at least 15 to 30 seconds.Never use bleach cleaners at the same time as this homemade vinegar mixture. The chemical reaction between bleach and white vinegar can produce hazardous gasses that are harmful to inhale. Stick to the vinegar and baking soda solution or separately use a chemical cleaning product another day to clean your drains.How to unclog a shower drain with a plungerYou can use a regular plunger to unclog your shower and sink drains. After removing the drain cover, run a bit of water to cover the bottom of the plunger cup. Then, move the plunger up and down (like you are unclogging a toilet) to unclog the drain. How to unclog a shower drain with a plumber’s snakeVastar Drain SnakeVastar Drain SnakeNow 60% OffA plastic drain snake like the Vastar Drain Snake can reach down into the pipes and dislodge items blocking water flow. Slowly insert the snake down the drain until you are stopped by the clog, and twist it around so that the barbs along the tool can grab onto hair and debris. The snake will either push the blockage down and out or you will be able to pull the source of the clog up and out. “It’s a good idea to keep a few of these on hand since the tool can be enough to clear a clog in seconds,” says DiClerico. How to unclog a shower drain with a drain cleanerIf these easy at-home methods don’t work, you can always purchase a drain cleaner to flush it out. These tough solvents clear out grease, soaps and debris and can be used regularly to keep your pipes clean. Our home improvement and cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute found the best drain cleaners in our Labs to clear out hair, grease and buildup in drains. Chemical cleaners like the Drano Max Gel Drain Clog Remover and Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator have fast-acting results on shower drains and can clear clogs in standing water. Enzyme cleaners like the Bio-Clean Bacteria Septic Cleaner must be left sitting in the drains overnight, but they are chemical-free solutions for dissolving lodged food or tougher items than a clogged drain’s typical culprits (hair and soaps). Be sure to follow the brand’s instructions because each chemical drain cleaner is different. Plus, take safety precautions by wearing gloves and opening a window for ventilation.When to hire a plumberIf your drain is still blocked after exhausting all these at-home options, Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, says it’s time to turn to the pros. “After that, call a professional plumber and tell them what you used.” Letting the plumber know what chemical cleaners and homemade solutions you’ve already tried can avoid any damage to your pipes. “That way, there won’t be any surprises,” says Forté.How to prevent a clogged drainAfter unclogging a shower drain once, you’re not going to want to do it again anytime soon. There are some precautions you can take to prevent a future clog that are simple and effective:Add a drain strainer or cover for your shower drain to prevent fallen hair, body scrubs or pieces of soap from clumping up inside the pipes.Use drain cleaners monthly and follow the directions from the brand. Once a month, you can pour the homemade mixture of vinegar and baking soda mentioned above into the drain to regularly clean out buildup of shampoo, conditioner, body scrubs and soaps you use in the bathroom. Isabella (she/her) covers commerce and product-related content in the home, lifestyle, fitness, technology and beauty. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Literature & Rhetoric. Before joining GH, she was an editorial assistant at Prevention, where she covered health topics and celebrity news.  More

Upgrading your home’s HVAC system can be a big commitment. But especially these days, there are multiple payoffs: You can improve your energy efficiency — which, in turn, saves you money. And you can make maintaining a comfortable living space for yourself and your family easier than ever.One way to achieve all of that is with the Trane Variable Speed Heat Pump with Trane Link, winner of a 2023 Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Award. This industry-leading heat pump ensures you’re always using the minimum amount of energy by taking environmental factors like temperature and humidity into account, continously speeding up or slowing down as the weather fluctuates to cool or heat the home to within half a degree of the chosen temperature. Plus, with the Trane Home app, you can use your smartphone to monitor the system, adjust your energy usage and even give technicians access to run diagnostics.Beyond the money you save from the efficiency improvements, there are cost savings up front as well. For one thing, the Trane heat pump can be installed using your existing ductwork, so you can benefit from its technology without installing new vents. Even better, there are new federal tax incentives coming this year, as well as already operational federal and state ones, that can net you a serious break on updating your system.Products and services selected for the Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Awards undergo months of rigorous testing to help homeowners make the best decisions for their home improvement or renovation projects. Check out the video above to hear more from Dan DiClerico, Good Housekeeping’s home improvement & outdoor director, about the efficiency, savings and comfort afforded by the Trane Variable Speed Heat Pump with Trane Link. More

If you can’t get enough of watching home renovation shows, chances are you’re a fan of the hit HGTV show, Property Brothers. Over the years, the stars of the series, Jonathan and Drew Scott, have guided hundreds of families through the process of making over their homes, with a healthy dose of humor and tons of candid advice along the way. With two brand-new HGTV shows slated for 2024 — Backed By the Bros and Don’t Hate Your House With the Property Brothers — and thriving home product lines, the design duo remains hard at work. The Scott brothers recently stopped by Good Housekeeping’s New York offices, and shared some of their top design mistakes to avoid as well as some decorating myths to watch out for — and let’s just say we hung on their every word. Here’s Jonathan and Drew’s best advice for homeowners right now: Design Mistakes to AvoidOpting for epoxyed countertops. “Don’t epoxy your countertops! It doesn’t last!” — Jonathan Hanging patina mirrors. “People like doing something fancy with their mirrors — like patina mirrors that have some sort of an aged look. But I say, stop doing that for mirrors you use in your bathroom.” — DrewTackling complicated DIY projects like wiring or plumbing. “Why are you DIY’ing to save money when, in the end, it’s actually going to cost you money?” — DrewInstalling barn doors. “Barn doors have been overdone. They’re perfect for certain solutions, but not for every solution.” — JonathanDesign Myths to IgnoreHardwood is the only option. “There are much better products that are far more durable. Luxury vinyl is an example [of a material] that can look like hardwood, but it’s way more durable.” — DrewA clutter-free home is best. “Curate your clutter instead. Decide what’s going to showcase your personality and then get rid of the other stuff.” — JonathanMatching all your furniture and accessories. “People think you have to match things in open floor plans. Matchy-matchy is really boring. Find things that complement [each other] and even [introduce] some nice contrast throughout the space to bring more personality.” — DrewVisit Good Housekeeping’s TikTok for more design advice from the Property Brothers!More on Home Design TrendsHome Design DirectorMonique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.” More

Design lovers are in for a treat! Pantone just announced Peach Fuzz as its 2024 Color of the Year. The color authority says the comforting hue is a reflection of the current times, as well as people’s desire for peace (maybe even a little alone time) and a sense of community. It’s a surprising departure from last year’s bold, nature-inspired pick, Viva Magenta.Pantone“A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute. “Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.”PantonePeach Fuzz signifies another major milestone for Pantone: It’s the 25th Color of the Year. In 1999, Pantone first kicked off the well-respected program with Cerulean Blue as its Color of the Year. Curious about how to bring a dose of Peach Fuzz into your own space? In conjunction with the announcement, Pantone launched a few exciting partnerships that present the perfect opportunity. They’ve teamed up with Motorola, Shades by Shan, Ruggable and Spoonflower, among others, on special products boasting the pretty hue. (Snag them while there’s time!). We also love the idea of pairing the peach tone with shades like navy, mint, beige, brown and even pops of gold. The possibilities are endless, if you ask us! Shop Peach Fuzz: Pantone’s 2024 Color of the YearPantone Peach Fuzz Pop Prism DoormatPantone Peach Fuzz Nice Peach Bath MatAurora Folk BrightAurora Vine Dawn WallpaperHome Design DirectorMonique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.” More

Every homeowner should own a toolbox — but what should it contain? Our on-staff home renovation experts say every tool bag should contain these essential items:1. Masking TapePainter’s tape is easy to tear, easy to remove and endlessly useful for indicating whatever you need to hammer, cut, paint, donate, replace or refurbish.Related Story2 . Cordless DrillNewer models of cordless drills are available with stud finders, making hanging or mounting projects a snap.Related Story3. HammerWhile there are plenty of fancy hammers, old schoolworks just fine. Use the claw side to remove nails.EXPERT TIP: Think through every job beforehand, and try to make one run for supplies.4. Safety GogglesNails slip, old paint chips go flying. These should be non-negotiable when working on home-improvement projects.5. Utility KnifeAlso known as a boxcutter, this knife can fold out or push up.EXPERT TIP: Keep tools, hardware and materials off the floor as you work. The last thing you need is a tripping hazard or to get hurt by a sharp tool.6. Drain SnakeRun this thin plastic drain cleaning tool down your sink whenever water drains more slowly than usual.Related Story7. LevelYou can eyeball whether something is straight or even, but only a level will tell you for sure. You could also try a level app on your phone.8 . ScrewdriversBuy an assortment — slotted, Phillips, star, square — and you’ll be able to secure every kind of screw.EXPERT TIP: Put everything in its place at the end of each session. Your work area should be restored to a pre-project level of orderliness.9 . FlashlightIt helps when the power goes out, of course, but a flashlight is also useful for peering into crevices and corners.10. PencilSticking a pencil behind your ear will make you feel handier and readier to tackle any project. It’s also helpful for marking or noting measurements.11 . Tape MeasureMeasure twice, cut once.Looking to learn more essential skills to maintain and repair your home? Check out our best-selling book, Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges.Related Stories More

The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning.Cooler temperatures and calm breezes help keep evaporation to a minimum. It also keeps the turf cooler during the hottest parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass. If it’s not convenient to water in the morning, late afternoon is the next best time. Waiting to water until too late in the evening keeps lawns wet overnight, which can make the grass susceptible to diseases like fungus.The screwdriver test can tell you how long you should be watering your lawn.Not sure how long to water your lawn for? Conduct the screwdriver test: After watering the lawn, take a long-blade screwdriver and shove it straight down into the ground. The blade should easily penetrate the soil to a depth of 6 inches. If it doesn’t, you’re not watering long enough.Use pulsating sprinklers.These lawn sprinklers shoot out water horizontally at high velocity, so water is not as vulnerable to wind and evaporation as oscillating types, which spray the water straight up, and then rotate side to side.EXPERT TIP: Lawns in new housing developments often have compacted soil so hard that water can’t sink in. If this is the case, water for 30 minutes, let the water soak in and repeat to avoid runoff.Go easy with new grass.Oscillating sprinklers are a gentler choice for new lawns until the grass takes root. For newly planted grass seed, keep the top inch of the soil moist, but not soggy. Monitor and water regularly until the grass is 3 inches high, then water on your regular cycle. When mowing, take wide, slow turns to prevent the mower’s wheels from tearing up the new lawn.Get More Handy Home TipsHome Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday ChallengesGet More Handy Home TipsHome Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday ChallengesNow 44% OffLook for signs of under- or overwatering to know how often you should water your lawn.Experts recommend watering clay soils once a week and sandy soils about every three days. Signs of under-watering include brittle, dry or brown grass. Signs of overwatering include mushrooms, weeds, spongy grass and runoff.Get a timer.You will never need to worry about having to shutoff your sprinkler or wonder whether your lawn got enough water.Be consistent.Toggling between letting your lawn go dormant and keeping it watered is hard on the grass. It’s far better to make a choice. Letting it go dormant like it does in the winter won’t harm the grass as long as there’s not a drought lasting longer than a month. A dormant lawn will comeback to life after a good rainstorm.Related Story More

They say home is where the heart is, and when you think about it, it’s true. It’s where so many of the big and little things in your life happen: It’s where meals are cooked for your family, where the gifts are wrapped for the holidays, where the mundane but necessary chores get done week after week, where the keepsakes are stored and where memories are made year after year. Good Housekeeping Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday ChallengesGood Housekeeping Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday ChallengesNow 44% OffRecognizing how much goes on in your household, we all could really use some tips on how to make life at home simpler — and here at Good Housekeeping, we’re all about making your life easier. From making your own weed killer to whipping up creative cocktails to serve at your next party, there are so many things to learn to ensure your home continues to be the comfortable and the creative space that you love so much.DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EXCERPT HEREThat’s where Good Housekeeping’s best-selling book Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges comes in — and right now it’s almost 50% off on Amazon. Home Skills is full of expert advice and genius solutions for every corner of the house and lucky for you, we’re offering special access to a sneak peek of 14 essential household hacks. In the free excerpt from the book, you find over a dozen tips that will help you transform your home, save you time and money, and give you a better idea of what to expect when you purchase the full Home Skills book for yourself. Intrigued? Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:GHGHIf you like the free excerpt, you’ll love the book! Discover even more home hacks (up to 850!) by picking up your own copy of Home Skills today.Assistant EditorAnnie O’Sullivan (she/her) covers holiday, gift guide, travel, and lifestyle content at Good Housekeeping. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously reported for Runner’s World, NBC New York/NY 4 and Woman’s Day. Annie also has experience writing entertainment news and celebrity-focused content. More

It’s finally December, which means it’s officially time to start decorating for Christmas — if you haven’t already, that is. If you’re still in the midst of decking the halls, consider trying the viral Christmas garland-hanging hack that’s taken over TikTok and Instagram in recent weeks. The game-changing holiday decor trick involves hanging garland from a tension shower curtain rod suspended between entryway arches, doorways and even between kitchen cabinets. The end result looks stunning — and it won’t damage your walls.To try the hack at home, first secure the curtain rod at eye level. Arrange and twist greenery around the rod (you may need zip ties to secure it), then layer in decorative items like twinkling lights, stylish ornaments, holiday bells or ribbons. Once you’re happy with the final look, simply raise the tension rod into position and tighten it as much as possible. @stephaniehannablog@greenssweethomeHome decorator @thekwendyhome was one of the first to share the holiday secret on social media just four weeks ago — and many bloggers, influencers and decorators have attempted it since. We reached out to several content creators to ask about their experiences trying the viral hack. Spoiler alert: Most rave that it’s incredibly easy to pull off.”As a person who hates putting holes in the wall and loves an easy DIY, this hack was right up my alley. It was super easy to install my garland and I have no issues with the tension rod falling. When I first saw this hack, there were so many people using it in doorways and hallways, but I knew I struggled to hang my garland over my sink last year and this was a great solution.” — Danielle Green of @greenssweethome”My daughter Abby, who’s also my content assistant, joined in on the fun. We found it surprisingly easy — just a little garland bending, and it stayed put. To keep everything secure, having the rod at arm level while styling everything was key. Wrapping the garland around it multiple times and bending it into place worked great — no ties or nails needed… We took it a step further by layering with battery-powered twinkle lights and floral picks.” — Brendt Blanks of @shegaveitagoTry the Curtain Rod Hack at Home”I saw @kwendyhome on Instagram share this hack, and it seemed too easy and beautiful — I had to try it myself! When it fell two minutes in, I started to sweat. I had already bought everything I needed, so I didn’t give up — even after it fell a couple more times. I think the trick was once you tighten it as tight as the rod could go, tighten it even more. I made sure to really load up on ornaments and tinsel to cover spots where the rod was showing through the garland.” — Lacey Farber of @ponderosaandplaid “I actually have a smaller opening, so I purchased a shower stall rod because all of the other rods were too big — it worked perfectly. It was a little tricky in the beginning. My husband helped me and we kept trying to get the rod tight enough but when we turned the rod to tighten it, the garland kept falling. We decided to use zip ties to attach the garland to the rod, then once we got the rod in place at the top, we attached more zip ties to secure it.” — Stephanie Hanna of @stephaniehannablog”I would say this hack was pretty easy, but a little tricky getting the garland to stay in place and not slide around. It helped to add additional decor pieces to sort of obstruct the garland from sliding. I used a tension rod, garland, a few S-hooks, rustic bells, a beaded wood garland and some rattan lights — oh, and a fun bow. By evenly distributing the weight, and being sure the tension rod was secured tightly, keeping everything in place wasn’t a problem.” — Gianna Nicolette Caputo of @indie.boho.nest @SOFILLEDWITHLOVEPHOTOGRAPHY@indie.boho.nestRelated StoriesAssociate Lifestyle EditorAlyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries. More