How to Remove the 6 Types of Bathtub Drain Stoppers

There’s nothing like finding yourself standing in a pool of dirty water when you’re trying to shower at the end of a long day. Even if it seems insignificant, learning how to remove a bathtub drain stopper is sometimes all it takes to get your water flowing again. Read on for a few simple steps to get that stopper out and return to your routine.

How to Identify Which Type of Bathtub Drain Stopper You Have

Before you tackle this project, familiarize yourself with the drain stopper you have, as each one requires a slightly different removal technique. The most common bathtub drain stopper types include the following.

Toe-Touch Stoppers

A toe-touch drain stopper looks like a circular button that you can operate with—you guessed it—your toe. If you push the stopper to open and close it, there’s a good chance you have this type of stopper.

Push-Pull Stoppers

A push-pull drain stopper operates just like it sounds: By pulling on the knob located on the top of the stopper to open the drain and pushing down on the knob to stop the water flow. 

Lift-and-Turn Stoppers

Like the push-pull stopper, lift-and-turn stoppers have a small knob on top. However, you  operate them by twisting the knob like a screw to lift and close the stopper.

Flip-It Stoppers

Flip-it stoppers resemble a light switch and operate with a similar flip of a knob. Lift the knob up to raise the stopper, and pull it down to lower it.  

Pop-Up Stoppers

Pop-up stoppers have a lever system that causes them to seal or release when you press the stopper. This kind of stopper is common in bathroom sinks, but you might also find one in your bathtub—especially if you have a trip lever that raises and lowers the stopper.

Trip-Lever Stoppers

This type of stopper utilizes the trip-lever mechanism and is also known as a plunger-style stopper. It uses a lever to pull and release the plunger, which opens and closes the drain. 

How to Remove Your Bathtub Drain Stopper

Follow these steps for a DIY job that’ll have you flexing your bathroom plumbing skills to the whole family.

Remove a Toe-Touch Drain Stopper

Removing a toe-touch drain stopper is relatively straightforward. You might need a flathead screwdriver or plier set on hand for some makes of this stopper. Check out these steps to DIY the job.

1. Ensure the stopper is in the open position. This is the same as the “empty” setting for draining your tub. 

2. Twist the top counterclockwise to unscrew the stopper. In some cases, twisting the stopper also twists the shaft cylinder. If this happens, let go of the shaft cylinder to unscrew the stopper.

3. Unscrew the shaft cylinder from the crossbar. If the shaft cylinder didn’t unscrew with the top portion, use a flathead screwdriver or pair of pliers to remove the screw that fastens the shaft cylinder to the drain crossbar.

4. Clean and replace the stopper as needed. Make sure your toe-touch drain stopper is in tip-top shape before putting it back in the drain.

Remove a Push-Pull Drain Stopper

Push-pull drain stoppers tend to be easy to remove because the entire body of the stopper is one solid piece that you twist to remove. Here’s how to remove this assembly.

1. Remove the knob at the top of the stopper. Turn the knob counterclockwise to loosen the bolt from the drain crossbar.

2. Unscrew the insert in the center of the stopper. Some push-pull drain stoppers have an insert in the center that you’ll need to unscrew using a screwdriver.

3. Lift off from the strainer. Once loose, lift the drain stopper up and out of the drain opening.

4. Clean and replace the stopper as needed. Clean the stopper and inspect it for signs of wear and tear before putting it back in the tub drain.

Remove a Lift-and-Turn Drain Stopper

Lift-and-turn stoppers are similar to push-pull stoppers, but the removal method is slightly different. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Ensure the stopper is in the open position. Attempting to remove the drain stopper when it’s closed could damage it. 

2. Turn the knob counterclockwise to unthread it. While holding the outer portion of the stopper, twist the knob counterclockwise. You may need to use a cloth and pliers to remove stubborn knobs.

3. Unscrew the drain stopper bolt. After removing the knob, use a flathead screwdriver and unscrew the drain stopper bolt from the drain crossbar. 

4. Lift to remove the stopper. Once unscrewed, you can lift the whole stopper up and out of the drain to inspect it for wear and tear. Clean and replace it as needed. 

Remove a Flip-It Drain Stopper

Flip-it stoppers are one of the easiest to remove, as they only have O-rings that secure the device to the drain. You won’t need any tools to remove a flip-it stopper. Here’s how to do it.

1. Flip the lever to open the drain so you can access the assembly.

2. Grab the drive stopper firmly. Avoid grabbing the toggle as you rotate the stopper in either direction while pulling upwards. You may need to wiggle the device from side to side as you pull up.

3. Pull the entire stopper out of the drain. The divide should come loose from the previous step, so all you need to do is lift the entire piece out of your drain.

4. Remove dirt, hair, and other gunk, and inspect the drain stopper and O-ring for signs of damage before replacing them as needed.

Remove a Pop-Up Tub Drain Stopper

Pop-up drain stoppers require a little more oomph in the removal process than most other types, but don’t let that discourage you from getting your DIY skills on! Since this assembly threads through your overflow faceplate or bathtub overflow drain, you must carefully remove the whole assembly to avoid damaging the stopper. Here’s how to do it.

1. Ensure the drain stopper lever is open so you can reach the drain stopper.

2. Remove the stopper and rocker arm. You can either use your hands or a pair of pliers to carefully pull the stopper and rocker arm out of the drain.

3. Remove the overflow faceplate, and then use a screwdriver to remove the screws that secure the overflow faceplate.

4. Pull out the rod assembly. With the overflow faceplate removed, you can now pull the rest of the assembly out, including the lever and rod.

5. Clean and inspect all parts, replacing the ones that look damaged. Replace the stopper as needed. 

Remove a Trip-Lever Drain Stopper

Another challenging stopper to remove is a trip-lever drain stopper, thanks to the complex assembly. Still, you can remove a trip-lever drain stopper by following these steps.

1. Ensure the lever is in the open position. Skipping this step could result in a stuck device.

2. Remove the overflow faceplate. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws over the overflow grate to access the drain stopper. 

3. You’ll need to gently remove the entire trip-lever drain stopper through the overflow drainpipe. This includes the trip lever, rods, and plunger.

4. Clean and replace as needed. This assembly contains many pieces and needs a close inspection to ensure there’s no significant damage. Pay special attention to the plunger, which you don’t want to break and get stuck in your drain, before replacing the assembly.

Tips to Maintain a Bathtub Drain

Proper maintenance is key to a long-lasting bathtub drain. Follow these tips to get the most out of your drain:

• Flush the drain with boiling water once a week.

• Clean your bathtub weekly. 

• Disinfect the tub once a month.

• Remove hair from the drain area as needed.

• Use a wire hanger to pull clogs out of the drain.

• Call a professional plumber for help with serious clogs.

Replacing a Bathtub Drain Stopper Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Removing and replacing a tub drain stopper is straightforward and doesn’t require hiring a plumber. However, if you’re still experiencing issues after removing your drain stopper and cleaning your drain, you might have a bigger problem. At that point, you’ll want to have a local plumber come by and look at what’s going on to get your drain working again. The cost to replace a bathtub or shower drain ranges from $230 to $1,170.