12 Best Drain Cover Picks For Your Shower and Bathtub

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A nice soak in the tub or a hot shower can wash your worries away. Settle down with a bath pillow and some scented candles, and you’ll be all set for relaxation central. Alternatively, hop in and out of your shower quickly to get straight to your soft bed. It’s frustrating when things get in the way of your bath plans though. A busted drain from washed-out hair, a plug that doesn’t stop the water, or an overflowing drain that’s just too low are some of the prime culprits that mess with bath time. Thankfully, they’re all a quick fix with the right drain cover.

What Is a Drain Cover?

A drain cover is just what it says on the tin. Typically made of metal, rubber, or silicone, these nifty little gadgets go over your drain and perform different functions based on their design.

Catchers

Catcher drain covers are there to protect your pipework from your luscious locks. Some daily hair fall is natural, even for healthy scalps. This means that some of your hair strands will always end up hurtling towards the drain. Over time, a buildup can occur and the pipe may get clogged. Catcher drain covers were made to avoid this. These drain screens keep your hair from entering the drain and make it easier for you to pick up and throw the resulting hairballs. Drain catchers are great for showers and tubs in particular, but they can also be used for sinks.

Stoppers

Next, let’s look at the stopper drain covers. As their name suggests, these drain caps stop the water entirely. They’re usually great for bathtubs that have a broken or difficult-to-use drain plug. Most variants make use of the vacuum formed around the drain to stay in place.

Overflow Covers

Bathtub overflow drain covers are a little different from the other two types. These are not floor drain covers at all. Instead, they go over the overflow drain on the side of a bathtub. This allows you to raise the water level in the bathtub higher than it usually goes. Just be careful. With the overflow drain circumvented, you run the risk of flooding your bathroom. Keep a close eye on your water level and you should be safe and very happy in a nice deep bath.

Why Buy a Drain Cover

Drain covers may seem a little redundant, at first. However, there are a few good reasons for picking them up anyway.

First off, they function as extra protection. This especially applies to hair catchers. Many drains can catch hair just fine. But, having an extra obstacle for your fallen hair to go through won’t hurt. Lots of plumbers recommend drain covers for this very purpose, especially if your drains have a history of hair clogging.

A second reason would be how easy they are to use and replace. A part of your shower or tub may break or stop functioning as well as it used to. Drain covers can offer temporary or even permanent solutions for these cases. If your overflow drain can’t seal itself any longer or if you lost a drain plug, it’s easy to find a replacement in the form of a drain cover.

Catcher Drain Covers

Now that you know what they do and why you’d want one, let’s take a look at some of our favorite drain covers on Amazon. First up are the catchers. Keep your plumbing hair-free with these nifty options.

1. [Bovinde] Silicone Hair Stopper

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The Silicone Hair Stopper from Bovinde is simple, sleek, and efficient. It’s got four corner suction cups to keep it in place and small drainage holes to keep hair from slipping through. The two-piece set also comes in different colors and combinations, in case your bathroom suits different tones. Much like a no-slip bath mat, these catchers are made of slip-resistant silicone and can be washed weekly to keep them from growing any molds.

2. [UmbWorld] Domed Silicone Drain Cover

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For drains that stick up a little more than usual, the Domed Silicone Drain Cover from UmbWorld is an excellent choice. These colorful options come in a set of four and have a bump in the middle to shield more convex drain designs. Hair strands also wrap around the dome, keeping them from entering the thin slits.

3. [qAp Quality Art Practical] Shower Drain Hair Catcher

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There’s a certain level of quality you can expect from the Shower Drain Hair Catcher from qAp Quality Art Practical. The center drain is made from rust-proof stainless steel with a ring of non-slip silicone around it. It’s larger than other drain catchers on this list and is held in place with silicone pins rather than suction cups. Its unique design and build are premium traits that are sure to work well in your shower.

Read more: How To Drain Washer

4. [Gotega] Five-Pack Durable Shower Drain Covers

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The Five-Pack Durable Shower Drain Covers from Gotega take hair catching to the next level. Their outer rim has comb-like columns that tangle any hair that passes through. This keeps the strands from falling into the cut slits and ruining your drain. With a range of fun colors and multiple pieces in a single set, you’ll be ready to keep your plumbing protected.

Stopper Drain Covers

With our list of catchers done, we can move on to the stoppers. These drain plugs will keep your water in your tub easily. They won’t require the precision of an exact drain plug either. You can save yourself from needing to bend over — an especially handy perk for older bathtub enjoyers.

1. [OmiStout] Hair Catcher and Drain Stopper Combo

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Want the convenience of a stopper combined with the protection of a catcher? The Hair Catcher and Drain Stopper Combo from OmiStout has you covered. This efficient design is made so you can tap the middle to open it. This allows the water to escape after your bath without removing the whole thing. In addition, it has slits to prevent hair from going through into your pipes.

2. [MR.SIGA] Bathtub Stopper Drain Cover

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The Bathtub Stopper Drain Cover from MR.SIGA is simplicity at its finest. It relies a lot on vacuum power to stay in place and is secure once the tub is filled. Its 5.1-inch diameter ensures it fits most drains, even the ones that aren’t flat. Its dishwasher-safe nature makes it a breeze to clean, and the suction cup on its top lets you dry it with ease.

Read more: Where Is The Dishwasher Drain

3. [StopShroom] Universal Plug Drain Cover

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For larger, more convex bathtub drains, you may want to pick up the Universal Plug Drain Cover from StopShroom. This clever spin on the drain cover design has a tall dome to accommodate drains of all shapes and sizes. It still creates a tight seal that keeps water from escaping and has a sturdy build quality to last you a good many baths.

4. [OXO] Good Grips Drain Cover

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The stainless steel accent on the Good Grips Drain Cover from OXO completes its look. There’s something about a metal finish that adds a good dose of class to any design. Its sturdy silicone material can also withstand a great deal of heat from scalding water in your tub. This premium product looks and acts its part perfectly.

Bathtub Overflow Drain Covers

Finally, we’ve arrived at the overflow drain cover section of this article. It’s here we’ll be looking at all the clever covers to allow for deeper bath water. Just remember to keep an eye on your water levels. The last thing you want is an extra inch of water on your floor and not in your tub.

1. [SlipStopper] Bathtub Overflow Drain Cover

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Let’s start with the Bathtub Overflow Drain Cover from SlipStopper. This is the classic overflow cover with a ring of suction cups to go around your drain. It has a 1-inch hole at the top to prevent any massive flooding accidents. It’s a no-muss no-fuss solution to give you that extra inch or two of water for your soaks.

Read more: How To Drain A Patio

2. [Home Merc] Overflow and Stopper Drain Cover Set

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The Overflow and Stopper Drain Cover Set from Home Merc is a handy combo. Both items were designed to be easy to use and clean. As a set, they work very well to keep your water from slipping away, both from the bathtub drain and the overflow drain. The overflow drain cover in particular is noted to be larger than usual, perfect for bigger drains.

3. [LORD OF LEISURE] Infinity Bath Drain Cover Set

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If you’re looking for a quality overflow drain plug, you might want to try the Infinity Bath Drain Cover Set from LORD OF LEISURE. It’s rather unique among its peers. Instead of a ring of suction cups, it uses the vacuum from the drain and the pressure of the water to stay in place. It’s hung over the edge by a single suction cup and science does the rest. The clever design allows you to top up your tub completely and efficiently.

4. [SlipX Solutions] Better Soak Overflow Drain Cover

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For our last product, let’s take a look at the Better Soak Overflow Drain Cover from SlipX Solutions. This particular drain cover has a rather unique design. Its coverage is adjustable, meaning you may choose to have an overflow hole on top or cover it completely. This makes all the difference between only wanting an inch or two of extra water and filling your tub. The choice is quite liberating for those days you want to change up your water levels.

How To Remove Your Built-In Shower or Bathtub Drain Cover

Now, these replaceable drain covers are all well and good, but sometimes it’s a little too late. You may already have some problems with the original built-in drain that you want to inspect. Most shower and bathtub drains can be removed without professional help. There are many different types, but a few general rules exist that you can follow.

Flat Drain Covers

If your drain has any screws in place, be sure to use the appropriate screwdriver to remove them first. Sometimes, there are grooves on the sides of the drain that you can use to pry up the drain cover. A flat-head screwdriver is particularly helpful here.

If the drain cover doesn’t come up right away, don’t risk snapping the drain. Instead, use a lubricant or WD-40 around the edges and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, try the screwdriver again. If you need more pull, pliers that fit into the drain holes can be used to yank the drain cover up as you pry.

Pop-Up Drain Covers

Pop-up drain covers are a little more tricky and require more tools. First, make sure that the pop-up drain is in the “open” position. Using some channel lock pliers, hold the base of the drain cover securely. Vice grips can then be used to unscrew the top stopper of the drain cover, exposing the drain’s core.

Push the drain back down into the closed position before proceeding. Use a 12-millimeter socket next. It should fit perfectly on the core, and so should you be able to unscrew the rest of the pop-up portion of the drain. This lets you get inside the drain itself to remove any hair or inspect for any damages.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drain Cover

• Read more: How To Unclog Freezer Drain

  How do you cover a drain hole?
  

A drain hole can be covered using its included stopper or a store-bought stopper. Store-bought stoppers are typically made out of silicone and are held in place by a vacuum formed by the drain and the water on top.

• Do you need a drain cover?
  

Drain covers aren’t always necessary, but they’re quite useful and convenient. They can stop a drain or prevent any hair from entering the pipes. They’re also sometimes easier to clean than a built-in drain. This is especially true if your hair tends to go into the drain itself. In that case, you may need to open the whole drain up to clean it or use some strong drain clog remover.

• How do I cover my bathtub overflow?

Some bathtubs have overflow drains with their stoppers. If yours lacks this, then a store-bought overflow cover can work just as well. These drain covers typically have their overflow drain hole on the top to allow an inch or more of extra water in your baths.

Conclusion

Drain covers are simple but brilliant little devices for your bathroom. They’re right up there with bath scrubbers as one of our favorite maintenance tools. Keeping your tub or shower functioning at peak performance is important, so why not grab a drain cover today to protect your pipework?