How to Remove Any Bathtub Drain Stopper by Type

A slow bathtub is almost always a stopper problem. Hair, soap scum, and grime collect right at the plug, so before you can clear the clog or give the drain a proper clean, the stopper has to come out.

The good news is that this is a no-plumber job. Once you know which of the seven common stopper styles you have, you can remove a bathtub drain stopper in a minute or two with tools you already own. Here is how to identify yours and get it out.

Different Types of Bathtub Drain Stoppers

Bathtub drain stoppers come in seven common styles: toe-touch, push-pull, lift-and-turn, pop-up, flip-it, presflo, and trip-lever. The right removal technique depends entirely on which one sits in your tub, so here is how to tell them apart.

Toe Touch

You operate this stopper with your foot. It relies on a spring mechanism; push it once with your toe to close it, and push it again to pop it open.

Push and Pull

This looks similar to a lift and turn but operates vertically. A knob in the center pushes down to close the drain and pulls up to open it.

Lift and Turn

These are very common. To open it, you lift the stopper and turn it in one direction. To close it, you turn it back and let it drop.

Pop-Up

This traditional style creates a seal using a rocker arm. It is usually controlled by a trip lever on the overflow plate or a rod behind the faucet. Flip the lever, and the plug pops up.

Flip-It

A simple toggle lever sits on top of this stopper. You flip the toggle one way to seal the drain and the other way to open it.

Presflo

This low-profile stopper uses an O-ring to create a seal. You typically rotate the entire stopper within the drain opening to engage or disengage the seal.

Trip Lever (Plunger Style)

You won’t see a pop-up plug in the drain here. Instead, a lever on the overflow faceplate lifts and lowers a heavy plunger hidden inside the pipes to block the water flow.

How to Remove a Lift and Turn Stopper

This is one of the most common stoppers and is fairly simple to take apart.

What You’ll Need

• Flathead screwdriver.
• Allen wrenches.

Steps

1. Set the stopper to the open position.
2. Hold the body of the stopper and turn the top knob to see if there is a small set screw visible.
3. If you see a screw, use an Allen wrench or small flathead screwdriver to loosen it. You do not need to remove the screw entirely.
4. Lift the stopper free from the drain.
5. If there is no set screw, simply turn the entire stopper counter-clockwise. It should unthread from the drain strainer.
6. If it just spins without unscrewing, lift upward while turning to engage the threads.

How to Remove a Toe Touch Stopper

Toe touch stoppers are fantastic for accessibility since you do not have to bend down to use them. Removing them is usually straightforward.

What You’ll Need

• Flathead screwdriver.

Steps

1. Pop the stopper into the open position.
2. Hold the shaft cylinder and twist the top cap counter-clockwise to remove it.
3. Once the cap is off, you will see a screw inside the cylinder shaft.
4. Use your flathead screwdriver to unscrew the shaft from the crossbar in the drain.
5. Lift the entire assembly out.

How to Remove a Pop-Up Stopper

Pop-up stoppers add a little complexity because they connect to a mechanism hidden behind the bathtub wall.

What You’ll Need

• Bucket.
• Clean rags.

Steps

1. Flip the lever to open the stopper.
2. Pull the stopper straight up. Some pull right out, while others need a little wiggle.
3. If it is attached to a rocker arm (a metal bar), you will see it emerge from the drain.
4. Lay a rag over the tub surface to prevent the metal arm from scratching the finish.
5. Pull the rocker arm all the way out. It is often curved, so follow the angle gently.
6. Use a bucket to catch any grime that drips off the mechanism.

How to Remove a Push-Pull Stopper

These are sturdy and simple. Removal takes just a minute or two.

What You’ll Need

• Clean rags.
• Flathead screwdriver.
• Pliers.

Steps

1. Set the stopper in the “up” (open) position.
2. Hold the body of the stopper still with one hand.
3. Use your other hand (or pliers with a rag to protect the finish) to unscrew the top knob counter-clockwise.
4. Once the knob is off, use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the brass post underneath.
5. Lift the strainer and post out of the drain.

How to Remove a Flip-It Stopper

You can usually remove a Flip-It stopper without any tools at all, making it the easiest of the bunch.

What You’ll Need

• Nothing.
• Zilch.
• Nada.

Steps

1. These stoppers are held in place by simpler friction O-rings.
2. Grip the outer chrome body firmly.
3. Rotate the body while pulling upward simultaneously.
4. Wiggle it back and forth until the O-rings release their grip and the stopper pops free.

How to Remove a Presflo Stopper

Presflo stoppers use a suction seal. Because they sit so flush with the tub, getting a grip on them is the hardest part.

What You’ll Need

• Small suction cup, like this Hanger Space Hook.

Steps

1. Ensure the stopper is level (closed position).
2. Stick your suction cup firmly onto the center of the stopper.
3. Pull upward steadily.
4. The O-ring should release, allowing you to lift the unit out.
5. If it sticks, try rotating it slightly while pulling.

How to Remove a Trip Lever (Plunger) Stopper

The actual working parts of this drain are hidden in the overflow pipe, behind the faceplate with the lever.

What You’ll Need

• Screwdriver.

Steps

1. Set the lever to the “open” position (usually flipped down).
2. Remove the two screws holding the round faceplate to the bathtub wall.
3. Pull the faceplate away from the wall carefully.
4. You will see a linkage chain or rod attached to the back of the faceplate.
5. Continue pulling gently until the brass plunger (the heavy cylinder at the end) comes up and out of the overflow pipe.
6. Clean the plunger and lubricate it before putting it back.

How to Clean a Bathtub Drain Stopper

Once the stopper is out, cleaning it is the whole point. Pull off the tangle of hair and gunk by hand or with an old toothbrush, then wipe down the shaft and O-rings so the stopper seals and slides properly when it goes back in.

For the drain itself, pour about half a cup of baking soda down the opening, then follow it with a cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture bubble and sit for about 1 hour ⁽¹⁾. The reaction breaks down the soap residue that binds hair together. Flush it with hot water to carry the loosened debris away.

To keep the drain clear, run that baking soda and vinegar treatment about once a month and finish with a hot-water flush. A mesh screen or silicone hair catcher over the opening stops most hair from getting in, and brushing your hair before you shower cuts down the loose strands that reach the drain in the first place.

Troubleshooting: Bathtub Drain Won’t Unscrew

There is nothing worse than a stuck drain stopper. If the metal has corroded or the threads have seized, do not force it and risk cracking the fitting.

Start with a better grip. Lay a rag over the stopper and clamp down with a pair of pliers, then turn counter-clockwise with steady, even pressure.

If it still will not move, reach for a penetrant. Pour white vinegar over the mechanism and let it sit to dissolve the mineral deposits that act like glue. For heavier calcium and rust, CLR poured down the drain breaks up the scale that seizes the threads.

For serious corrosion, WD-40 is your best friend. It is a penetrant and a water displacer. Spray it around the threads and let it soak for 15 minutes before trying to twist the stopper again.

If the entire drain body spins because the old plumber’s putty has gone hard, warm it first. Aim a hair dryer on high at the drain flange for a minute or two to soften the putty, then try again.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Pulling a bathtub drain stopper is a quick win. Once you know your stopper type, it takes a minute or two, saves you a plumber’s call-out, and lets you clear the clog or deep-clean the drain on the spot.

Whether you are unclogging, cleaning, or upgrading to a style you like better, you now have what you need to get the old plug out, and back in when you are done.