Step 4 · Clean the Components

This is the step people usually slow down on. Go finger-tight first, then a quarter turn. No rush — replay the clip whenever it helps.

Take the removed P-trap piece to a utility sink, or use a garden hose outside, to clean it thoroughly. Use a flexible bottle brush to scrub the interior walls of the trap, removing all the built-up hair, soap scum, and gunk. A straightened wire coat hanger with a small hook bent at the end can be very effective for pulling out stubborn clumps of hair. Rinse the trap with hot water until it is completely clean. Before reinstalling, use a rag or the brush to quickly clean the end of the sink's tailpiece and the opening of the wall pipe, removing any accessible debris.