I comb my thick, curly hair while showering, leaving plenty of loose strands behind. For a long time, I let my hair work its way down the drain.
Before you judge my reckless habits, know that I tried to do better. Over the years, I bought many shower drain covers: a cheap wire mesh one that collected soap scum and ultimately rusted, a flower-shaped hair catcher with suction cups that was impossible to clean, and a set of pretty pastel covers that developed a yellow hue in a matter of weeks.
Nearly all did a decent job of catching hair, but they also created a dam that left me standing in a couple inches of soapy water. It became my habit to kick the cover aside mid-shower. And with that, baby Chewbaccas were frequently born from the depths of my drain, snaked out by myself, my reluctant partner, or the plumber sent by my landlord when it got really bad (sorry, Murray).
My last resort was this OXO shower drain cover. I couldn't imagine it would stay put because it lacked suction cups, but I gave it a try out of desperation. Over the last six months, this cover has done exactly what it's supposed to do. My hair now lands in the wastebasket after every shower, and bathing my dog has gotten a whole lot easier with this drain cover, too.
The dome-shaped silicone cover can be placed over a flat or pop-up drain. A weighted metal disk on top holds it in place.
Lisa Sabatini/Insider
Water easily flows through the silicone holes even as hair collects around the edge of the cover.
Lisa Sabatini/Insider
Unlike what you'll find with some drain covers, strands of hair don't work their way through the holes or get tangled up.
Lisa Sabatini/Insider
If you bathe your dog in the bathtub, this cover works just as well for catching fur.
Lisa Sabatini/Insider
The bottom line
Most shower drain covers fail to do everything they should: catch hair, allow water to drain, and come clean with just a little wiping and rinsing. The Good Grips Silicone Shower and Tub Drain Protector does all those things and for only $12.
Lisa Sabatini is a pet expert who has edited over 100 buying guides for dog, cat, and small animal products over the last four years at Business Insider. ExperienceLisa is the senior pets editor for the Reviews team at Business Insider. Her main focus is on providing readers with trustworthy product recommendations for their pets, from food to training accessories. Since joining the team in 2020, Lisa has also overseen the team’s coverage of parenting and home products. As a freelance developmental editor and copyeditor for publisher Callisto, Lisa previously worked on dog training books for young readers. She began her journalism career at The Wall Street Journal and was also an editor at the parenting website Scary Mommy. Why you can trust LisaAt Business Insider, Lisa oversees all aspects of pet products coverage, from buying guide conception and planning through final edits and publication. She consults with veterinarians to ensure buying guides meet the highest standards for animal health and welfare. Alongside reporters, Lisa designs meticulous research and testing methodologies. For example, for Business Insider's guide to the best airline-approved cat carriers, two reporters tested 26 popular carriers. Not only were the carriers tested on walks, but reporters also dropped them from 10 feet (no cats were involved!) and smeared them with cat food to see which ones held up best. Lisa moderated the 2022 SXSW panel “Pet Tech and the Changing Pet-Owner Relationship.” The panel included leaders in pet technology, nutrition, and health who discussed trends around how people care for their pets and how these trends have influenced the growing pet products market.Over the past decade, Lisa has adopted two untrained shelter dogs and has had the privilege of caring for them through their senior years. In this time, she’s enjoyed bonding with them using positive rewards-based dog training.ExpertiseLisa has expertise in the following pet product categories:
Pet nutrition
Parasite prevention, including flea and tick medicine
Animal supplements
Litter boxes
Dog training tools
Pet toys
EducationLisa graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.Outside of workShe currently resides in New York's Hudson Valley with her family, including her dog, Homer. In her spare time, she also enjoys gardening with native plants to support the ecosystem.You can reach her at lsabatini@businessinsider.com and find her on LinkedIn.
