How to Remove a Tub Stopper: 5 DIY Methods for Every Style

If your tub is draining slowly, smelling musty, or refusing to hold water, the fix usually starts with pulling the stopper. Knowing how to remove a tub stopper requires figuring out which of the five common drain styles you have, because each one releases differently — some unscrew by hand, others lift straight out, and a few require a screwdriver and a flashlight. Here is the complete guide, with no-tool tricks for the easy ones and step-by-steps for the trickier mechanisms.

Step 1: Identify Your Stopper Type

Before you grab a wrench, look at the stopper. The five common types in American homes:

• Lift-and-Turn: Has a small knob on top; you turn it to open and close. Most popular in homes built 2000-present
• Push-Pull (Push-and-Lift): Cap-shaped, you push down to close and lift up to open
• Toe-Touch (Foot Lock): Spring-loaded; you tap with your foot to open or close
• Trip Lever (Plunger Style): Has a separate lever on the overflow plate; the actual drain has no visible stopper. Common in homes built 1950-1990
• Pop-Up (Drop Stopper): Has a separate lever on the overflow plate but uses a visible flat disk in the drain

Knowing your type narrows the removal method to a single option.

Method 1: Removing a Lift-and-Turn Stopper

This style frustrates more homeowners than any other because it looks fixed in place. Here is the trick:

1. Open the stopper to the up position
2. Look for a tiny set screw on the side of the knob — it is usually a 1/16 or 1/8 inch hex (Allen key required)
3. If there is a set screw, loosen it about two turns; the knob lifts off, then unscrew the body counterclockwise
4. If there is no visible set screw, hold the base of the stopper with one hand and rotate the knob counterclockwise
5. The entire stopper unscrews from the threaded crossbar inside the drain

If it spins without lifting out, the threads under it are gunked up. Spray penetrating oil (WD-40 Specialist Penetrant or Liquid Wrench, $6) and wait 10 minutes before trying again.

Method 2: Removing a Push-Pull Stopper

Push-pull stoppers are the easiest. Pull the stopper to the open (up) position and unscrew counterclockwise. The cap should lift off in one piece. Underneath you will see a brass shaft threaded into the crossbar — leave that in place unless you are replacing the entire mechanism.

If the cap will not unscrew, it is being held by an internal set screw. Look closely at the underside of the lifted cap for a tiny screw; loosen it with a small flathead and the cap pops off.

Method 3: Removing a Toe-Touch Stopper

Toe-touch (sometimes called toe-tap or foot-lock) stoppers operate on a spring mechanism. To remove:

1. Press the stopper down to lock it closed
2. Hold the base steady with one hand
3. Rotate the cap counterclockwise — it should unscrew in 4-6 turns
4. Once free, lift the entire mechanism out

For tough cases, wear a rubber dish glove for grip or use a strap wrench (Boa Constrictor, $12) to avoid scratching the chrome finish.

Method 4: Removing a Trip Lever (Plunger) Stopper

This is where it gets more involved. The trip lever style uses a brass plunger inside the overflow tube to block flow — there is no visible stopper at the drain itself. To remove the plunger for cleaning:

1. Locate the overflow plate on the wall of the tub (the metal cover with the lever)
2. Remove the two screws holding the plate with a Phillips screwdriver
3. Pull the plate straight out — a long brass rod and plunger assembly comes out with it
4. The plunger at the bottom is what blocks the drain; clean off any hair or soap scum
5. To reinstall, lower the assembly back into the overflow tube and reattach the plate

If hair is clogging the actual drain itself, you also need to access the strainer at the tub bottom — usually two screws holding a chrome cross-strainer.

Method 5: Removing a Pop-Up Drop Stopper

Pop-up stoppers combine a visible flat disk in the drain with a trip lever on the overflow plate. To remove:

1. Wiggle the visible stopper to the open (up) position
2. Pull straight up — the entire rocker arm assembly should come out attached to the stopper
3. If it resists, jiggle and twist gently while pulling; the rocker arm flexes through the drain elbow
4. Once removed, you will see hair and soap residue caked on the rocker — clean with hot water and a stiff brush
5. To reinstall, feed the rocker arm back into the drain at an angle, then drop the stopper into position

What to Do If the Stopper Will Not Budge

Decades of soap scum and corrosion can lock a stopper in place. Try these in order:

• Vinegar soak: Pour 2 cups of white vinegar around and into the drain, wait 30 minutes
• Penetrating oil: Spray WD-40 around the threads and wait 10-15 minutes
• Heat: A hair dryer aimed at the metal collar for 60-90 seconds expands corrosion and breaks bonds
• Strap wrench: Provides grip without scratching
• Last resort: Cut through the stopper with a Dremel tool and replace the entire assembly

Cleaning the Stopper Once Removed

Once you have it out, soak the stopper in a bowl of hot water with 1 cup of white vinegar and a splash of dish soap for 30 minutes. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away soap scum and biofilm. For mineral deposits from hard water, a paste of Bar Keepers Friend ($3) wiped with a microfiber cloth restores chrome shine.

When to Replace Instead of Clean

Tub stopper assemblies cost $12-30 and take 15 minutes to install. Replace if:

• The mechanism no longer holds water (worn rubber gasket inside)
• Chrome finish is pitted or peeling
• The stopper is bent from years of use
• You stripped the threads while removing it

Brands to look for: Watco PresFlo, Westbrass D493, Danco Universal. Buy a complete trim kit so the new stopper matches the existing overflow plate.

Tools That Help

1. Set of small Allen keys (1/16 to 1/8 inch)
2. Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
3. Rubber gloves or strap wrench for grip
4. Needle-nose pliers for stuck rocker arms
5. Cobra Zip-It or hair snake for clearing the drain after stopper removal

Bottom Line

Knowing how to remove a tub stopper is mostly a matter of identifying which of the five styles you have and applying the right counterclockwise twist or upward pull. With a $5 Allen key set and a bottle of WD-40, you can clean or replace any common tub stopper in 20 minutes — saving the $150 minimum a plumber would charge for the same five-minute job.