6 Best RV Shower Drain For Preventing Clogs That Nomads Swear By

There’s a moment every RVer dreads: standing in an inch of murky water because the shower won’t drain. In a sticks-and-bricks house, a clog is an annoyance; in an RV, it’s a potential catastrophe that can sideline your travel plans and lead to messy, complicated repairs. Preventing that problem starts with one small, inexpensive, but absolutely critical piece of gear: a quality shower drain protector.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

The Unique Challenge of RV Shower Plumbing

RV plumbing isn’t just a smaller version of your home system. It’s a completely different animal with its own set of rules and a much lower tolerance for mistakes. The drain lines are narrower, often have more bends, and lack the powerful downward slope that residential plumbing relies on to clear debris. This means hair, soap scum, and trail dirt don’t get flushed away as easily. They get stuck.

Furthermore, many RVs don’t use a standard P-trap under the shower. Instead, they use a Hepvo waterless valve, a flexible membrane that opens under water pressure and seals shut to block tank odors. While brilliant for saving space and preventing freezing, this design is far more susceptible to getting gummed up by hair and grime than a traditional P-trap. A small clump of hair that might pass through a home drain can easily jam a Hepvo valve open, letting unpleasant gray tank smells into your small living space.

The final destination for your shower water is the gray tank. Unlike a city sewer system that whisks everything away, your tank is a closed environment. Everything you let down the drain stays with you until you dump. A major clog doesn’t just back up your shower; it can create a blockage in the main line, making it impossible to empty your tank—a true travel-ending nightmare. This is why being proactive with a good drain strainer isn’t just a suggestion; it’s essential for life on the road.

TubShroom: The Ultimate Clog-Proof Solution

The TubShroom is a legend in the world of hair catchers for a reason. Its design is fundamentally different from most strainers. Instead of sitting over the drain and catching hair on top, the TubShroom fits inside the drain, collecting hair neatly around its cylindrical body, completely out of sight.

This "inside-out" approach is incredibly effective. Water flows freely through the top holes while hair is wrapped and trapped below the surface. Because the hair isn’t blocking the main drain opening, you won’t see water pooling around your feet until the TubShroom is completely full. This means fewer mid-shower adjustments and a much cleaner look.

Cleaning is straightforward: just pull the TubShroom out, wipe the collected hair off with a paper towel, and pop it back in. Made of flexible silicone, it fits a wide range of standard drain sizes and won’t rust or scratch your shower pan. For nomads with long hair, or those who travel with pets that need bathing, this little device is an absolute game-changer that virtually eliminates shower clogs before they can even start.

OXO Good Grips: A Reliable Stainless Steel Pick

If you prefer a strainer that sits on top of the drain, the OXO Good Grips model is a top-tier choice. Its genius lies in the combination of a durable, rust-proof stainless steel body and a soft, non-slip silicone rim. That rim is the key—it keeps the strainer firmly in place, preventing it from sliding around as water pressure changes or if you accidentally bump it with your foot.

The perforated hole pattern is effective at catching hair and debris while allowing water to pass through without significant pooling. Because it’s a surface-level catcher, you can see at a glance when it needs to be cleaned. There’s no guesswork involved; when you see hair, you pick it up, wipe it clean, and set it back down. It’s a simple, low-maintenance design that just works.

The main tradeoff is its profile. While not excessively tall, it does sit on top of the drain, which can be a minor annoyance in a very tight RV shower stall. However, for its durability, ease of cleaning, and stay-put design, the OXO is a fantastic and reliable option that will last for years of travel.

Danco Hair Catcher: Top Low-Profile Design

In the tight confines of an RV shower, every inch matters. A bulky drain strainer can be an unexpected toe-stubbing hazard. The Danco Hair Catcher solves this with its incredibly low-profile, almost-flush design that sits discreetly in your shower pan.

This catcher features a unique flower-petal design and a small, hidden basket underneath. The petals allow water to flow through while directing hair and debris into the small basket, which is easy to remove and clean. It’s made of a flexible PVC material that is both durable and gentle on your shower floor.

The Danco’s biggest selling point is its unobtrusiveness. You’ll barely notice it’s there until it’s time to clean it. It’s also one of the most affordable options on the market, making it a perfect choice for budget-conscious nomads or as a simple, effective upgrade from the cheap plastic strainer that came with your rig.

LEKEYE Drain Protector: Superior Silicone Grip

The number one failure of many surface-level drain protectors is their tendency to float or slide out of place, rendering them useless. The LEKEYE Drain Protector tackles this problem head-on with a design focused on maximum grip and stability. Made from a heavy, high-quality silicone, its weight alone helps keep it anchored.

The design features a ring of small suction cups on the underside (on some models) or a weighted, contoured edge that creates a seal with the shower floor. This ensures that even under a strong stream of water, the LEKEYE stays exactly where you put it. The elliptical holes are well-designed to catch hair without significantly slowing down water flow.

This is the ideal choice for anyone with a slightly uneven shower pan or a high-pressure shower head that tends to dislodge lighter strainers. If you’ve been frustrated by hair catchers that won’t stay put, the LEKEYE’s superior grip offers a simple and permanent solution.

ShowerShroom Ultra: Heavy-Duty Clog Defense

For those who love the TubShroom concept but want something more substantial, the ShowerShroom Ultra is the answer. It takes the same brilliant internal-catch design and upgrades the materials for maximum durability. Instead of all silicone, the Ultra is constructed primarily from stainless steel, giving it a heft and longevity that the original can’t match.

The core function remains the same: it fits inside the drain, trapping hair around its stainless steel and silicone core. The upgrade in materials means it’s even easier to clean—hair slides right off the metal—and it’s completely resistant to mold, mildew, and degradation from cleaning products. This is a buy-it-for-life kind of product.

The ShowerShroom Ultra is a premium option, and its price reflects that. But for full-time nomads who see their RV as a permanent home, investing in a heavy-duty component for a critical system like plumbing makes perfect sense. It’s the ultimate fit-and-forget solution for long-term clog prevention.

Camco RV Drain Strainer: Simple and Effective

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the right one. The Camco RV Drain Strainer is a classic for a reason. It’s a no-frills, cross-shaped strainer designed specifically to fit the smaller drains found in most RV showers. You simply press it into the drain opening, and it stays put.

This strainer does its job by catching hair and debris on its simple grid. It’s not fancy, but it is effective. Because of its basic design, it tends to clog up faster than more sophisticated models, requiring you to clear it more frequently, sometimes even during a single shower if you have long hair.

However, its biggest advantages are its rock-bottom price and universal availability at any RV supply store. It’s a great backup to have on hand or a perfectly adequate solution for weekend warriors or those with short hair. While the other options on this list offer a more refined experience, the basic Camco strainer is a testament to simple, functional design.

Proactive Drain Care for Full-Time Nomads

A great drain strainer is your first line of defense, but it isn’t the whole strategy. True peace of mind comes from combining the right tool with the right habits. Preventing clogs is always easier than fixing them, especially when you’re miles from the nearest hardware store.

First, never use harsh chemical drain cleaners like Drano or Liquid-Plumr in your RV. These chemicals can damage the relatively fragile plastic plumbing and destroy the seals in your dump valves, leading to costly repairs. Instead, use an enzyme-based RV-specific treatment. These products use beneficial bacteria to break down organic waste like soap scum and hair without harming your system. A monthly treatment can keep your pipes and your gray tank healthy.

Second, make a habit of flushing your shower drain with a pot of very hot (but not boiling) water once a week. This helps melt and wash away the soap scum and body oils that build up and act as a sticky trap for hair. It’s a simple, two-minute task that makes a massive difference over time.

Finally, be mindful of what goes down the drain. After a trip to the beach, rinse sand off your feet and gear outside before showering. Excessively greasy or oily products should also be avoided. Your RV’s plumbing system is a delicate ecosystem; treating it with care will save you from some of the most common and frustrating problems of nomadic life.

Ultimately, protecting your RV’s plumbing is about proactive prevention, not reactive repairs. Choosing a high-quality drain strainer that fits your shower and lifestyle is one of the smartest, cheapest investments you can make for a stress-free life on the road. It’s a small detail that prevents a massive headache, letting you focus on the journey ahead.