bath tub is completely clogged

[MQN82]

I used search but couldn't find anything similar to my situation. I hope you guys can help, I've included a picture with text. thanks in advance.

Background info: My bathtub has been very slow draining since they day I purchased this home a year and a half ago. This home was built in 1999. I've snaked it, used liquid drain-o...etc.

At first the bath tub was very slow to drain, it would take 2 mins to drain after a shower. It got progressively worse. Now its at the point where water doesn't even drain. If I turn on the faucet for say 3 secs and turn it off, that tiny amount of water will take close to a minute and a half to drain.

I had a plumber come to my house to fix a broken toilet once and he said he'd take a quick look at the bathtub. He snaked it a few times, managed to get a bit of gunk and hair out, it drained just a little bit faster. But he told me that my tub was just one of those that didn't drain very fast. I don't think this is true because the guest bathroom has the same tub and it drains at a regular speed, much faster.

So my problem is the slow drainage allows residue and hair from the shower to build, and when the water drained, it would take all that build up at once creating more of a clog. I don't know how to remove the drain cap, if I did I would like to clean that drain myself. The slow drainage also causes the sides and floor of the tub to get real disgusting as left over gunk settles down.

What can I do to fix this problem and how can I prevent it from ever happening again. As always you guys are life savers!

[don plumber]

What you want to do is push down on the drain and turn it counter cockwies
mybe with some pliers,this will remove the stopper.After this is out of the way look inside the oppening you may find a hairball remove it you may need a wire coathanger run water with stopper out .If its drainning good leave stopper out if you dont take baths.

[MQN82]

thank you for the tip. I will try it soon when i come back to town. I never knew that you had to press down and turn. Everytime i go to this forum I learn something new!