How do I remove the bathtub drain stopper?

Question

My drain is plugged, and it is the type where you push down and it suctions closed. I removed the cover for it, and it is a large plastic piece that takes up most of the drain area.

I read other answers and one of them that sounds similar is the one that you use pliers to twist it up, except there is less than 1/4" around the outside of the plastic piece. I believe that same answer said it had to be in the stoppered position to remove it, but mine won't stay in the stoppered position without the cover on, and when the cover is on there is ZERO room to insert anything into the drain, as it has a rubber piece and uses suction to retain water.

Also, my tub doesn't have any type of overflow drain, so there is nothing of that nature to remove (another answer to someone else's drain question involved that part of the tub).

Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, there is no name or anything on my tub. Just a large be where an overflow would normally go.

Thanks

I wish it was that easy-there isn't enough room for my fingers, I can only get a butterknife partway in but that is all :(

Answer 1

That drain plug does unscrew, And, you shouldn't need a "bucket of bleach" for "creepy crawlies" there really shouldn't be any. You have to have a overflow on the tub, it might be covered but, in 47 years of this work I have never seen a tub yet without one.
You can still put "Plumbers Helper" into the drain even if you can't get the plug off. When you get it off I suggest you get something different , of a different design.

Answer 2

I just hooked my fingers down in mine and twisted till is finally completely came unscrewed. Have a bucket of hot bleach water right next to you though cause all drains are home to little creepy crawlies that latch on to the dirt and grime that doesn't go down but gets trapped. Remember...righty tighty lefty loosey.

Answer 3

The stopper should unscrew by continually pulling up while you unscrew it from the shoe. These things will rotate forever unless you pull up.