Best drain cleaners
You get up in the morning, jump into the shower and a few minutes late you find yourself in an ankle deep of dirty water. Not the best way to start a new day. Or you wash your dishes before the party and wish you can finish up the last minute cleaning up in time, but… the murky water in the sink just doesn’t go down. You scramble to find the bits and pieces of food leftovers that are blocking the drain, but even after clearing them out the drain doesn’t seem to be giving up.
A clogged drain is a headache that everyone has experienced and would like to avoid at all costs. Thankfully by choosing the best drain cleaner you can easily steer clear of this unpleasant situation.
What causes drain clogs?
Drain clogs result from the stuff that gets caught in your drain from a daily use. Hair, grease, food bits, soap scum and other particles build up in your drain resulting in a clog that doesn’t let the dirty water get thought the pipes. Having a garbage disposal in your kitchen can reduce the chances of having your drain clogged, but it’s not always the case. Hair and soap scum are the biggest drain enemies in your tub.
How can you prevent drain clogs
Depending on your sink or tub, it is always a good idea to install a strainer. While they are not a big help against grease and soap scum, they keep out bigger pieces of food out of your drain in the kitchen or hair in the tub or shower drain. Sink or tub drain strainers and protectors can be easily picked up in your local hardware store or, if you want a bigger selection, online, and come in different types and styles. They can be made of metal or plastic and be permanently installed or just placed over the existing drain. There is also a number of hair stoppers for your tub and shower that are designed to stop the hair from getting into the drain. They can prove to be very effective and can easily be installed within minutes to prevent your drain from clogging.
Choosing the best drain cleaner
In some cases, even the preventative maintenance can be not enough and you may need to find the best drain cleaner available to do the job. There are several kinds of drain cleaners and openers on the market. The most popular include chemical (alkaline or acidic) drain cleaners, handheld drain augers (such as Plumbers Snake), air burst drain openers and homemade drain cleaners. Each of them has certain limitations, pros and cons, but choosing just one best drain cleaner should be sufficient in most cases.
Best drain cleaner reviews
This alkaline based drain cleaner comes in a shape of beads. It is industrial strength and is biodegradable. Its non acidic formula is safe to use on metal and plastic pipes and chrome trims. Thanks to its odorless and fume free formula it is widely used in places such as households, restaurants, schools and hospitals. Pure Lye Drain Opener can safely clear out slow moving drains and grease traps. It won’t harm septic systems or cesspools as well. Keep in mind, that because it is highly concentrated sodium hydroxide cleaner you must use safety precautions to avoid contact with eyes and skin and read the instructions carefully. We give this product high rating because of its low price and high effectiveness when compared to other drain cleaners.
CLR Power Plumber Drain Opener
We placed this product on our “Best Drain Cleaner List” because of its simplicity to use and ability to deliver outstanding results. It is perfect for households that want to avoid using harsh chemicals, because there are no toxic substances involved in using this drain cleaner. Power Plumber provides results almost instantly and is safe to use on environment and pipes. It clears out any drain blockages by releasing compressed gas into your drain system and is odorless. Word of caution – read the product instructions carefully and do not use this product in any drains that have lye or acid cleaning solutions left in them. Also, be sure NOT to mix it with any other chemical drain cleaner.
FlexiSnake Drain Millipede Hair Clog Tool for Drain Cleaning
FlexiSnake is great tool to clean your drain without using any kind of alkaline or acidic chemicals or gases. It instantly opens up drains by catching all the hair inside bathroom drain by using a few thousand micro hooks. This great invention is 100% environmentally friendly and allows you to save on chemicals and plumber. It will not work on scum or grease, but if your problem is drain clogged with hair, we definitely recommend this inexpensive tool that can be used over and over again.
Drain cleaner comparison chart
Use this drain cleaner comparison table to find the best solution to your clogged drain.
Prices may change frequently depending on availability, demand, promotions and more.
Price guide for drain cleaning products is based on Amazon.com prices and is as follows: $ – under $8, $$ – between $8 and $10, $$$ – over $10.
| Drain Cleaner | Rating | Price | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pure Lye Drain Opener  | 4.6 | $$ | Chemical | - Odorless non-acid formula - Biodegradable - Safe on fine fixtures, chrome trim and plastic pipes |
Oatey Glug Drain Opener | 4.7 | $$$ | Chemical | - Contains no phosphates or aluminum - Hot water formula will not solidify in drains - Does not produce offensive odors or gases |
Thrift Alkaline Drain Cleaner  | 4.8 | $$$ | Chemical | - Odorless formula - Works on drains, sewer lines, grease traps and septic systems - Will clean out a drain line in less than 60 seconds |
Drano Max Gel Clog Remover  | 4.5 | $$ | Chemical | - Pours through standing water and works fast - Safe for all pipes - Removes hair, soap scum, and other gunky clogs |
CLR Power Plumber Drain Opener  | 4.5 | $$$ | Pressurised gas | - Quick, safe for pipes and economical - Non-toxic; contains no harsh chemicals, acids, or dyes - Environmentally safe - For use in sinks, tubs, shower stalls, and toilets |
Enforcer Drain Care | 4 | $$$ | Enzymatic | - Enzymatic drain cleaner - Safe for all plumbing - Cleans and removes years of build-up in the plumbing system |
Earth Enzymes Drain Opener | 3.8 | $$$/3 pack | Enzymatic | - Helps to clear and maintain free flowing drains, clogged septic tanks, and cesspools - Contains sodium sesquicarbonate, bacterial mixtures, and proteolytic enzymes - Quickly digests solid wastes and convert them to an easily disposed of liquid state |
Roebic Main Line Cleaner | 3.9 | $$ | Enzymatic | - Naturally breaks down waste - Safe for all pipes and the environment - Digests paper, fats and grease - Ideal for low flow toilets |
Drano Snake Plus | 3.1 | $ | Manual/Chemical | - 8 inch long flexible tool with unique barb design - Single use Drano Pro concentrate gel - Thicker formula with more active ingredients than max gel - Safe on all pipes and plumbing fixtures |
FlexiSnake Drain Hair Clog Tool | 3.9 | $$ | Manual | - Patented hook & loop technology - Reusable, remove hair and clean with soap and water and a brush - Works with most bathroom drains without disassembling the stopper |
Zip-It Drain Cleaning Tool | 4.3 | $ | Manual | - Quick and easy application by simply inserting and removing from drain - An alternative to harsh drain-clearing chemicals - Use it to clear clogged and slow-running drains - Disposable |
Scotch Instant Power Disposal and Drain Cleaner  | 3.6 | $$ | Enzymatic | - Controls garbage disposer and drain odors - Environmentally friendly - Improves disposer system operations - Safe and actually beneficial for septic systems |
Brushtech Hair Catching and Sink Overflow Cleaning Brush | 4.4 | $ | Manual | - Bypasses the sink stopper, so you don't have to disassemble it - Removes hair from tub drains and shower drains |
| Drain Cleaner | Rating | Price | Type | Features |