When the plunger fails, these powerful cleaners can blast through grease, hair and other nasty clogs.
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While your first course of action for unclogging a sink, toiler or shower drain should always be the plunger, some clogs call for more clearing power. A capable drain cleaner will get the job done by blasting through plugs of grease, hair and whatever else is contributing to the backup.
That’s what our cleaning and home improvement experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have found through years of testing chemical and enzymatic drain cleaners in our Labs and homes. Based on our continuous testing of 15 drain cleaners over the last three years, here are the best options to keep on hand.
“Especially during colder months, it’s critical to nip clogs in the bud, since backed-up pipes are prone to freezing and bursting, which can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs,” says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. He adds that insurance providers won’t pay for the repair, since clogs are considered a maintenance issue, which most policies don't cover.
Keep reading after our picks to learn more about how to choose drain cleaners and how to use the products safely. For more cleaning recommendations, check our guides to the best toilet bowl cleaners and the best toilet brushes.
The 100-year-old company Drano is the Q-tip of drain cleaners — the brand most people think of first for tackling clogs. In our tests, we've been consistently impressed by the clearing power of Drano's gel formulation, which is safe for all plumbing and septic systems. "It's a caustic cleaner, meaning it contains bleach and other corrosive ingredients that are especially tough on grease and soap scum," explains DiClerico.
Drano's Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover works quickly too, without any elbow grease on your part. Simply pour the formula down a backed-up sink or drain and let it go to work. For minor clogs and slow-flowing drains, the gel works in 15 to 30 minutes. It can even help clear clogs in standing water. In the case of a persistent clog, you might have to apply the solution a second time and it's safe to let it sit overnight to work. At less than $10 a bottle, it's still a great value.
Besides its fast-acting results, our testers also like that this drain cleaner doesn't have an exceptionally caustic odor. Any lingering smell of the unscented product can be easily mitigated by turning on a bathroom fan.
One note: While Drano's gel cleaner is tough on drain clogs, it's not intended for use in toilets. That's because it doesn't contain microorganisms which are needed to break down toilet paper and organic matter trapped in the plumbing line.
Liquid-Plumr is another well-known brand with an established track record that offers great value. This thick gel is specifically formulated to blast through the clumps of hair that slow down sink, tub and shower drains. The manufacturer claims it is septic-safe and we have no reason to think otherwise based on our extensive experience with other Liquid-Plumr products.
Keep in mind, however, that this product isn't up for all drain issues. "It's an oxidizing cleaner, so while it's very tough on organic matter like hair and food, it's less effective on grease," says DiClerico. Translation: Don't reach for it in the kitchen.
To use, wait for all the water to drain out of the sink or tub (or bail it out if it won't flow), then pour the bottle of Liquid-Plumr — yes, you need to use the whole bottle — slowly down the drain. It takes at least 15 minutes to work. For badly clogged drains, leave Liquid-Plumr in the drain overnight to work, then flush thoroughly with hot water in the morning.
Like Drano, this product is unscented and mild. Even our most sensitive testers say there wasn't any bothersome fumes to contend with when using Liquid-Plumr.
Our experts like the economy and ease-of-use of Green Gobbler's single-use packs. No measuring, no mess: You simply pour a packet down the drain or toilet, add hot water and wait 15 to 30 minutes before flushing with clean water. Based on our tests, you can expect anywhere from two to five drain clearings out of a single purchase. Our testers say you might need to leave the powder overnight for tough clogs, and possibly even try a second treatment. While the packs themselves are odorless, some clogs may give off a stinky smell as the buildup dissolves. Once the drain is thoroughly flushed, we found the fumes quickly dissipated.
Overall, this product is both convenient and effective, and our testers like that the package includes a manual clog remover tool to help the process along. Green Gobbler has garnered more than 7,400 five-star ratings on Amazon.
Want to steer clear of chemical drain cleaners? Bio-Clean uses a special combination of naturally-occurring bacteria and enzymes to digest organic waste such as hair, grease, soap scum, paper, food particles and more.
"Like other enzyme-based cleaners we've looked at over the years, Bio-Clean isn't as fast-acting as chemical cleaners, so you're best off letting it sit overnight in a backed-up drain," says DiClerico. Even then, it might not clear a complete blockage, and multiple uses are sometimes necessary to thoroughly clear partially clogged drains — particularly if the culprit is something exceptionally stubborn like feminine products or a big wad of paper towel.
Our experts say it's worth a try, though, especially in areas like the garbage disposal, since we found this product does an excellent job of dissolving lodged food. We also like it as a once-per-month maintenance product, advice echoed by many reviewers who have used Bio-Clean as a preventative maintenance product and swear by its effectiveness. It's also safe to use in toilets.
An ounce (or tw0) of prevention goes a long way when it comes to keeping your drains clog-free. CLR's Clear Pipes and Drains is a once-a-month treatment that makes the process incredibly easy. "For big, busy households where showers, sinks and toilets have to work overtime, we highly recommend this routine plumbing maintenance," says DiClerico.
Testers noted how easy the product is to use. No matter what you're working with — a drain or a garbage disposal — all you have to do is measure out 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) of the fragrance-free fluid and pour it down the drain. While the product proved effective in our tests at preventing clogged drains, if you're dealing with an existing backup, you're better off trying one of our more heavy-duty chemical cleaners.
This tough chemical cleaner is formulated to work quickly — the manufacturer says it can clear a slow-flowing drain or clean a grease trap in just 60 seconds. Despite that aggressive grime-fighting ability, Thrift's Odorless Drain Cleaner is still safe enough for septic system maintenance, according to the brand.
Just make sure to use hot water, which is required to warm the pipes to dissolve and activate the crystals before you thoroughly flush the drain. Reviewers were impressed by how quickly the product really does work, though many note that it's even more effective if you leave it to work on grease traps overnight.
Because Thrift is a strong chemical cleaner, take proper precautions to protect yourself as well as surfaces around the area you're trying to clear. And remember: Thrift should not be used in garbage disposals or in standing water, like that found in clogged toilets.
XionLab Safer Drain Opener works well on hair or grease clogs, so it's best suited to showers and bathroom sinks. But we don't recommend it for toilets or kitchen sinks, since its formulation is not effective against paper, plastics or food particles.
How exactly does it work? The septic-safe biodegradable formula is a balance between acidic/caustic cleaners and mild enzymatic cleaners. Users say the gel is highly effective on specific types of clogs and can even cut through standing water to clear mild obstructions in about two hours.
Tougher clogs will take longer — sometimes overnight — and may require multiple applications. Since you need 16 ounces (half a bottle) per treatment, we recommend planning on a single bottle for every area of concern.
The flexible Vastar Drain Snake is an inexpensive, chemical-free option to manually remove clogs from kitchen and bathroom drains. "It's a good idea to keep a few of these on hand since the tool can be enough to clear a clog in seconds," says DiClerico.
The plastic snake reaches about 20 inches into drain pipes and flexes at the P-trap, where most obstructions occur. The barbs grab onto hair and other messy clogs, allowing you to remove or dislodge them. Many reviewers, while loving this product and how well it works, reminded us how icky some of these clogs smell, so you may want to wear a mask and crack the window or flip on the overhead fan in your bathroom. And work slowly and gently, since too much force can break the tool and even damage pipes.
Though the Drain Snake is billed as a single-use product, many reviewers note that it can be cleaned for future clogs, if you don't mind dealing with the funky mess.
If you've tried the plunger and you tried one of our cleaners and your toilet still is clogged, it's time to bring in the mechanical snake: a long, metal tool that claws at blockages located far down the plumbing line. The only problem with mechanical snakes is their sharp edges can damage a toilet's porcelain S-bend. That's why we like this auger-style snake, with its vinyl guard that prevents porcelain surfaces from getting scratched or cracked.
The Ridgid is more expensive than liquid or gel cleaners, but it can be used time and again. It's actually relatively simple to use once you get the hang of it. (Tip from our testers: Watch the brand's video tutorial before unleashing it on your toilet.) The tool's ergonomic design makes it easy to rotate the cable down the drain line to break up and clear clogs. You can even attach a drill to it to help with really stubborn blockages — and still be perfectly confident in your ability to get the job done without damaging your toilet.
Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute continuously test all kinds of household cleaners, including drain cleaners; new products are often submitted for testing as part of our Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards.
Hands-on testing of drain cleaning products and tools takes place at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where our experts focus on performance and ease of use. Testers assess how easy and neat the product is to use and how complete and accurate the label and product claims are. We also interview company scientists and review data for product efficacy and safety.
To capture real-world experience, we check online reviews of the product and, whenever possible, have it tested by consumers on actual clogs in their home's plumbing system. The drain cleaning tools and products listed here were selected based on our past evaluations and experiences with the products, company research and favorable consumer feedback. Overall, we have tested 15 drain cleaners over the last three years.
Drain cleaners are usually formulated to work on specific types of clogs. This means that a cleaner that works well on a slow-flowing kitchen drain might not work as well on a clogged toilet. Here are the main types of drain cleaners you'll come across the most while shopping:
✔️ Enzymatic cleaners are slower to clear clogs but are usually less harmful to your plumbing. The bacteria-based enzymes in the cleaner slowly break down organic matter such as hair and food that can be found in your drain. But the enzymes not be strong enough to dissolve a complete blockage.
✔️ Chemical-based drain cleaners work the fastest but also have the potential to cause more damage. There are two main types:
Here are some important precautions to take when clearing clogged drains:
✔️ Try a plunger first. If you're dealing with a clogged toilet, always use a plunger before (never after!) any chemical cleaner to prevent the chemical from splashing back up onto your skin or into your eyes.
✔️ Precisely follow all directions on a drain cleaner's label. The room must be well-ventilated. Never leave the drain cleaner inside the drain for longer than stated in the instructions.
✔️ Wear gloves and eye protection to protect against splash-back. Do not stand in the tub or shower stall when pouring the cleaner down the drain, because there's a chance it could spurt back out.
✔️ Carefully pour the drain cleaner to avoid spills. The caustic nature of some chemical cleaners can damage surrounding stone, marble, stainless steel and other materials. Never mix drain cleaners with other cleaning products — even homemade cleaners — or pour a second cleaner down if the first doesn't work. The chemical reaction can cause toxic gas or even an explosion.
✔️ Always flush the drain well after using a chemical cleaner, following the package instructions for the temperature of the water and how long you should rinse.
✔️ Never try to clear a toilet clog with a chemical cleaner. Use a plunger, a toilet auger (a standard drain snake can damage or crack the porcelain) or a natural enzyme cleaner. If the clog still remains, call in a professional plumber.
Depending on the type of pipes you have in your home, damage can occur when using any chemical cleaner, especially if you overdo it. PVC pipes can warp or soften from heat generated by the chemical. With metal pipes, excessive use can cause surface corrosion and in extreme cases might even lead to cracks and holes.
"Our advice to homeowners is always to try a plunger first, since a few vigorous pumps are often enough to suction out clogs, especially if you catch them early," says DiClerico. But if the backup remains, reach for one of our recommended drain cleaners.
For over a century, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert tips and reviews on all things cleaning-related, including products that unclog drains throughout the home.
This article was originally written by Lynn Redmile, a contributing product reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she's been evaluating cleaning products, among other household wares, since 2012.
For this round-up, Lynn worked closely with Dan DiClerico, Director of the Institute's Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab. Dan has written about home improvement for nearly 25 years, including hundreds of articles on home maintenance for Good Housekeeping, as well as magazines like This Old House, Martha Stewart Living and Consumer Reports.
Lynn Redmile (she/her) is a contributing product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she's been evaluating nutrition, fitness, beauty, textiles, home, pet, and cleaning products since 2012. She brings over 30 years of data analysis and project management experience to the role.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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