Rid Your Home of Clogs With the Best Drain Clog Remover
Clogged drains can be extremely annoying to deal with. Not only are they a safety hazard, as they act as a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, but they can also cause your house to smell. Not to forget, a clogged drain damages your pipes, which will require a costly repair if you don’t unclog the drain in time.
If you want to save some money and prevent all the unpleasant effects that a clogged drain brings with itself, you need to get yourself a drain clog remover. But, because there’s such a wide array of options to select from, choosing can be difficult. As such, we’ve created a list of the finest drain clog removers in 2023 to clean your problems away.
Buying Guide: Drain Clog Removers
A clogged drain can have detrimental effects, and you should always try and unclog a drain as your priority. To do this, though, you will need a suitable drain clog remover. As such, we have compiled a buying guide that will help you choose the most suitable drain clog remover according to your needs. Let’s take a look!
The Different Physical States of Drain Clogs
A drain clog remover formula comes in four states: liquid, gel, powder, and granular. You should choose the type of formula depending on the kind of clog you have.
Powdered drain clog removers are best for slow-running drains; you should not use them in quick-running drains as they need to sit on the clog for a while to act. On the other hand, liquid drain clog removers are the most commonly used and can work on any type of drain fast. Similarly, the gel and granular removers work for every type of drain, too.
Different Types of Drain Clog Formulas
There are different types of drain cleaners available in the market, and each type differs from the other in effect it has on a clogged drain. Drain clog removers can be divided into two types based on the formula:
Enzymatic
An enzymatic drain clog remover contains enzymes as the formula’s main ingredient. The enzymes gradually break through the clog and are harmless to you and your pipes, so if safety is your main concern, you should go for this cleaner.
That being said, the enzymatic formula takes a long time to show results because the enzymes are slow in dissolving clogs. Plus, the enzymes can only cut through organic matter like clogged hairs or food — any other blockage will be left as is.
Chemical
On the other hand, chemical-based drain clog removers work extremely fast. Unfortunately, most chemical-based drain clog removers can damage the pipes of your drainage system. Metal pipes can corrode from excessive use of the drain clog remover, whereas PVC pipes can melt from the heat released by the chemicals while in action. Chemical cleaners can further be put into three different categories:
- Oxidizing drain clog remover
Made with bleach, nitrates, and peroxides, an oxidizing drain clog remover easily dissolves organic clogs like hair and food by oxidizing them. Hence, they are the perfect choice for use in toilets, bathroom sinks, and shower drains.
- Caustic drain clog remover
This type of chemical-based drain clog remover contains caustic potash and lye. Not just that, it also contains alkaline substances that are perfect for melting grease clogs in your kitchen sinks.
- Acidic drain clog remover
These drain clog removers contain a high concentration of acids like hydrochloric and sulphuric acid. As such, they are mostly used by plumbers and should be avoided as they can easily burn you.
Reviewing the Top Drain Clog Removers in 2023
Drano Max Drain Clog Remover
– Best OverallAt the top of our list is the Drano drain clog remover, which is known for effectively cutting through whatever is clogging up your drain, even the most stubborn standing water. Thanks to its thick solution, it can easily clean your bathtub, shower, and sink drains.
Furthermore, you can use this drain clog remover on metal pipes, septic systems, garbage disposals, and PVC. And, if the clog remover doesn’t work for you, Drano promises to give you a full refund. Due to its quick working, versatility, and ability to cut through standing water, this drain clog remover is rated the “best overall” on our list.
- Cuts through standing water
- Quickly dissolves clogs
- Safe to use everywhere
- Can burn your skin
Green Gobbler Drain Clog Remover
– Most ConvenientIf you are looking for a drain clog remover that can cut through and dissolve soap, hair, or toilet paper, you should go for Green Gobbler. It features a biodegradable formula that easily penetrates through the drain, cutting through standing water and dissolving the clog. Plus, the formula is odorless, so you don’t have to worry about the unpleasant smell of chemicals.
This product comes in a dual chamber bottle with two pre-measured applications; all you need to do is pour one or both of these bottles down the clogged drain, depending on the toughness of the clog. Best of all, this drain clog remover has no bleach or sodium hydroxide, so it does not corrode your pipes.
- Easily dissolves clogs
- Pre-measured applications for ease of use
- No corrosive effect on pipes
- Takes six to seven hours to show results
Liquid-Plumr Drain Clog Remover
– Most PotentNext on our list is the Liquid-Plumr drain clog remover, which is the most powerful on our list. It contains 70% more active ingredients than an ordinary drain clog remover, allowing it to clean fully blocked drains in a single use. And, since it was formulated for removing hair clogs, this product easily dissolves them.
Additionally, this drain clog remover is safe for use in all septic systems and pipes, including PVC and metal pipes, as it does not have a corrosive effect. It comes as a 16 fluid-ounce bottle, meaning you can use it several times before it runs out. You can also get your money back if this drain clog remover proves to be ineffective for you.
- Contains 70% more active ingredients
- Easily dissolves tough hair clogs
- Safe for use in septic systems and pipes
- Cannot be used in toilets or garbage disposals
Thrift Drain Clog Remover
– Most EfficientAre you looking for a drain remover that does its job very quickly? If so, you’ll be pleased with the product from Thrift. First of all, it can easily clear out any clogged drain in less than a minute. Not to forget, it is a four-in-one drain clog remover that works on septic systems, sewer lines, drains, and grease traps.
Even better, this drain clog remover is odorless, so you don’t have to worry about the pungent smell that accompanies most cleaning solutions. Furthermore, the non-acidic formula of this drain cleaner makes it safe to use everywhere, from porcelain to metal pipes. Plus, the high percentage of sodium hydroxide ensures this drain clog remover eradicates all bacteria.
- Unclogs drains in less than 60 seconds
- Works for septic systems, drains, and more
- Non-acidic formula is safe for different surfaces
- Can burn the skin
ComStar Drain Clog Remover
– Most Environmentally FriendlyLast, but certainly not least, we have ComStar’s drain clog remover, the most environmentally friendly out of the bunch. The bead-size lye formula is biodegradable, which makes it eco-friendly. It also contains 99% sodium hydroxide, which allows it to dissolve all the clogs and properly clean your drain.
The best part is that the formula is non-acidic, so it is safe to use on chrome trims, metal pipes, PVC pipes, and fine fixtures. Meanwhile, the bead-shaped formula allows it to sink to the bottom by cutting through standing water. This way, this drain clog remover fights the clog from the root cause. It also promotes the growth of active bacteria, which further prevents the formation of further clogs.
- Eco-friendly and biodegradable
- Non-acidic formula makes it safe to use
- Prevents the formation of further clogs
- Harder to clear out stubborn clogs
People Also Asked
A: If used as a standalone solution, boiling water might not unclog drains properly. Instead, you can use a combination of boiling water and a drain clog remover for effective drain unclogging.
A: Before opening the product, you can store a drain clog remover for at most 12 months. But, if you have opened the product, then you can only store it for a few months before it is rendered ineffective.
A: It is not recommended to use a drain clog remover for unclogging toilets or dishwashing systems. A drain clog remover’s use should be limited to septic systems and drainage systems.
A: Drain clog removers break down and dissolve particles blocking your pipes/drains. Hair, dust, skin, food, and more can create blockage in your pipes causing your sink to drain slowly. The chemical formula of the drain cleaner breaks this down to clear the path.
A: If your issue progresses and the drain cleaner is not effective in dissolving the blockage, you may want to employ a drain snake. Be sure to wait a day or so between using the drain snake so you don't splatter any of the solution.
