Fixing a blocked drain can be difficult and messy. A drain cleaner is the most effective way of keeping your drains, pipes and septic tank blockage-free.
The 10 Best Drain Cleaners
- Drano Max Gel Clog Remover Drain Cleaner
- GreenPig Solutions Septic Tank Treatment
- Thrift Marketing Drain Cleaner
- Whink Hair Clog Blaster! Drain Cleaner
- Comstar Pure Lye Drain Opener
- Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Drain Clog Remover (Our Top Pick)
- Xion Lab Fast-Acting Drain Opener
- Professor Amos SuperFast 2-Pack Drain Cleaner
- Bio-Clean Drain Septic Bacteria Drain Cleaner
- RID-X Septic Tank System Treatment
Our Top Pick for the Best Drain Cleaner
Our top pick for the best drain cleaner is the Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Liquid Hair and Grease Clog Remover.
Wherever there is a clogged drain around your home, go green with the Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Drain Clog Remover. For a safe and chemical-free solution to drain blockages anywhere around your home, the Green Gobbler delivers an impressive drain cleaning performance.
Expert Drain Cleaners For HouseHold Drainage Problems
Drainage problems are a common household occurrence. Our kitchen, bathroom or laundry drains, pipes and septic tanks can develop blockages from the build-up of sludge, grime, dirt and hair, waste and toilet paper. There is nothing worse than not being able to release the water from your kitchen or bathroom sink or standing in dirty pooled up water in your shower.
If your drains are blocked, forget the plunger and hold off calling the expensive plumber. The powerful chemicals or bacteria that are contained in drain cleaner, can quickly dissolve clogged up material that has accumulated in the pipes and will open up the drain so that it works correctly.
Highly Versatile Drain Cleaners
Highly versatile, you can use a drain cleaner anywhere around your home; in the kitchen, laundry, the bathroom for the toilet or bath, a septic tank or a leach field. You can even use it for a portable toilet at the campsite, in your RV or boat.
How to Choose the Best Drain Cleaner
Type of Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners come in different forms: a liquid, gel, crystals, powder, small pearl beads, or water-soluble packets. The drain cleaner can be specifically designed for a septic tank like the RID-X Septic Tank System Treatment. It may be a multi-purpose cleaner like the Xion Lab Drain Opener or the Professor Amos drain cleaner, which removes blockages from any type of household drain.
Chemical Drain Cleaners
If you want a fast-acting drain cleaner that can remove a tough clog, a powerful chemical drain cleaner is the ultimate drain cleaning solution. This type of cleaner can quickly dissolve accumulated waste from 60 seconds up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the clog.
Aggressive drain cleaners, like the Thrift Marketing Drain Cleaner or the Comstar Pure Lye Drain Opener, contain the most powerful chemicals like sodium hydroxide or pure lye. But be careful as these harsh chemicals can produce a violent bubbling reaction in the sink and caustic fumes which can affect your eyes and burn the skin.
So you need to handle them very carefully and always wear gloves and protective eye-wear.
Natural Drain Cleaners
If you do not want to use harsh chemical cleaners, there are natural drain cleaners that are safe to use, not only for humans and the environment but they are extra gentle on your drainage pipes.
Natural or biodegradable drain cleaners, like the Green Gobbler, use enzymes or live bacteria, which are very effective in breaking down organic matter. The Bio-Clean drainer cleaner can even eliminate paper which is one of the hardest materials to remove.
Making the “green” choice and using natural or biodegradable cleaners, like the Xion Lab drain cleaner, is perfect for the environmentally minded householder, but they may not be very effective on stubborn hard to remove clogs.
Match the Drain Cleaner to the Right Type of Clog
Grease in the Kitchen Sink
For clogged up grease, an alkaline based drainer cleaner, like GreenPig, is the best cleaner to choose.
Hair in the Bath or clogged
Hair is the most common type of clog that can occur in the bathtub and shower, so choose a drain cleaner that contains an acidic solution.
The Drano cleaner or the Whink Hair Clog Blaster! is highly effective at breaking down hair clogs. Here is a great video that shows the powerful dissolving action of Drano.
Organic Matter or Toilet Paper in the Toilet
The toilet is the major offender when it comes to clogged drains. Organic matter, toilet paper, and feminine products can cause blockages and nasty odors so treat your blocked toilet with a drain cleaner like RID-X.
Best Drain Cleaner Reviews
1. Drano Max Gel 80-Ounce Clog Remover Drain Cleaner
Drano is one of the most popular drain cleaners on the market and their 80-ounce Drano Max Gel has plenty of clog removing power.
This top-selling drain cleaner has a maximum pro-strength thick bleach formula which can penetrate through standing water to cling to your toughest clogs to blast them fast, within 15 to 30 minutes.
Drano can be used for residential or commercial applications and its non–corrosive formula is safe to use on all types of pipes.
The gel dissolves hair or soap scum in the bathroom, and you can even use it in the kitchen, garbage disposals or the laundry sink and it is especially effective at eliminating tough hair clogs.
If you have extra stubborn clogs, you can leave Drano in the drain overnight and in the morning the drain will be unblocked and working to perfection.
The Max Gel comes in an 80-ounce bottle and a 2, 4 or 6-pack.
Pros
- High quality
- Very affordable price
- Good value for money
- Top selling product
- Maximum pro-strength thick bleach formula
- Can penetrate through standing water
- Removes tough clogs within 15 to 30 minutes
- Ideal for residential and commercial applications
- Non-corrosive gel is safe to use on all pipes
- Removes hair or soap scum
- Can be used in the kitchen, laundry and garbage disposal
- Can be left in the drain overnight
- Available in a 2, 4 or 6-pack
Cons
- The bottle only lasts for 2 treatments
- Not ideal for large clogs
- Not designed for toilets
2. GreenPig Solutions Septic Tank Treatment
The GreenPig Solutions Live Septic Tank Treatment is an excellent natural treatment for a blocked up septic tank.
The unique concentrated formula is populated with one billion bacteria that quickly multiplies to absorb and digest sludge, grease, paper and solid waste. This treatment helps to break down septic waste to avoid any future clogging problems. It will keep the sewage flowing without restriction and eliminates any nasty odors.
As well as using the treatment in your toilet and septic tank, GreenPig can be used in a cesspit, leach field, drain field and mound systems.
This septic drainer treatment can quickly clear sludge in 15-30 minutes depending on the state of the drain.
The 1-year treatment can be used for 500, 1000 and 1500-gallon tanks and it is very easy to use. Simply flush one of the 4 water-soluble pre-measured packets down the toilet once every 3 months, and the packet will dissolve in your septic system. No mess, no fuss, no measuring involved.
GreenPig also makes a 2, or 5-year supply.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Unique concentrated formula that contains one billion septic tank bacteria
- Chemical free
- Contains no fillers
- Easy to use water-soluble packets
- Very effective at removing clogs
- Works within 15-30 minutes
- Solupaks can be used up to a year
- Combats any odors
- Safe to use
- Cost-effective
- Available in 2 or 5-year supply
Cons
- Not ideal for serious septic tank issues
3. Thrift 2lb Drain Cleaner
One of the fastest drain cleaners, the Thrift 2lb Drain Cleaner is an excellent choice for any household drainage problem.
Manufactured in Texas, U.S.A, the powerful and highly durable cleaner uses non-acid solid crystals that contain a high percentage of sodium hydroxide which enhances the growth of active bacteria that is already present in the septic tank.
The drainage cleaner can be used in bathroom or kitchen drains, sewer lines, septic systems as well as grease traps.
Once you dilute the crystals with hot water and add the solution to the drain, it will clean out any grease or hair in just 60 seconds.
Just be careful when you apply it as it develops a violent reaction and can bubble up out of the sink, so make sure that you wear gloves and protective eye-wear.
Even though the cleaner is odorless, keep the room well ventilated as the solution can produce fumes when the solution reacts with the hot water.
The Thrift drain cleaner is safe to use on most kitchen and lavatory surfaces, like fine plumbing fixtures, acrylic or fiberglass, porcelain, chrome, plastic or metal pipes.
As well as the single 2lb bottle, the drain cleaner also comes in a 2, 3, 4 or 5-pack.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Highly effective
- Works within 60 seconds
- Non-acid formula contains a high percentage of sodium hydroxide
- Enhances the growth of active bacteria
- It does not react with pipes
- It is highly durable
- Works on drains, sewer lines, grease traps, and septic systems
- Safe to use on most kitchen or lavatory surfaces
- Economical, the bottle can be used several times
- Easy to follow instructions
- Can be stored indefinitely
- Available as a 2, 3, 4 or 5-pack
Cons
- Creates fumes and a chemical reaction
- May take longer to work on large clogs
4. Whink Hair Clog Blaster! 32-ounce Drain Cleaner
Blast away those nasty drain blockages with the Whink Hair Clog Blaster!
The 32-ounce Whink Clog Blaster can be used for residential and commercial uses and it works within 5-10 minutes to remove any hair or soap clogs in the bathroom sink or bathtub.
The U.S.A-made professional strength thick formula pours through standing water to attack and break down tough hair and soap scum and it is safe to use on septic tanks as well as any kind of pipe, metal, PVC or plastic. It even works wonders in old houses and pipes without causing any damage.
It is very easy to use. Just pour it over running water into the sink, bathtub or shower and wait for it to work its magic and then run hot water down the drain. The cleaner produces no fumes or violent reactions that can be harmful to your skin or eyes.
Great value for money, you do not have to use a lot of the liquid, unless you have a serious clog in your pipes, so you can save the bottle for future problems.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable
- Professional strength thick formula
- Clears away tough clogs from soap scum and hair
- Highly durable
- Manufactured in the United States
- Very easy to use
- Can be used in old houses and will not cause problems with the pipes
- No violent reactions or noxious fumes
- Pours through standing water
- Safe to use on septic and pipes
- Economical
Cons
- Not ideal for toilets or kitchen sinks
- Can take longer to work for large clogs
5. Comstar 1lb Pure Lye Drain Opener
In just 2 to 5 minutes, the Comstar Pure Lye Drain Opener will clear out any clogs and will have your drains back to perfect working order.
For stubborn clogged up drains in your kitchen, toilet, bathtub, septic systems, or grease traps, the industrial strength super pure lye will power through any organic matter that is blocking your pipes, even roots of trees. Nothing will stand in its way!
The drain cleaner can be used for residential or commercial purposes and it is highly effective at clearing out the toughest of clogs.
You can use it for fine fixtures, chrome trim, and plastic pipes as the small beads are non-acidic and biodegradable.
Warning: Make sure you wear gloves when you use the cleaner as pure lye is a harsh chemical and can cause severe burns if it makes contact with your skin.
The Pure Lye cleaner is very easy to use, just place the beads as per the instruction around the drain and pour in hot tap water, (not boiling water for toilets) and within just a few minutes, the clog will start to clear.
Pros
- High-quality
- Very affordable price
- Great value for money
- Super effective
- Ideal for residential and commercial applications
- Clears out all types of drains, grease traps, septic systems
- Easy to use
- Super pure 100% sodium hydroxide
- Industrial strength formula removes any type of organic matter even tree roots
- Biodegradable
- Odorless
- Non-acid formula is safe for fine fixtures, chrome trim, and plastic pipes
Cons
- Can cause burns if mishandled
- Not to be used with aluminum
6. Green Gobbler DISSOLVE 32-Ounce Drain Clog Remover
The Green Gobbler is an excellent choice for a drain cleaner as it contains the most powerful ultra-dense enzymatic formula available.
Dissolve contains a formula that is heavier than water, so it sinks and clings to the blockage and begins working quickly. Its revolutionary technology can rapidly dissolve hair, soap scum, fats, sludge, q-tips, toilet paper, baby wipes and feminine products.
The drain cleaner is non-corrosive and non-flammable so it is safe for any household pipes or drainage systems. It is great for major toilet blockages, kitchen or bathroom sinks, the bathtub or shower drains and septic systems.
An environmentally-friendly product, the Green Gobbler is biodegradable, odorless and is non-irritating to the skin.
Featuring a no-mess-no-fuss approach to drain cleaning, the new dual-chambered bottles contains 2 pre-measured applications. So there is no measuring involved and no waste.
For sink blockages, pour one full chamber into the sink bowl and let it sit in the drain and then flush with water.
For toilets, add 2 full chambers, allow the solution to sit for 2 hours or overnight for better results. Once the water has come back to its normal level, just flush the toilet.
The Green Gobbler drainer cleaner is covered by a 100% money back guarantee.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Made in the USA
- New dual-chambered bottle
- Revolutionary ultra-dense formula sinks & clings to pipe walls
- Can be used for toilets, sinks, tubs, toilets, showers and septic systems
- Rapidly dissolves grease, hair, soap scum, fats, sludge, q-tips, toilet paper, baby wipes and feminine products
- 2 pre-measured applications
- No measuring involved and no waste
- Safe and less caustic than traditional products
- Environmentally friendly
- Non-corrosive
- Non-irritating to skin
- Safe for pipes
Cons
- Not harsh enough for large blockages
7. Xion Lab 32-Ounce Fast-Acting Drain Opener
If hair or grease is clogging up your drains, the Xion Lab 32-ounce drain cleaner is fast-acting and can be used in any drain around the house.
Using advanced chemistry, the USA-made drain cleaner is the ultimate cleaning solution as it uses a non-toxic industrial strength hydroxide formulation liquid.
The non-splash and odorless thick liquid sinks into the water and clings to blockages and begins working fast by generating heat and gases to dissolve the clog so that the water can drain freely.
The drain cleaner is easy to use. Just pour 16-ounces into the blocked drain, wait 30 minutes and the powerful gel will remove obstructions that are caused by fat, oils, grease, soap scum, lint, long hair and other debris.
You can use the drain cleaner for the bathroom or kitchen sink, the bathtub, shower or even the hot tub.
The non-corrosive, non-flammable, non-toxic, and biodegradable formula has a high 13 pH level, so while it is tough on clogs, it is environmentally-friendly and safe to use in all types of pipes.
The Xion Lab drain cleaner is registered with the NSF for quality and safety. Xion Labs offer a 100% money back guarantee.
Pros
- Premium-quality
- Good price
- Industrial strength
- High-density thick liquid
- Fast-acting
- Generates heat and gases to open blockages
- Safe to use on all pipes and septic tanks
- Small family-run business
- Biodegradable and recyclable
- Environmentally-friendly
- Non-flammable and non-corrosive
- Non-splash
- Non-toxic
- Odorless
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Registered with the NSF
Cons
- Not suitable for complete obstructions
- Not ideal for paper blockages
8. Professor Amos SuperFast 2-Pack 32oz Drain Cleaner
Whenever there is a blocked drain in your home, the Professor Amos Superfast drain cleaner delivers a superior drain cleaning performance.
Professor Amos Superfast is a multi-purpose fast-acting drain cleaner that contains a special accelerated formula which can be used in bathrooms drains, the kitchen sink, laundry tub, floor drainage systems, public sewage systems, septic tanks, and cesspools.
The SuperFast drain cleaner is less caustic than other types of cleaners and it is very cost effective as the special accelerated formula is good for 4-6 applications.
Its powerful liquid dissolves human and pet hair, soap sum, grease, food, fat, and even the toughest hard to remove blockages into a liquefied state. Once you have applied SuperFast, just flush with hot water.
SuperFast does not react violently or create noxious fumes or a bad odor and will not even burn the skin and eyes in case of accidental spills. You can use the cleaner for all types of plumbing including PVC and copper and it is perfect for older homes and apartments.
Pros
- Superior cleaning performance
- Very affordable
- Very good value for money
- Use in sinks, tubs, and floor drains, safe for all types of plumbing even copper pipes
- Powerful liquid
- Special accelerated formula
- Multipurpose
- Cost effective: bottle contains 4-6 applications
- Dissolves hair, grease, and food build-up breaks through tough clogs
- Easy and safe to use, super-fast and powerful
- Can be used with all types of plumbing, PVC, and copper
- Perfect for older homes and apartments
- Non-irritating to skin
- Does not produce a violent bubbling reaction
- No nasty fumes
- Odorless
Cons
- Not ideal for toilets or garbage disposals
9. Bio-Clean 2lb Drain Septic Bacteria Drain Cleaner
For a more natural approach to drainage and plumbing maintenance, the Bio-Clean Drain Cleaner is an excellent choice.
Bio-Clean is a “friendly bacterial waste eliminator” cleaner and its special formulation of 100% natural bacteria and enzymes efficiently break down and digests organic wastes such as grease, hair, soap scum, food debris, paper, and cotton. The bacteria double in number every 30 minutes and spread through the entire plumbing system and drain, devouring all the organic waste and restoring your drain to full flowing capacity.
You can even use it to stop any odors from a Kitty Litter box. Just sprinkle the dry powder in the box before adding litter or on top of the litter.
Highly economical, the powder comes in a 2lb pack and can be used for over 100 drain treatments.
The drain cleaner is very easy to use. Just mix it with warm water as per the instructions and add it to the drain. The bacteria will get to work on contact. Let it stand for 30-40 minutes. The result? A free-flowing drain!
Bio-Clean does not produce heat, fumes or boiling like chemicals cleaners so it is safe for people, metal and plastic plumbing, and the environment.
You can also use Bio-Clean as a monthly treatment to keep your drains clean and running properly.
Bio-Clean has been authorized by U.S.D.A for use in federally inspected meat and poultry plants.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- 100% all-natural bacteria and enzymes
- Highly effective
- Fast acting
- Ideal for grease, hair, soap scum, food particles, paper, cotton
- Can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, portable toilets
- Environmentally safe
- Very economical, can be used for up to 100 drain treatments
- Produces no heat or boiling chemicals
- Multi-purpose: can be used in a kitty litter box to control odors
- Safe for both metal and plastic pipes
- USDA approved
Cons
- Expensive
- Not very effective at removing non-organic waste
- Can take longer to work for larger clog
10. RID-X Septic Tank System Treatment
The RID-X Tank System Treatment is the #1 septic brand used by professionals so it is a smart choice for household septic tank maintenance.
This simple septic maintenance solution from RID-X will clear any blockages from your toilet, eliminate embarrassing odors, and prolong the life of your septic system.
You can use RID-X with complete confidence as it contains 100% active natural bacteria and enzymes, which are specially formulated to break apart toilet paper, grease, waste, sludge and other organic materials that clog up your septic tank and drains.
There are no harsh chemicals, so it does not produce fumes or irritate your skin and is gentle on pipes, plumbing, hoses, caps, and valves. You can use it for 1500 gallon tanks, a portable toilet at the camp-site, in your RV or boat.
The treatment is very easy to use. Just flush 8-ounces down the toilet. The enzymes and bacteria will start working immediately. In 15 -30 minutes you will start to see the drain clearing. For best results, apply the cleaner before going to bed or leaving home for the day.
A cost-effective approach to septic tank maintenance, the bottle contains a 6 month supply so you can also use it for ongoing treatment to keep your septic tank healthy and in good working order.
Pros
- High-quality
- Used by professionals
- Very good price
- Great value for money
- Can be used as a monthly treatment
- Economical
- Fast acting
- Easy to use
- Ideal for septic tank ongoing maintenance
- Extends the life of septic tanks
- Contains no harsh chemicals, and it’s gentle on pipes, and plumbing
- Breaks down oils, protein, and grease
- Can be used in RVs, boats and portable toilets
- USDA certified
Cons
- Can take long for larger drain clogs
Our Top Pick for the Best Drain Cleaner
Our top pick for the best drain cleaner is the Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Liquid Hair and Grease Clog Remover.
Wherever there is a clogged drain around your home, go green with the Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Drain Clog Remover. For a safe and chemical-free solution to drain blockages anywhere around your home, the Green Gobbler delivers an impressive drain cleaning performance.
