Another convenient replacement for Drano is simple table salt. You can either pour about half a cup of salt directly down the drain followed by some boiling water or mix the two in a cup and then pour the mixture into the clogged drain.
For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.
Drano® will not damage pipes or plumbing. Drano® products are powerful enough to dissolve nasty clogs, but they will not harm your plastic or metal pipes, so there's no need to worry. In fact, Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover contains a special ingredient that prevents pipe corrosion.
Baking Soda and Vinegar - Try mixing a ⅓ cup of baking soda with a ⅓ cup of vinegar, it will immediately begin fizzing, and this is when you should pour it down your drain.
Experts agree: Drano Max Gel is the best overall drain cleaner because it works quickly to get rid of tough clogs. This reliable and effective cleaner is a thick gel that goes deep in sinks, pipes, and drains to reach the source of the clog and completely dissolve it.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
This mixture is a great green alternative to Drano because most people have these items somewhere in their kitchen. To use this method, pour half a cup of baking soda into the clogged drain and follow it with a half cup of white vinegar.
If inserting a plumber's snake seems like a risky option, and your problem is more than what a plunger can solve, adding a cleaning agent like WD-40 is always a good idea. The good part about using WD-40 is that it gets right under the build-up and muck, and breaks it down, which helps clear the drain.
While the phosphoric acid found in cola can help alleviate some minor clogs, carbonated beverages are certainly not the ideal drain cleaner. Better DIY methods include a baking soda/vinegar mixture, a plunger, or a plumber's snake.
Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.
Plumbers Say You Should Never Use Drano. Drain cleaners are a popular solution when homeowners notice a clogged drain. But it's also one of the most commonly misused products out there. Any plumber will advise against its use.
After 15 to 30 minutes, clogs are substantially minimized or dissolved. A final blast of hot water flushes away what's left of the clog.
Designated as the safer choice by the EPA, CLR Clear Pipes and Drains is non-toxic and safe for pipes, people, and pets. Use monthly on your bathroom and kitchen drains or garbage disposal to keep the blockage away.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
Simply adding a combination of vinegar and baking soda will make a concoction that can unclog your drains. Pour half a box of baking soda down your drain. Pour half a cup of vinegar down the sink. Immediately cover the sink with a drain cover/stopper.
Baking Soda and Boiling Water
Combine baking soda with a little vinegar and some boiling water and you've got yourself a powerful, chemical-free unclogging compound. Here's what to do: Fill a kettle with water and heat it to a boil. Pour the boiling water down the drain to loosen the clog and warm the pipes.
If it's still clogged, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain, followed by two cups of boiling water. Let it work overnight to clear the drain.
If your drain is clogged, clean it by pouring a pan of boiling water down the drain. Follow the water with 1 cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar. You'll probably see some bubbles as the chemical reaction works its magic and opens your drain.
The Dangers of the Baking Soda and Vinegar DIY
For one, if done excessively, you may be left with permanent plumbing fixture damage as a result of this DIY. Additionally, it's been proven that this method is unable to destroy fats (e.g., butter, oils, grease) that's clogging your drain.
Let hot water run for a minute to warm up the pipes. Drop in 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour in 1 cup of vinegar, cover the drain with a plug and let sit for 10 minutes – you will hear fizzing. Rinse with more hot water.
Salt is a great cleaning ingredient because of its abrasive and antiseptic properties. To unclog your drain with salt, simply make a 50/50 solution of salt and water, heat to the point of almost boiling, and then pour the saltwater down the drain. Repeat this a couple of times and then flush the drain with cool water.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
Clear the area around your sink and put a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow that with a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Now plug your drain and let it sit for an hour. Then, unplug the drain and pour a pot of boiling water down it.
Look in Your Kitchen Pantry
Baking soda and vinegar may unclog your drain better than Drano ever could.
While it is dissolving your clog, Drano can also quickly eat away at the glue holding your pipes together, leading to a potentially costly leak. Drano's effects can be particularly devastating on toilets, which is why you should avoid using this product to clear a blocked toilet.