Best Drain Cleaners and Openers for Clogs

Whether it’s hair in the shower, food stuck in the sink or paper stopping up the toilet, there are drain openers and drain cleaning tools specifically designed to break up or remove clogs in your pipes. Below are some of the best ways to unclog drains in your home:

• Plungers and bladders use air or water pressure to force clogs out.
• Drain snakes or augers remove or break up stubborn clogs caught in your pipes.
• Liquid, gel or powder drain cleaners use powerful agents or natural enzymes to breakdown and dissolve clogs.

Plungers and bladders both use pressure to free up clogged drains. Standard plungers have a wood or plastic handle with a large rubber cup. This cup creates enough suction to dislodge clogs in the drain line. There are several types of plungers:

• Sink plungers have a short handle and a flat bottom that creates a better seal when unclogging flat drains.
• A flange plunger has a rubber flap at the bottom of its cup that fits tightly over the toilet opening. It’s designed to provide maximum suction for unclogging toilets.
• Beehive or accordion plungers have a cylindrical cup with ridges on the end. They work well for smaller drains such as sinks and tubs.

Bladders use the force of water to push clogs out of a drain. The simplest is a bladder you can pump by hand. These are good for solving small problems in a kitchen or bath. If you need more power, below are other types of bladders:

• Electric bladders generate pressure that can eliminate larger clogs.
• Auger bladders have long flexible cables with a bladder attached. Made for toilet clogs, it can reach past the P-trap to clear clogs.
• Air bladders use powerful bursts of compressed air to clear clogs out.

Available in liquids and gels, chemical drain openers contain powerful dissolving agents such as sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid. They are some of the best drain openers for dealing with organic materials such as food. Although they work fast, they can be harmful to pipes. Always try a non-chemical option first. Different chemical drain cleaners are available based on the pipe and type of clog. Never use a chemical drain cleaner in a toilet.

Enzyme-based drain openers use natural enzymes and bacteria to break down organic clogs. They are easier on pipes, but they do work slower. Enzyme-based drain openers can be used for smaller clogs in toilets. Consider using an enzyme cleaner regularly to help prevent organic material such as grease from building up in your pipes.

Safety Tip: Wear safety gear such as rubber gloves and eye protection. Follow all the manufacturer’s use instructions when using chemicals.

Drain snakes have a flexible cable on one end and a barbed or coiled head on the other. As the handle turns and rotates the cable, the head cuts through the obstruction. Also known as plumbing augers, these versatile, budget-friendly tools are great for hard-to-reach or stubborn clogs in toilets, sinks, tubs and showers. There are several different types:

• Drum augers or snakes have a motor that rotates the cable. They work for heavy duty jobs such as large or tough clogs in the main sewer line.
• Manual drain snakes are good for small clogs in a sink or bathtub drain.
• Toilet snakes or augers have a long plastic or metal tube with a curved end made to conform to a toilet’s drain.
• Flat tape drain snakes have a thin, flat metal tape that rotates. It’s one of the best drain cleaners for showers or kitchen sinks.
• Sewer rods or tape augers have a stiff cable or rod with a spear-shaped head that forces the clog down and out the pipe.

Some products or tools work better on certain types of clogs than others. Below are the recommended choices for different types of clogs.

• Plungers are good for food or organic material clogs. Or use an enzyme drain cleaner.
• Drain snakes are the best drain cleaner for hair clogs, whether the hair is natural or synthetic. If that doesn’t work and the hair is natural, try a chemical drain opener.
• Enzyme-based drain openers are ideal for grease, soap scum and other materials that build up on the inside of the drain. Use them regularly to maintain your drains.