What is the best thing to unblock drains with?

Author: Dr. Johann Hyatt  |  Last update: Sunday, February 1, 2026

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.

What is the best solution to unclog drains?

  • Baking soda and vinegar have long been known to unclog clogged drains effectively.
  • You can clean various objects with household items like vinegar and baking soda.
  • Or you can use hydrochloric acid, sometimes referred to as muriatic acid, which is the acid that plumbers most frequently used

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

Why? Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat destroying drain cleaner. Plus vinegar and baking soda are not surfactants, so they do not help water carry oil and grease away the same way that detergents can.

What is the strongest drain unclogger?

Sulfuric Acid: This is one of the strongest drain cleaners available and is effective for tough clogs. However, it is highly corrosive and can damage pipes and pose serious safety risks. Baking Soda and Vinegar: This is a natural alternative that can help clear minor clogs.

What do professionals use to unblock drains?

Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.

SECRET Plumber Trick: Unclog Drain in SECONDS 💥 (Extremely simple) 🤯

Does anything work better than Drano?

Some of the best Drano alternatives include using a plunger or pipe snake, soap or salt mixed with boiling water, or baking soda and white vinegar. Also, for maximum effectiveness, you can combine several of these methods together to get rid of the clog.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.

What do you do if your drain won't unclog?

Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.

What will dissolve hair in a drain?

Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.

Why is toilet paper coming out of the outside drain?

If you are connected to a septic tank, and you have a blockage in the drain between the house and your septic tank, your toilet paper will overflow through one of your external gully traps.

How do plumbers clear blocked drains?

In many cases, professional drain cleaning tools like a toilet auger or hydro jetting equipment will be enough to deal with a deep clogged pipe. However, if there is damage present, you may need additional repairs or pipe replacement services.

What is the best solution for a blocked drain?

In this post, we will give you a few useful suggestions on how to unblock a drain.
  • #1: Use baking soda and vinegar. ...
  • #2: Try baking soda and salt. ...
  • #3: Unblock your drain with boiling water. ...
  • #4: Unclog your drain with a snake. ...
  • #7: Try soda crystals or washing powder. ...
  • #9: Use a Zip-It.

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.

Does Coke help unclog drains?

Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down the buildup that can clog your drains. Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and other tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with. This is an effective and refreshing home remedy if we ever saw one.

How do you unclog a severely clogged drain?

Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.

Is baking soda and vinegar better than Drano?

Using baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain is an effective and natural cleaning method, which some people prefer over harsher chemicals. It works great for weaker drain clogs. By using this mixture periodically, you may be able to avoid clogs altogether (and the need for a more powerful cleaner like Drano).

Why is my shower and toilet clogged at the same time?

When the shower and toilet are both clogged, the obstruction will likely be downstream from the area where the shower and toilet connect with the underlying sewer main. Such simultaneously clogging is a sign the obstruction is so deep that it backs up both drains.

What is the strongest drain clog remover?

The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.

What dissolves concrete in a drain?

Use Croc Crete to Remove Hardened Cement

This is the best method of removing hardened concrete from a drainage system. Croc Crete is a cement softener that attacks concrete at its core. It transforms cement back to its liquid form, allowing you to work it through the drain.

Is hydrogen peroxide good for unclogging drains?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in drains. It's gentler than many commercial drain cleaners and does not cause pipe corrosion, making it a reliable choice for routine drain maintenance.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Baking Soda + Vinegar
  • Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down drain.
  • Plug drain and let sit for one hour.
  • Then, pour a pot of boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.

Why do plumbers say not to use Drano?

Even after the Drano exits your plumbing system, it can contaminate the local water supply causing harm to plants and animals.

Can I leave Mr. Muscle drain Gel overnight?

Using innovative drain unblocking technology, Mr Muscle's new biodegradable formula delivers the power to unclog bathroom drains in just 5 hours. Use it at night, let it work its magic and wake up to freely flowing drains.

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