Which Drain Cleaner Should I Use?

• Commercial drain cleaners are harmful to the health of your household. If some of the cleaner were to splash on your skin or in your eyes — or too much is inhaled — it could lead to serious injury. And when cleaners are left out or not stored high up in a safe location, they can invite the curiosity of pets or young children, risking accidental exposure or even potentially fatal ingestion.
• Everything you put down the drain eventually ends up in the environment somehow, whether that be in groundwater, oceans, rivers, atmosphere or soil. These commercial products aren't any safer for our environment than they are for our bodies. We often learn too late the calamitous effects our engineered chemicals can have on ecosystems.
• Commercial drain cleaners work by eating away at whatever is causing the clog. There's a good chance that anything that caustic will also be at work on your pipes and drains. While certain materials like PVC or galvanized steel might hold up a little longer than copper, all pipes exposed to caustic chemicals will eventually start to wear down. Eventually, you'll experience leaks that could require extensive, costly repairs — or even a complete re‐plumbing of your home.

What about organic or bacterial drain cleaners? It's true that these kinds of products are inherently safer than commercial drain cleaners that utilize much harsher chemicals, so they can be used in plumbing systems without much concern. They are, however, best used on a regular basis to prevent clogs — their effectiveness is limited as a clog remover.

So, what are the alternatives? Before you call a plumber, we recommend grabbing a good sturdy plunger or drain snake and trying to physically remove the clog yourself. If neither of those methods work, try a 50:50 mixture of baking soda and vinegar and let it sit overnight, followed by flushing with hot water. If that still doesn't work, it's time for the professionals. Plumbers constantly deal with all kinds of clogs and have the expertise and equipment to do so without damaging fixtures or pipes.

Regular drain cleaning should be part of every home maintenance routine. Fortunately, it's easy and inexpensive! For a brief tutorial on how you can clean your drains and prevent clogs, check out our Guide to Easy Drain Maintenance and do your part to protect your plumbing, your health, and your environment!