9 Best Drain Cleaners to Unclog Your Pipes in No Time

Updated October 13, 2021
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Hand of a man with a bottle of drain cleaner

When you have a clogged drain slowing you down, you need to know what the best drain cleaner out there is. Thankfully, there is more than one. Learn about some of the best drain cleaners out there to get your drains running again.

Best Drain Uncloggers on the Market


Best Overall:
Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

Affordable and practical clog cleaner with a proven track record and long history that's safe for pipes and septics.
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Best Drain Cleaner for Hair:
Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver

Erradiate hair clogs with ease by using a two-part clog cleaning system.
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Top Non-Acid Drain Cleaner:
Pequa Drain Opener

This drain cleaner is a non-polluting, non-acid formula to vanquish the gunk and hair in your pipes.
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Best Caustic Drain Cleaner:
Professor Amos SuperFast Drain Cleaner

A caustic cleaner that's the clear winner for taking out hair, grease, and build-up in all types of homes and apartments.
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Top Enzymatic Drain Unclogger:
Bio-Clean Drain Cleaner

This enzymatic cleaner uses the power of bacteria to keep your pipes clean and your septic running smoothly.
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Top Fast Acting Cleaner:
Liquid Fire Drain Line Opener

When you need your pipes moving now, reach for this acidic cleaner that works fast.
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Best Green Drain Cleaner:
Rockwell Invade Bio Drain Gel

This cleaner uses probiotics to naturally clean out clogs and get rid of drain flies.
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Best Monthly Drain Cleaner:
CLR Clear Pipes & Drains

Rather than waiting until you have a clog, this cleaner helps to keep your pipes squeaky clean on a monthly basis.
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Best Granular Drain Cleaner:
Thrift T-100 Alkaline Based Granular Drain Cleaner

A granular cleaner designed to keep sewer lines, grease traps, and drains flowing.
Read more.
Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

Drano has been around the sink and tub when it comes to drain clog cleaners. And at a reasonable price for two 80 oz bottles, Drano Max Gel Clog Remover is super affordable. In addition to working quickly, it sinks right through the standing water in your tub or sink. And, it won't corrode your pipes. However, you have to give it a little time to work. According to the package, it takes between 15-30 minutes. However, if you add a bit of boiling water to the mix, the two definitely work faster.

What We Like
Clears out tough clogs
Can be left overnight
Safe for septic
Affordable
What We Don't
May require a second application
Can take longer to work for tough stains
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Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver

Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver

If you have a family full of long hairs, then reach for Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver. When they say dissolver, they mean it. Green Gobbler effectively dissolves any hair that is clogging your tub or shower. And it sinks through the water fast to start working on the clog. Like Drano, Green Gobbler is advertised as safe for pipes and biodegradable. It comes with a price tag of $9 for a 31 oz bottle. However, this enzymatic cleaner might need to sit overnight to fully eradicate your clog. So, patience is a must.

What We Like
Thick formula
Two-part system
Safe for environment
What We Don't
Takes time to clear the clog
May require a second treatment

Another top option for clearing out your drains is to try Pequa Drain Opener. Pequa is safe for all kinds of pipes and works pretty fast. Additionally, it's a non-acid drain cleaner that will dissolve skin, hair, and grease. With a 64 oz bottle, you can take it out of the bathroom and into the kitchen as well. It works best if you run hot water after waiting 30 minutes to an hour. It should be noted; however, while this works on grease and hair, it wasn't strong enough for deep clogs.

What We Like
Safe on pipes and septic
Non-polluting formula
What We Don't
Not designed for deep clogs
Professor Amos SuperFast Drain Cleaner

Professor Amos SuperFast Drain Cleaner

Professor Amos SuperFast Drain Cleaner is a pipe cleaning wonder that's even okay to use on metal, plastic, and PVC pipes. This caustic drain cleaner uses the power of lye to clean the build-up, hair, and gunk out of your pipes while being gentle. This can be great if you're worried about plastic or copper pipes. This cleaner has gotten a lot of reviews backing up his clog cleaning prowess. However, getting this cleaner is pricey at $25 for a 4-6 application bottle.

What We Like
Odorless
Use in all pipes
Easy to use
What We Don't
Not great for toilets or disposals
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Bio-Clean Drain Cleaner

Bio-Clean Drain Cleaner

If you are looking for a clog eradicator that goes to the septic level, then Bio-Clean is your go-to. Rather than acids or lye, Bio-Clean uses bacteria and enzymes to cut the hair, food, grease, soap scum, and grime out of pipes. And, this two-pound container has about 100 treatments making it cost-effective.

Just remember, this is a clog decomposer that can keep your pipes running smoothly. Therefore, the treatment takes days, and it's not designed for instant clog removal for a completely blocked drain. Instead, using this as recommended can keep your pipes working and prevent clogs in the future.

What We Like
Safe for garbage disposals and toilets
Easy application
Cost-effective
What We Don't
Takes time to work
Can't clear out completely blocked clogs
Liquid Fire Drain Line Opener

Liquid Fire Drain Line Opener

They weren't lying when they called this drain cleaner liquid fire! Liquid Fire Drain Line Opener is a fast-acting cleaner using sulfuric acid to pop through those clogs. One of the benefits of this cleaner is it works fast. Therefore, you only have to wait about 15 minutes or so before your pipes get moving again.

However, given that this is sulfuric acid, you don't want to pour it down aluminum or galvanized steel pipes. And, you might want to think about keeping it away from your sinks by using a funnel to get it into the clogged pipes.

What We Like
Fast-acting cleaner
Dissolves most clogs
What We Don't
Not for aluminum or galvanized steel pipes
Can corrode sink hardware
Rockwell Invade Bio Drain Gel

Rockwell Invade Bio Drain Gel

A self-described "green cleaner," Rockwell Labs Ltd, InVade Bio Drain uses probiotic gel to clean out your pipes. Therefore, this is a great alternative for those that are looking to stay away from harsh acids and chemicals. In addition to working in the kitchen, it's recommended for use in fountain beverage drip trays and urinals. It's also designed to get rid of those irritating drain flies. However, since this is a natural cleaner, it's not going to be as effective on big clogs.

What We Like
Green drain product
Gets rid of drain flies
Probiotic cleaner
What We Don't
Takes time to work
Not effective for big clogs
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CLR Clear Pipes And Drains

CLR Clear Pipes And Drains

Clogs don't just happen overnight. To help us all stay on top of our drains, CLR Clear Pipes and Drains is a monthly cleaner to help keep drains running smoothly. This pipe cleaner works to dissolve the build-up in your pipes before clogs happen. And it's an EPA Safer Choice product. However, since this is a monthly treatment, it's not designed to tackle an already clogged drain. Additionally, it has to be put down the drain once a month to help keep them clean.

What We Like
Non-toxic
No smell
Septic safe
What We Don't
Not designed for big clogs
Need to use monthly
Thrift T-100 Alkaline Based Granular Drain Cleaner

Thrift T-100 Alkaline Based Granular Drain Cleaner

Looking for a quick, granular cleaner to get the clog out of your kitchen sink? Try reaching for Thrift T-100 Alkaline Based Granular Cleaner in the 1 lbs. bottle. Not only does it say it works in about a minute, but you can also use this odorless formula in all different commercial and residential situations. However, since this is a granular cleaner, you need hot water to activate it. The power can also irritate the skin, so take the proper precautions before using it.

What We Like
Acid-free drain cleaner
Multipurpose
Easy to use
What We Don't
Can irritate eyes, nose, and skin
Have to remove water from clogged drain

Tips for Using Drain Cleaners

While these are some of the best drain cleaners on the market, here are a few tips for unclogging your drains.

  • Follow the instructions. Even the greatest cleaner isn't going to work properly if you don't follow all the instructions.
  • Pay attention to warning labels and recommendations for ventilation and safety equipment.
  • If hot water is recommended, try boiling it. This can be a deal-breaker for getting some clogs moving.
  • Drain cleaners don't mix. Therefore, if you are trying more than one method, ensure the previous method has been completely removed first. This includes homemade clog removers.
  • If commercial cleaners worry you, try a natural method like vinegar and baking soda first.

Best Drain Cleaners

If you are looking for a product to unclog your drain, then the ones mentioned have been tested and approved. It's important not to panic when it comes to a stopped-up drain and to consider your plumbing needs to save a visit from a plumber down the road.

9 Best Drain Cleaners to Unclog Your Pipes in No Time