A blocked drain is a big inconvenience, it can smell and can be a stressful situation. Dealing with blockages doesn’t necessarily mean you need to call a plumber. There’s a huge range of effective, powerful drain cleaners available that help you sort the issue with minimal effort.
As there’s lots of choice and it can be difficult to know what the differences are between available products, we’ve reviewed the best drain cleaners in Australia. The buying guide below will also help you figure out what is the best drain cleaner for your situation.
1. Drain Clean Hair Unclogger Drain Cleaner (Top Pick)
If your drain is clogged with hair and organic waste, this powerful drain cleaner will work to dissolve the clog without the need for a plumber.
This is a fast-acting drain unblocker that is best suited for use in bathrooms.
After slowly pouring 500ml – 1litre of the liquid into the drain you leave it for 30-60 minutes and then flush the drain with hot water. This can be used as part of routine bathroom maintenance (every 2 weeks) or just when you notice showers and sinks are running slow or are clogged.
What We Like:
- Fast-acting
- Dissolves hair clumps and organic waste
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Should not get on steel, silver, aluminium, unpainted metal or chipped enamel.
2. High Pressure Compressed Air Drain Cleaner
This compressed-air drain cleaner is a great solution if you want to clear your drain without using harsh chemicals. It uses air to blast away the clog.
This cleaner can be used with sinks, tubs and toilets. It is reusable and comes with 4 different sized rubber adaptors to suit different situations.
This manual drain plunger is a safer way of clearing obstructions. It is faster than other plungers as it uses compressed air and has a simple trigger design to operate as well as a pressure release safety valve.
What We Like:
- Safe to use
- Comes with 4 rubber adaptors
- No need for chemicals
What We Don’t Like:
- Can take time to have the desired effect
3. Green Gobbler Hair Grabber Tool Drain Unblocker
The Green Gobbler drain snake is a simple, low-cost solution to drain cleaning. The design is compatible with most household drains and is quick and safe to use.
The unblocker is made from strong plastic and is 22″ long to ensure it can reach the problem area. The drains can be cleared quickly, reliably and in an environmentally safe way.
This pack comes with 5 unblockers and they can be cleaned and reused after use or disposed of.
What We Like:
- Low cost
- Environmentally friendly (no chemicals)
- Can be reused
What We Don’t Like:
- Fits with the majority of household drains but not all
4. Mr Muscle Drano Ultra Gel Drain Cleaner
Mr Muscle Drano Ultra Gel is a powerful cleaner that unblocks sinks, plugholes and pipes. It is safe for use on all kinds of pipes.
This convenient cleaner doesn’t just unblock drains but also eliminates odours and leaves pipes clean and fresh meaning less cleaning is required.
The Drano Ultra Gel can simply be poured into the drain and needs at least 15 minutes (30 minutes is recommended) to work. After this time, the drain should be flushed with hot water for a few minutes and that’s all that is needed to get the drain clear.
What We Like:
- Eliminates odours
- Works in just 15 minutes
- Safe for all kinds of pipes
What We Don’t Like:
- It is recommended you wear gloves and eye protection when using this product
5. FlexiSnake Drain Weasel Sink Snake – Drain Clog Remover Kit
The FlexiSnake Drain Weasel is a simple and effective way to remove drain clogs without the need for strong chemicals.
The snake pipe has microhooks that grab onto filth and hair to remove clogs without damaging the drain parts or pipes. This is a very easy to use system, you insert the wand into the handle and put the wand into the pipe, the handle allows you to rotate the pipe as needed while keeping your hands clean and dry.
The extra-long 18-inch design allows you to reach those deeper clogs and because it is thin and flexible the snake pipe will easily wind around curves.
What We Like:
- Simple to use
- No chemicals
- Instant results
What We Don’t Like:
- Recommended you use each wand only once
6. Wild Tornado Powerful Drain Cleaner
If you’re looking for a drain cleaner that will dissolve hair without harming your pipes or septic system try this powerful drain cleaner from Wild Tornado.
These drain cleaners are made from non-corrosive and non-caustic materials so won’t cause any damage to your drains.
While being gentle on pipes, this cleaner will dissolve hair, soap scum, grease, paper, oils and organic matter with ease making it great for bathroom drains.
What We Like:
- Non-corrosive
- Non-caustic
- Dissolves clogs
What We Don’t Like:
- Small bottle size
7. Natural Drain Cleaner: Boiling Water, Baking Soda & Vinegar
If you are looking for a natural way to clear a clog in your drain, try white vinegar combined with baking soda and boiling water. Not only is it a way of cleaning without harsh chemicals but it is also very affordable.
This is an environmentally friendly way to clear a drain and the vinegar can be used for other cleaning tasks too.
This container contains 2L of vinegar so should last well and help with multiple rounds of cleaning.
What We Like:
- Environmentally friendly
- No chemicals
- Low cost
What We Don’t Like:
- Care should be taken around metal as vinegar can damage metal
Drain Cleaner Buyer’s Guide
It doesn’t take much for a drain to become blocked or clogged, but when it happens it can be problematic and can cause odours within your home. It’s the kind of job that needs to be sorted quickly and fortunately with a quality drain cleaner, you can fix the problem yourself in next to no time.
Cleaning drains is not a glamorous job but with a good drain cleaner, it becomes a whole lot easier (and less messy). When choosing the best drain cleaners for your home, the following features can make a difference:
Type of Blockage
If you are buying the drain cleaner to deal with a specific issue, keep this in mind as it can help you determine how strong the drain cleaners need to be to have an effect on the blockage. Kitchen blockages are often caused by a buildup of grease while a clog in a shower drain may be due to hair or soap scum.
Cleaner Type
- Liquid – liquid drain cleaners (or “drain opener”) are easy to use as you simply pour them down the drain. They tend to have a lot of chemicals in order to be effective as they need to break down the problems such as hair and soap scum found in clogged drains. Sodium hydroxide (or Lye) is a common active ingredient but care should be taken with use. These drain cleaners are versatile and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight to work. You can also get thicker gel cleaners as well as powder cleaners.
- Plunger – a plunger is a chemical-free way of drain cleaning and dislodging clogs. You can also get compressed air plungers which are ideal for tougher blockages as the high pressure of the air can dislodge the blockage with ease.
- Handheld pipe cleaner – a pipe cleaner is a thin, flexible pipe that can be used to grab the clogs inside the drainage pipes allowing you to remove the issue.
Ease of Application
The liquid drain cleaners are the easiest because you can just pour it into the drain and that’s all you need to do until it is time to rinse the pipe by running the water. You will also want to make sure the chemical composition of the cleaner will not damage the pipes or septic systems. Some options are corrosive and can be dangerous to the septic systems so keep this mind when choosing products.
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Time Needed To Work
When choosing between cleaning products make sure you take a look at how long the formula needs to clean the blockages. Many can work quickly but some need hours or longer to work, particularly if the clogged drains are severely blocked.
Maintenance
Consider how often you plan to be using the drain cleaner, is it part of your routine maintenance or just for when there is a blockage? Also think about whether you plan to use the cleaner in the kitchen sink, bathrooms sinks and showers or toilets. The answers to these can have an impact on the drain cleaner you choose. If the cleaner is just going to be used as and when it is needed, you will more likely need a powerful option which can be more expensive. Regular maintenance is important and can prevent clogs from happening.
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