Clogged drain opening home remedy

  • Context: Plumbing 
  • Thread starter Thread starter difalcojr
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around home remedies for unclogging drains, specifically a method involving boiling water, Drano, and bleach. Participants share personal experiences, raise questions about the safety and effectiveness of the method, and discuss alternative approaches and tools for dealing with clogs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines a four-step method for unclogging drains using boiling water, Drano, bleach, and additional boiling water.
  • Another participant questions the role of bleach in the process and whether it should be used after attempting to snake the drain.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the effectiveness of bleach and its interaction with Drano, with one noting that Drano contains sodium hypochlorite.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety of mixing Drano and bleach, with suggestions for additional flushing steps to mitigate potential risks.
  • Alternative tools and methods, such as using a plunger or a drain centipede, are mentioned as options for unclogging drains.
  • Participants share personal experiences with drain cleaning methods, including the effectiveness of mesh strainers to prevent clogs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the safety and effectiveness of mixing Drano and bleach, with no consensus reached on the best approach to unclogging drains. Some agree on the potential risks, while others assert that the combination is safe due to the ingredients in Drano.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the potential for damage to pipes from chemical cleaners, though experiences vary regarding the long-term effects of using Drano and bleach. There is also uncertainty about the specific interactions between the chemicals involved.

difalcojr
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TL;DR
home remedy for hair and other clogs in drainage piping
4 step sequence:

1. 2 quarts boiling water down the sink or tub drain. Boiling: 220 deg. F., not just hot. Softens up the clog. Then add
2. 2 cups (16 ounces) Drano (gel or liquid, commercial drain opener). Wait one full hour to let it work. Then add
3. 2 cups (16 ounces) bleach down the drain. 'Double whammy'! Wait another hour for that brew to work. Then, finally, pour another
4. 2 quarts boiling water down the drain. Flush well after that.

This has worked twice now for me for difficult hair ball clogs located about 2 feet down the drainage pipes. Each of these methods was recommended to me as an individual solution, but only by combining them all into one process, have they now proven most effective. First 2 times, anyway, on a sink and a bathtub backup. So, you may want to try this method first in lieu of a $700-plus Roto-Rooter visit and inconvenience from the plumber, when using a plunger just doesn't unplug a clogged pipe.
 
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What does the bleach part do? Just curious.

Also, did you do this after trying to snake the drain and that did not work for some reason?
 
Not sure what the bleach does, exactly, but someone recommended it to me one time, and I tried it. It worked OK, about like Drano works. OK, but not great. I really can't explain any 'double whammy' effect, though. It just sounded good.

Well, I draw the line on augering, using the snake. I work a lot still in an old apartment building with old pipes, and I will change out drain piping, P-traps, everything under a sink, but I draw the line at augering the line when it goes into the wall and down a drain pipe. The clog usually is located there. I just never got very good at snaking, although I have tried. I have a good plunger with a smaller diameter inner suction cup that seals pretty well on small drains, but I don't snake anymore. Pros use a very expensive, motorized unit.

So, I use the plunger first, then this new liquid method, then, lastly, the snake (or, rather, call the plumber with the snake).
 
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difalcojr said:
'Double whammy'!
One-and-a-half, at most. As far as I've just looked up Drano also contains sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

What I would suggest you is some fine mesh strainer plugs.
 
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Is it safe to "mix" Drano with bleach in the pipe even after an hour? Shouldn't there maybe be another boiling water step in there before?
 
Thanks. Yes, I always tend to exaggerate. Also, thanks for the mesh strainer solution. The best solution! I have recently bought the most expensive ones at Ace Hardware in U.S. The all metal ones work pretty well for the bath/shower drain,
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but these I find work best:
1765981356749.webp

They have an additional, removable rubber filter in the middle, which seems to catch even more. The middle area drops down into the drain hole too (can't see this in photo).

On the question of an additional flush between Drano and bleach, yes, perhaps needed, not sure, but I have left Drano in pipes for very long periods of time, forgetting what I had been doing, and, in my experience, anyway, I don't think the Drano or bleach has damaged the pipes' interiors very much, so far, over many years of Drano being used. They say it does damage them, though, I know that.
 
Greg Bernhardt said:
Is it safe to "mix" Drano with bleach in the pipe even after an hour? Shouldn't there maybe be another boiling water step in there before?
Most likely, yes**. I assume "chlorine" bleach, which is alkaline in order to keep the bleach stable. DO NOT MIX CHLORINE BLEACH WITH ammonia, urea nor with acids. Possibly other materials not to mix it with also.

** WARNING: I may be highly mistaken about parts of what I said about to mix or not to mix. Drano is more than just sodium hydroxide in water. See the wikipedia article and consult with your own local experts. See in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drano .
 
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I have used "drain centipede" and I would if I could maybe also try one of those plastic flexible sticks with the hooks on them; for bathroom sink drains. Also I often use a plunger.
 
Greg Bernhardt said:
Is it safe to "mix" Drano with bleach in the pipe even after an hour? Shouldn't there maybe be another boiling water step in there before?
Drano already has bleach in it, so it should be safe. The main two ingredients in Drano are:

Sodium Hydroxide - The strong base that eats up the clog.
Sodium Hypochlorite - bleach, which apparently bleaches organic matter and provides more 'cleaning power'.
 
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  • #10
Drakkith said:
Drano already has bleach in it, so it should be safe. The main two ingredients in Drano are:

Sodium Hydroxide - The strong base that eats up the clog.
Sodium Hypochlorite - bleach, which apparently bleaches organic matter and provides more 'cleaning power'.
Good work, @Drakkith.
I still say, people, check the wikipedia article about Drano, and find advice if needed from your experts.