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Solvent and Drain Cleaner Finder

We’ll show you how to find the best drain cleaner to unclog the drains in your home.

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Tim Falk
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Best Solvent & Drain Cleaners

Best Rated Solvent & Drain Cleaner Brand: Momar

Momar took out the award for the best solvent and drain cleaning brand, with top scores for effectiveness and smell.

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Key facts about comparing solvents and drain cleaners

  • Whether your drain is clogged with grease, hair, food or something else, there are many chemical drain cleaners available to help fix the problem.
  • When choosing a drain cleaner, you need to consider the type of blockage you have to tackle, how easy a cleaner is to use, and in what sort of drains it can be used.

Types of drain cleaners

Many drain cleaners are liquid or gel formulations that can simply be poured down the drain and start working on blockages within minutes. But there are also other options available, such as crystals that are applied with water, and foam that expands when sprayed into your drain.

There are also products designed to tackle specific types of blockages, such as hair or oil and grease. Some are all-purpose products, designed for use in all drains around the home, while others are specifically targeted at drains in kitchen and bathroom areas.

There are also differences in the way drain cleaners work. Some products are caustic, using chemicals like sodium hydroxide to clear clogs, while others use enzyme-producing bacteria to open drains. Chemical-based cleaners are designed to work quickly, often in less than half an hour, while enzymatic cleaners are slower acting but are typically designed to be safer for the environment.

How to compare solvents and drain cleaners

You'll need to compare drain cleaners and solvents to find the right product for your needs. Make sure to take the following factors into account when comparing your options.

Where it can be used

Check the fine print to find out whether the drain cleaner is safe for use on all pipes or whether it is too caustic to be used on specific types of pipes. Some products must also be kept away from certain surfaces, or are designed for use in certain areas of the home, for example the bathroom.

Finally, if you've got a septic system, check the label to make sure a product is safe for septic system use.

How long it takes to work

Read the instructions for use to find out how long the cleaner takes to unblock a clogged drain. Many products take 15 to 30 minutes, while other products work best if left overnight.

It's also worth noting that in order to be most effective, some products are designed for use as often as once a week.

Price

The price of many drain cleaning liquids and gels ranges from roughly $1 to $2.50 per 100mL, while many drain cleaning crystals fall in the $1-$2 per 100g range. As always, you can save money if you buy in bulk.

Remember to consider the price per 100mL/100g to ensure that you get a fair comparison, plus read the fine print to find out how many uses are in each bottle.

Blockage type

Do you need a cleaner designed to tackle a specific type of blockage, such as grease, or one that can tackle multiple blockage types?

Environmental impact

If you're concerned about the environment, you may want to look for a product made with natural ingredients. It's also possible to find cleaners that use biodegradable ingredients and come in recyclable packaging.

Ease of use

Read the label to find out what you need to do to use the product. Is it simple and straightforward? Also check whether you need to wear protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection, when using the product.

Cleaning drains without using chemicals

You don't necessarily need to reach for chemicals to clear blockages in drains around your home. One popular method is to use a mixture of white vinegar, baking soda and hot water to clear out blocked pipes.

There are also plenty of manual drain cleaning methods available. Plungers, drain augers and drain sticks or snakes can all be put into action before you need to resort to using chemical cleaners.

Combined with regular maintenance and taking simple steps to prevent blockages from forming, this can help keep water flowing freely down your drains.

3 things to consider

There are a few other factors you should consider when buying and using drain cleaner:

  • Regular maintenance. Making drain cleaning part of your regular household cleaning routine can help reduce the incidence of hard-to-dislodge clogs. Tackling clogs before they have a chance to turn into major blockages can help save a lot of time, hassle and even money in the long run.
  • Safety instructions. The label of your drain cleaner will contain all the information you need to use the product safely. Read and follow these instructions closely. Corrosive products have the potential to cause severe burns, so check whether you need to wear gloves and eye protection when using a cleaner. Finally, never mix a drain cleaner with other cleaning products.
  • Preventing blockages. There's also plenty you can do to stop drain clogs from forming in the first place. Things like using a strainer to stop food debris or hair going down the drain, never pouring grease down the drain and never flushing items other than toilet paper down the toilet can all help prevent future problems.

Best rated solvent & drain cleaner brand award breakdown

Total Score Overall rating Value for Money Ease of use Effectiveness Smell
Momar (Moflo) 7.97 4.50 4.10 4.30 4.40 4.00
White Knight 7.79 4.24 4.10 4.42 4.32 3.74
Orange Power 7.64 4.12 4.00 4.39 4.18 3.98
Diggers 7.56 4.19 3.79 4.16 4.21 3.77
Other 7.49 4.12 3.74 4.44 4.15 3.82
Drain Clean 7.48 4.08 3.84 4.28 4.00 3.80
Mr. Muscle 7.45 4.04 3.96 4.34 4.08 3.68
Easy-Off 7.41 4.08 3.88 4.18 4.04 3.46
Coles 7.39 3.96 4.14 4.10 3.96 3.76
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info. Kantar logo

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