Your home is woven with pipes carrying fresh water into your taps and appliances such as dishwashers and dirty water out of your drains.
When they’re working fine, you really don’t give drains any thought, but only remember them when clogged.
Eliminating partially clogged drains or fully clogged drains can be a daunting task for any homeowner.
The good news is that there are several household plumbing products for clogs available to clear any obstructions in your drain.
Two of the most popular drain cleaning product options available in home improvement stores and online are Liquid Plumr and Drano.
So, one of the big questions is which one of these two drain cleaning chemical formulas is effective at unclogging a bathroom drain or kitchen sink?
If you read many customer reviews, you will find that there are mixed opinions on these popular drain cleaning brands.
But we’ve done the homework and highlighted the key differences between the two, and after comparing their active ingredients, the type of chemical reaction they have on plastic pipes, metal pipes, rubber pipes, drain pipes.
Without further ado, here’s our take on how Liquid Plumr stacks up against Drano, and which chemical product is right for you.
What is Liquid Plumr?
Produced by Clorox,- an American global manufacturer of a massive range of consumer and professional products, Liquid Plumr is a chemical drain cleaner that is billed safe for use in septic systems, PVC pipes, plastic pipes, and copper pipes but isn’t recommended for rubber piping.
Liquid Plumr products are fitted with a child-resistant closure that is designed to prevent leaking and harm.
Liquid Plumr is an umbrella brand for several Liquid Plumr products that include liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer, Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer Plus, and Liquid Plumr Pro-Strength Full Clog Destroyer.
Ingredients in Liquid Plumr
Liquid Plumr contains potent ingredients such as sodium hydroxide, also known as lye (0.5–2%), sodium hypochlorite, and a surfactant.
Liquid Plumr is available in a single bottle pack and multi-bottle packs, where some feature higher concentrations of chemicals and should be mixed with water, hot water specifically before use.
How Does Liquid Plumr Work?
Liquid Plumr is a safe chemical formula that’s easily available online, and in certain box stores and grocery stores.
Liquid Plumr reviews indicate that the product can tackle clogged drains, prevent drain odors, and is easy to use by pouring the liquid into your clogged sink, toilet clogs, and several other types of clogs including stubborn clogs and severe clogs.
Once poured, let the product rest and work its magic for roughly 15 minutes.
During this time, this chemical formula produces heat and dissolves the organic materials and waste caught up in the toughest clogs.
How to Use Liquid Plumr?
- First things first, stop the water flow to the drain of the clogged sink, shower drains, and other types of clogged drains. Remove any standing water that may be present.
- Liquid Plumr is a thick gel formula, so it may take time to pour Liquid Plumr into the sink or clogged area to release grease clogs and clogs in shower drains, but be sure to remove the shower drain cover.
- After you pour the entire bottle of Liquid Plumr into the clogged drain, wait 15 minutes minimal time for the product to dissolve.
- In the meantime, heat approximately four cups of water to flush the drain with water after using the product.
- Pour the hot water directly into the drain, and check to see if the water flow is smooth downwards.
Advantages of Liquid Plumr
- Triple action formula – unblocks clogs in fully blocked drains, protects pipes from dangerous bacteria, and fights drain odors in toilet bowls and other areas
- Fast cleaning time to release tough clogs and keep your drains clean and sanitized
- Does not harm helpful bacteria in septic tanks
- Pipe guard capability
- Several Liquid Plumr products available for different clog types
Disadvantages of Liquid Plumr
- Drano can damage products with rubber pipes
- Can’t be mixed with bleach with ammonia or similar products
- Can create toxic fumes and a powerful chemical reaction
- Potent ingredients can cause skin burn
What is Drano?
Drano clog removers including Drano Max Gel and Drano foaming clog fighter are yet another American popular product in the drain cleaning space.
Manufactured by S. C. Johnson & Son., Drano products are chemically formulated to resolve drain and certain other plumbing issues, and include Liquid Drano, Drano Foamer and Drano Advanced Septic Treatment.
Just like Liquid Plumr, chemical cleaners from the Drano product lineup are available at an affordable price.
But on the downside can cause corrosion in pipes, which is why most plumbers steer clear of using them.
Ingredients in Drano
Most Drano products including Drano Max Build-Up Remover pretty much share the same active ingredients that includes sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and sodium silicate.
Drano is an American drain cleaner that is available in multi-bottle packs and its current prices suggest that these products are highly affordable for homeowners looking for a robust drain clog remover.
The sodium hydroxide in Drano products is the same chemical that is found in many household degreasers and even your dishwasher detergent.
It serves as a pH adjuster that alters the pH level in Drano liquid drain cleaner to improve stability and make the product more effective at eliminating organic clogs and the toughest clogs.
Sodium silicate can also be found in laundry detergents and is a corrosion inhibitor that aims to protect pipes against corrosion.
Sodium hypochlorite, aka bleach, is another basic ingredient that is available in much mold and mildew stain removers, and helps break down toilet clogs, grease clogs, organic clogs, gunky clogs, and most other types of clogs.
Simply put, Drano contains harsh chemicals that work collectively to eat through and breakdown clogs but can damage your plastic pipes and metal pipes.
How Does Drano Work?
One of the key questions that users have about Drano products, is how exactly they work to release clogs from toilets and drains.
Since the Drano variety of drain cleaners contain slightly different formulations of chemicals, we’ll consider Drano Liquid to see how this liquid drain cleaner works.
Drano Liquid is billed as one of the most effective drain cleaners available in small and larger bottles and contains water, bleach, a corrosion inhibitor, sodium hydroxide that dissolves organic matter, and a defoaming agent to prevent foam from forming.
The chemical reaction produced by the ingredients in Drano generate heat at near-boiling temperatures owing to the lye reacting with water, which also speeds up the decomposition process.
Further, the lye (sodium hydroxide) also works towards softening the grease, and in the process creates soap bubbles that the hot water dissolves.
How to Use Drano?
What’s similar between Liquid Plumr and Drano? Both brands require you to wear gloves before use (mentioned on the actual product packaging), owing to the fact that, unlike homemade cleaners, these products are rich in chemicals, which can cause skin irritation and burns.
Drano products also come with a childproof cap, which can be opened by pushing it down and turning the cap counterclockwise.
Adding to this, it’s important that you don’t squeeze the bottle, and clean up any spills immediately.
- For slow-moving clogs, pour half a 32 ounce bottle of Drano slightly over the drain, and the entire bottle of Drano for the toughest clogs.
- Allow the product to rest for approximately 15 minutes.
- Flush with hot water to get rid of any leftover clog particles and Drano
Key Differences Between Liquid Plumr and Drano
Both Liquid Plumr and Drano have received several hundred positive reviews, but here are a few key differences between the two to help you decide which one is a better product for your health and household.
Overall, there isn’t a big difference between Liquid Plumr and Drano; both companies make products for garbage disposals, kitchen drains and toilet drains.
However, one of the major differences between the two products lies in their formulation.
- Drano contains liquid glass (sodium silicate), which the company claims is a corrosion inhibitor to protect pipes.
- Liquid Plumr features PipeGuard technology, which prevents damage to your pipes while the product dissolves.
- Ultimately, when it boils to Liquid Plumr vs. Drano, choosing the right product depends on the type of drain you have and what’s clogging it.
- If you’re trying to dissolve hair, soap scum, and overall gunk, Drano Clog Remover is a good option.
- Drano Max Build-Up Remover is an effective clog remover for hair clogs and other clog types in your toilet or septic system.
- Liquid Plumr hair clog eliminator is also a good choice for hair clogs and is rated as the best drain cleaner by Good Housekeeping.
- Furthermore, this clog remover for toilets also eliminates foul odor in household waste disposals and other areas, so you get twofold benefits.
Is it Safe to mix LiquidPlumr and Drano with Other Products?
Drain cleaners aren’t created equal, where some contain sodium hydroxide, and others are a bleach formula, and not all these chemicals play nicely together.
Additionally, the continuous reactions of these chemicals emit heat in drains and septic systems, so if you mix them together, there’s a good chance of scalding hot water popping out of your drain.
Therefore, you should never mix Liquid Plumr with Drano products including Drano Max gel or another product.
How to Treat Accidental Spills of Liquid Plumr Pro-Strength Full Clog Destroyer and other Drain Cleaner on Skin?
If you come in contact with Liquid Plumr and Drano products including Drano Max Gel Clog, flush the area with water for 10 minutes. If you swallow any of these products, drink a couple glasses of water but do not induce vomiting.
How Long do Liquid Plumr and Drano Take to Work?
One of the common questions people have is how long does Liquid Plumr and Drano take to work.
Liquid Plumr and Drano products, including Drano Kitchen Gel and Liquid-Plumr Clog Destroyer Plus Pipeguard are fast-acting products to eliminate routine clogs, and take around 15 minutes for slow-moving clogs and 30 minutes for tough clogs.
Final Thoughts
Liquid Plumr and Drano are two of the best drain cleaners available today, and both offer similar performance for drain and other clogs.
Since both companies offer a long list of products, it is a good idea to read the product label before making a purchase.