Reviews for the Best Drain Cleaner UK
Unblocking drainpipes is one of the few household jobs that require more than just a good bit of elbow grease.
Often, blockages will require strong chemical formulas in order to break them down.
Some people sing the praises of using baking soda and vinegar to unblock drains.
But at Clean and Tidy Living we think that the best way to clean and unblock a drain is with specially created products that will clear the blockage properly.
In this post, we’re reviewing these products to help find the best drain unblocker in the UK.
All the products we’ve recommended in this post are designed to clean drains quickly and efficiently.
But since no two households are the same, we don’t like to only suggest a one-size-fits-all product.
We’ve chosen five of the best drain cleaners and will tell you about all the pros and cons, so you can decide which one will work the best for you.
And in case you’re not sure what you need, we’ve included a buyer’s guide at the end of the post to help you make that decision.
Here’s a round-up of what you can expect to find in this post:
- How Do Drain Cleaners Work?
- Best Drain Unblocker UK
- How to Use a Drain Unblocker
- How to Dissolve Hair in Shower Drain
And if you’re just looking for the top 5 without the reviews, here are the products we’re talking about:
1. HG Liquid Drain Unblocker – Overall Best Drain Cleaner in the UK
2. Scotch Corporation Drain Opener – Best Heavy-Duty Drain Unblocker
3. HG Hair Unblocker – Best Drain Unblocker For Hair
4. Jeyes Fluid Outdoor Cleaner – Best Outside Drain Cleaner UK
5. Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker – Best Drain Cleaner For Shower and Kitchens
The Best Drain Unblocker
1. HG Liquid Drain Unblocker – Overall Best Drain Unblocker in the UK
HG Liquid drain unblocker is designed to remove blockages in drain pipes in handbasins, toilets and shower traps effectively.
We think it’s the best liquid drain cleaner because it handles the problems most often found in our households.
| Removes blockages in sinks, toilets and showers in just 30 minutes. |
To use this drain cleaner, pour 300ml of HG liquid drain unblocker down the blocked drain.
Leave the drain liquid to work for approximately 30 minutes and rinse with plenty of cold water.
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the HG Liquid Drain Unblocker, we think it’s the best product for cleaning drains because it’s designed for use all round the home, is fast acting and fuss-free.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for extreme drain unblockages or exclusive use in the kitchen.
HG have a wide range of drain unblocking products for different types of blockages, including kitchens and hair dissolving.
View HG’s full range of drain unblocking products here: HG Drain Unblocker’s on Amazon
For more information, including price and product reviews, click the button below.
2. Scotch Corporation Drain Opener – Best Heavy Duty Drain Unblocker
This drain opener by Scotch Corporation is the self-proclaimed “strongest non-acid formulation on the market.”
It uses a very strong formulation to dissolve hair and remove kitchen blockages by creating heat inside the pipe.
It’s seriously strong stuff, so only use this with goggles and gloves, and take extreme caution when pouring or opening the product.
We think it could be the best drain cleaner for grease available for common use, because it uses heat to melt the grease rather than chemicals.
| Unique formulation dissolves hair clogs from bathroom drains and creates heat to melt grease from kitchen sinks. |
For best results, we recommend using this product only on extreme blockages and leaving the liquid overnight before carefully rinsing with cold water.
Covering the drain entrance with something heavy will also help the drain opener be more effective by trapping the fumes and heat inside the pipe.
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Hair and Grease Drain Opener , we think it’s the best option for heavy-duty drain unblocking and more serious clogs.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for general household use or preventing clogs because the formula is more expensive than alternatives and is dangerous stuff.
For more information, including price and product reviews, click the button below.
3. HG Hair Unblocker – Best Drain Unblocker For Hair
If you know for sure that the blockage consists mainly of hair, then a hair dissolving product is the best choice.
We think this product by HG is the best drain cleaner for hair.
It works to dissolve hair and the substances that commonly get caught up in hair blockages.
As shown in the video, the two liquids react and clear pipes leaving them as good as new.
| Quickly clears hair inside pipes to allow water to flow again. |
To use the hair unblocker, carefully pour the entire contents of Bottle 1 down the drain and then carefully the entire content of Bottle 2.
Leave the hair unblocker to work for 1 hour and then rinse with plenty of water.
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the HG Hair Unblocker , we think it’s the best option for removing blockages in the bathroom.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for regularly blocked drains because as a single-use product it can get quite expensive to keep buying.
For more information, including price and product reviews, click the button below.
4. Jeyes Fluid Outdoor Cleaner – Best Outside Drain Cleaner UK
We think this Jeyes Outdoor Cleaning fluid is the best drain unblocker for outside drains because it unblocks drains but also does other outdoor jobs well too.
This outdoor cleaner can be used for unblocking drains, and deodorises and neutralises at the same time.
The product works well at removing grease and dirt from outdoor drains.
Outside drain unblocker chemical is the same for use inside the house, as both are comprised of enzymes to break down proteins and grease.
| Removes grease and dirt from outdoor drains whilst simultaneously disinfecting and removing odours. |
Use regularly to keep outdoor drains clear and smelling fresh.
Click here for more tips on How to Unblock Outdoor Drains from WikiHow.
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Jeyes Fluid Outdoor Cleaner, we think it’s the best option for cleaning outdoor drains as it removes grease and dirt and can be used for other outdoor cleaning tasks.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for extreme blockages in large pipes as the product may not be enough.
For more information, including price and product reviews, click the button below.
5. Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker – Best Drain Cleaner For Shower and Kitchens
Mr Muscle Drain liquid is a blocked drain cleaner which dissolves clogs caused by debris in sinks, plugholes and pipes.
Specially formulated for household use, the strong formula clears hair and grease commonly found in shower and sink blockages.
| Effectively and quickly clears common household drain blockages in kitchens and showers. |
To clear your drain with Mr Muscle Power Gel, start by slowly pouring the entire contents of the bottle down the plughole.
Leave to sit for 5 minutes or longer depending on the blockage.
Rinse with hot water and repeat until water drains away as usual.
Pros
Cons
After researching and reviewing the Mr Muscle Drain Cleaner, we think it’s the best option for showers and kitchens because of its ability to quickly clear grease, hair and other household substances.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for more severe clogs or regular use.
As you have to use the whole bottle at a time, we prefer other options for pipes that are frequently blocked.
For more information, including price and product reviews, click the button below.
How Do Drain Cleaners Work?
Chemical drain cleaners work by dissolving the clog and removing build up inside of pipes with chemical reactions.
The powerful formula dissolves or burns away any build-up such as hair, grease, soaps or other natural deposits such as leaves.
This may be an acid or caustic, depending on the desired use.
Before buying a drain cleaner it’s important to know what the blockage is made of so you can use the right product for the job.
Depending on the chemicals used, if drain cleaners are especially strong they can cause damage to the pipes.
These extra-strong products are usually not sold in shops and are only available for plumbers or professional use.
Read more about how drain cleaners work on How Stuff Works.
How to Use a Drain Unblocker
- Use safety precautions like gloves and goggles
- Clear standing water
- Pour specified amount into the drain or pipe
- Leave for 30 minutes or the specified time for the blockage to clear
- Flush with plenty of hot water
- Repeat process if water still isn’t draining
Please note these instructions are specifically for liquid, chemical drain cleaners.
The most important factor when using a drain cleaner is ensuring safety.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions closely, and always use gloves when handling the product.
Eye protection may also be advised depending on how strong the chemical and fumes are.
How to Dissolve Hair in Shower Drain
One of the most common household blockage issues is in the shower when hair and soap scum builds up and prevents water from passing through.
The hair gets trapped in the filter and pipes, which forms a net that traps even more hair, grease and product.
What a lovely image!
Modern shower drains allow you to take apart each component and easily clean them with bleach and water or warm soapy water.
We recommend doing this regularly so that the job is faster, more pleasant and prevents more serious blockages from happening.
If you have an older shower or one you can’t easily access, then using a shower drain unblocking product such as HG Hair Unblocker will dissolve build ups of hair, toothpaste.
Or if you don’t like to use chemicals for cleaning, try using products such as boiling water, baking soda and vinegar, and a Flexible Sink Cleaning Brush.
What Is The Best Drain Unblocker UK – Final Thoughts
Drain unblocking isn’t the most pleasant job, and most of us would avoid it altogether if we could.
Because it’s a commonly avoided chore, things tend to get pretty bad before any action is taken.
Like most household tasks, such as oven cleaning, when they’re put off for a while the job is much worse than if it was frequently handled in small doses.
We talk about cleaning little and often in some of our popular Clean and Tidy Living advice articles, such as How To Keep Your House Clean And Tidy: 13 Helpful Tips and Top 21 Time Saver Tips And Best Time Saving Habits.
When it comes to drain maintenance, a weekly pour of a small amount of drain unblocker is way easier than stabbing at it every six months with a pipe cleaner and getting sprayed in the face with unidentifiable gunk. Bleurgh.
We hope that this post has been helpful and that you’ve found the perfect drain cleaner for the job.
And if you were looking more for drain unblocking advice than for products, then we hope our tips have been useful and your water is now draining faster than ever.
In case you missed anything, here are the Top 5 Drain Cleaners we mentioned:
1. HG Liquid Drain Unblocker – Overall Best Drain Cleaner in the UK
2. Scotch Corporation Drain Opener – Best Heavy-Duty Drain Unblocker
3. HG Hair Unblocker – Best Drain Unblocker For Hair
4. Jeyes Fluid Outdoor Cleaner – Best Outside Drain Cleaner UK
5. Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker – Best Drain Cleaner For Shower and Kitchens
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