Best Drain Cleaner For Garbage Disposal
Clogging is one of the major issues with garbage disposal. A garbage disposal may quickly get clogged with items, clogging the impeller blades within the device, loosening the drain fittings and causing a leak under the sink, or the drain pipe connecting the garbage disposal to the remainder of the sink becoming blocked and backed up.
You’ll need a powerful drain cleaner for your garbage disposal to guarantee the blockage is thoroughly dissolved and removed from your kitchen. We evaluated products based on their efficacy, compatibility with multiple systems, and value while studying the best drain cleaner. Below are the best drain cleaners you should buy.
Types of Drain Cleaners
The three kinds of drain cleaners are enzymatic, caustic, and acidic, and each is suited for stubborn blockages in various drain places, pipe, and clog types.
Caustic Drain Cleaners
Caustic drain cleaners use alkaline chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, which turn the blockage into a soap-like material that dissolves in ordinary water. They work best at eliminating food, grease, and soap scum from bathroom sinks, trash disposals, showers, and tub drain—usually within 30 minutes—but most aren’t suited for toilets since they don’t handle paper items as well.
Caustic cleaners are regarded as safe for plastic or metal pipes made of stainless steel or copper less than 20 years old. They should not be used in plastic pipes older than 20 years (they may soften), older metal pipes, or pipes of any age composed of brass, aluminum chrome, or galvanized steel since they can tarnish or corrode.
Enzymatic Drain Cleaners
Enzymatic drain cleaners include microorganisms that produce enzymes, such as Bacillus, that feed on clogs. They are intended for monthly usage to avoid clogs and may remove blockages made of soft materials such as hair or paper, but not harder muck such as grease or soap scum. However, even a light blockage might take up to 24 hours to remove. On the other hand, an enzymatic drain cleaner is environmentally benign and excellent for cleaning septic systems.
Their typically moderate compositions are non-corrosive to plastic and metal drain pipes in sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets, both new and old. They’re also generally free of dangerous pollutants and skin/eye irritants, so no protective gear is needed.
Acidic Drain Cleaners
Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid is often used in acidic drain cleaners. These drain cleaners are strong enough to remove heavy-duty blockages such as hair, food, oil, soap scum, or paper-based blockages in 15 minutes or less. Acidic drain cleaners are typically safe for modern plastic or metal (e.g., copper) pipes in the sink, tub, shower, and toilet drains.
They should not be used on older plastic or metal pipes and pipes of any age composed of aluminum chrome, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. If inhaled, they may burn the skin and irritate the eyes and lungs; thus, wearing protective equipment such as a respirator, safety glasses, skin-covering clothes, and chemical-resistant gloves is essential.
Best Drain Cleaner For Garbage Disposal
1. Drano Max Gel Clog Remover
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Drano stands out among drain cleaners for the same reasons it is our top overall pick. This well-known drain cleaner is effective on various drains and disposals, whether in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry area, or garage. This highly concentrated mixture removes even the thickest filth accumulation from your drains in approximately seven minutes.
Pour the drain cleaner down your drain and leave it alone for at least 15 minutes (you can even leave it overnight). Then, use hot water to flush the drain. You may continue this method until there is no evidence of obstructions from hair, soap scum, or standing water in the drain. This solution clears blockages and protects pipes from corrosion, extending their lifetime.
More difficult buildups may need several applications and longer wait periods (30 minutes or longer). However, this product is hard to beat if you want a cost-effective solution for blocked drains around your house.
Pros
- It completely removes blockages in standing water.
- It is budget-friendly
- It works effectively
- It can be allowed to work overnight
Cons
- Very stubborn clogs may need a second application
2. Clorox Pro-Strength Liquid-Plumr Drain Cleaner
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This Clorox Liquid-Plumr product has a full-clog push power to remove any clogged muck from your drains instantly. It also includes a pipe guard chemical in its mix to prevent the whole plumbing system from future clogs.
Aside from that, this solution will prevent any additional accumulation of the blocking particles. There is a repellent barrier to guarantee that the system is fully protected. If you decide to purchase this item, you will have to choose from the several available sizes.
To use this product, you must pour the contents down your waste disposal and then wait 15 minutes for it to work. After that, conclude the procedure by washing the contents with hot water, and your disposal will be as good as new.
Pros
- It features a chemical pipe guard.
- It is a one-step cleaning solution.
- It removes blockages produced by food, hair, and grease.
- It can be used for sink, shower, or septic system clogs.
3. Green Gobbler Ultimate Main Drain Opener
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This is a product that may be classified as a jack-of-all-trades. It is effective against practically all blockages, including hair, soap scum, paper products, and even grease. It is, in fact, one of the top five items on the market, and its producers have followed a stringent code of conduct in its production and green energy rules. It is EPA-certified and non-hazardous to the environment.
Although the product weighs 5 pounds, the package is well-designed, making it extremely simple to transport. Using it forms a shield over your pipes and changes the pH level near the drain. This technique will swiftly dissolve, liquefy, and melt any fats, oils, grease, or paper blockages in your trash disposal.
It will break down all items ruining your sink and restoring its usability. It may also be used in bathtubs, toilets, and septic tanks. It is a safe substance to use, and it will not irritate your skin or eyes if it comes into touch with them. This drain cleaner emits no toxic fumes and has no odor after use.
Pros
- It dissolves organic material and paper
- It is EPA-certified
- It doesn’t affect your pipes
- It is eco-friendly
Cons
- It is quite expensive
4. Rockwell Invade Bio Drain Gel
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If your kitchen sink isn’t draining correctly, try Invade Bio Drain Gel, which battles blockages and helps eliminate drain flies.
This product comes in one-quart bottles and has a pleasant citrus scent that you won’t mind having in the kitchen. The drain opener efficiently chops through scum and other organic materials, adhering to the drain walls to eliminate stubborn jams. What’s more, this product can get rid of drain flies, which might be difficult to get rid of in the kitchen or bathroom. According to reviews, this solution works wonderfully, cleaning out pipes and removing drain flies while leaving a lovely citrus aroma behind.
Pros
- It is budget friendly
- It has a pleasant aroma
- It is effective on clogs
- It helps get rid of drain flies
Cons
- Drains sometimes need a second treatment that is applied overnight.
5. Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver
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This Green Gobbler enzymatic cleaner features a revolutionary combination of eco-friendly substances that gobbles away blockages of toilet paper wads, cotton swabs, hair, lint, grease, and soap scum. Use it in sinks, tubs, showers, and even toilets since the non-corrosive, biodegradable recipe is safe on all pipes, from plastic to copper.
Because the container is dual-chambered, there is no need to measure—pour one full chamber of the liquid into blocked sinks or tubs or two full chambers into toilets. Allow the product anywhere from 2 hours to a whole night of dwell time before flushing the drain with water to return the pipes to perfect condition.
Pros
- It is eco-friendly
- It is safe for septic systems
- It doesn’t have any odor
- It is effective for standing water
Cons
- It takes a longer time to work
6. Zep ZDC16 Drain Care Build-Up Remover Powder
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This concentrated solution works quickly to clear all clog types from your garbage disposal. It also guarantees that your slow drain issue is resolved and that a year’s worth of buildup in your plumbing system is removed, likely causing it to be sluggish and blocked.
It is biodegradable and completely harmless to the environment. You do not need to be concerned about the contents of the container after disposal since they do not become hazardous later on. Some drain cleaners need you to wear a lot of protective gear to protect your skin and eyes, but this product is safe to use and will not irritate your skin. It is still a chemical, so be sure to open all the windows before using it.
It has a strong enzyme mix that will break down all of the items that are clogging your trash disposal. This mixture is so effective that it makes no difference how long the buildup has been in your drains; it will remove it all and leave them free-flowing. It is a certified product that has passed all of the US government’s standards and regulations, which is good since it has been tried and tested thoroughly, so you are covered in terms of its functioning and dependability.
Pros
- It is a certified product
- It works effectively on clogs
- It is biodegradable
- It is an enzyme based product
Cons
- It is quite expensive
7. Thrift Marketing GIDDS-TY-0400879 Drain Cleaner
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Thrift Marketing’s caustic drain cleaner dissolves stubborn clogs practically immediately. Pour the appropriate quantity of drain cleaner down the drain while running hot water or pouring hot water from a saucepan or kettle into the drain. The hot water dissolves the drain cleaner, resulting in a strong solution that works in approximately 1 minute.
The odorless drain cleaner is available in powder form. It is meant to dissolve in hot running water and is safe for porcelain, chrome, plastic, and metal pipes. This product is perfect for clearing clogs from grease traps and septic systems, but it is not suitable for cleaning clogs from toilets.
Pros
- It provides virtually immediate results.
- It is designed for grease traps and septic systems,
- It has no odor.
- It is very long-lasting.
- This product offers a lot of value.
8. Bio-Clean Drain Drains-Septic Tanks – Grease Traps
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Bio-powder Clean’s drain cleaner safely cleans and maintains pipes, drains, and septic systems by using natural enzymes that decompose clog-causing proteins. The Bio-Clean solution has no harsh or hazardous ingredients, making it suitable for use on pipes and skin. This natural cleanser may remove hair blockages and liquefy several paper goods.
Pour the powder combination down the drain after dissolving it in warm water. Before flushing with water, wait at least 6 to 8 hours. This product does not work as rapidly as others, but it is a natural alternative.
Pros
- It is an eco-friendly formula
- It is suitable for all pipes
- It will not burn your skin or emit hazardous odors
- it is an excellent septic system remedy
Cons
- It takes a longer period to work
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Can I Prevent Future Clogs In My Sink?
One easy method is to keep food particles and other debris from falling down the drain, particularly if you don’t have a garbage disposal. You may do this by using a drain strainer. The drain strainer allows liquids to drain while obstructing bigger items. Then you remove the drain filter and dispose of the contents in the trash. You should also avoid dumping grease or oil down the drain.
2. Can Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes?
Drain cleaners may cause pipe damage, depending on the cleaner used. Although caustic and acidic drain cleaners are very successful at removing blockages, they may cause damage to older plastic and metal pipes. Both cleaners seem safe for plastic and copper pipes less than 20 years old. Use an enzymatic cleaning if you have older plumbing to prevent harming your pipes.
3. Can Drain Cleaners Reduce Odor?
Drain cleaners aid in clearing blockages and removing foul-smelling waste from the insides of pipes, which reduces smells. However, since drain cleaners may harm your pipes, use a caustic or acidic drain cleaner only when there is a blockage.
4. How Do I Stop Hair From Clogging The Drain?
A drain cover is the easiest way to prevent hair blockage from occurring. Cleaning and maintenance regularly help keep sticky grime and muck from coating pipe walls.
5. Will Drain Cleaners Harm My Pipes
Some drain cleaners can harm your pipes. Newer formulae in many current drain cleaners are meant to leave pipes undamaged. Before attempting anything new, call a plumber if you have older metal pipes or already worn-out pipes.
