The 15 Best Drain Cleaners of 2024

Best Overall

Drano Max Gel Clog Remover

$10 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $16 at Riteaid.com

Experts agree: Drano Max Gel is the best overall drain cleaner because it works quickly to get rid of tough clogs. This reliable and effective cleaner is a thick gel that goes deep in sinks, pipes, and drains to reach the source of the clog and completely dissolve it. Whether the clog is from hair, soap scum, grease, or any other type of residue, this drain cleaner works within 15 to 30 minutes after flushing it with very hot water. While it may take two tries to be fully successful, this cleaner is powerful enough that it will quickly become the first thing you reach for when you need to unclog a drain.

This product is safe to use in showers, sinks, tubs, as well as septic systems, garbage disposals, PVC pipes, and metal pipes—but it's important to note that it's not safe to use in toilets. Like most drain cleaners, Drano Max Gel contains chemical ingredients that can be harmful if swallowed or in contact with the skin or eyes. We also appreciate that Drano Max Gel is reasonably priced, yet it still comes with a money-back guarantee. If it doesn't clear your drain, you can file a claim online for reimbursement.

Type: Gel | Size: 80 ounces

Best Natural

Earthworm Drain Cleaner

$27 at Amazon View on Buyearthworm.com

Unlike other cleaning products, finding drain cleaners made with natural or organic ingredients is quite the challenge. That said, Earthworm’s Drain Cleaner and Buildup Remover was an easy choice as our pick for the best natural drain cleaner. Instead of harsh chemicals, this liquid cleaner is formulated with natural enzymes that are still tough enough to break down buildup and dissolve moderate clogs—all without damaging your pipes. It’s ideal for dissolving hair, soap scum, toothpaste, and other organic materials, but it may require a few tries to fully dissolve it.

This product’s best feature might be its aromatic citrus and sage scent that leaves sinks and garbage disposals smelling fresh. Plus, it's available in 32-, 64-, or 128-ounce bottles, so you can find the perfect size to store under your sink.

Overall, this cleaner is a great choice for anyone looking to unclog their drain using safe and natural ingredients, particularly in households with small children or pets. We also like that this drain cleaner is from a women- and family-owned brand.

Type: Liquid | Size: 32, 64, and 128 ounces

Best for Hair

Liquid-Plumr Hair Eliminator Gel

View on Amazon $12 at Walmart $7 at Home Depot

The most common cause of a blocked drain, especially in the shower, is hair. When it comes to getting rid of those tough clogs, Liquid-Plumr Hair Eliminator Gel is your best bet. According to the brand, this thick gel cleaner can tackle tough hairballs in just 15 minutes after rinsing with hot water. While excessive cold or heat can cause this cleaner to clump in the bottle, its effectiveness remains strong and is safe to use for septic systems and all pipes including those made with PVC, plastic, and copper. However, this cleaner is not intended for use in garbage disposals or toilets.

This drain cleaner for hair clogs is much more powerful than the brand's original clog remover. Plus, experts love how effective this drain cleaner is in a single use, especially compared to others that can take several tries (or more than one bottle) to unclog a drain. Due to the small size of the bottle, severe clogs or multiple clogged drains will likely require purchasing more than one bottle. But considering its budget-friendly price, this powerful drain cleaner for hair clogs is definitely worth buying.

Type: Gel | Size: 16 ounces

Best for Sinks

Rockwell Labs InVade Bio Drain Gel

$19 at Amazon $46 at Walmart

When there's a clog in a kitchen or bathroom sink, standing water and strong odors are sure to attract pesky flies and gross bacteria. To effectively clear away these clogs and bugs in almost any sink, Rockwell's InVade Bio Drain Gel is the best choice. Formulated with microbes and essential citrus oil (and without harsh chemicals or fumes), this thick gel cleaner is successful at eliminating odors, scum, grease, food debris, and the notorious "sugar snake," which is a buildup of sugar and other gunk in the drain that feeds bacteria and grows in the form of a snake. This drain cleaner is also known for its powerful ability to kill and prevent fruit flies, gnats, and other flies that tend to hang around the moist environment of a clogged sink.

Even though this drain cleaner is on the pricier side, when used as directed by the label (four ounces poured into the drain daily for one week), the gallon-sized bottle can last for 32 applications. It's made with naturally derived ingredients that make it safe enough to use in soda fountain drip trays, garbage disposals, and mop buckets.

Type: Gel | Size: 128 ounces

Best for Toilets

Green Gobbler Main Line Opener

$25 at Amazon $19 at Walmart $23 at Home Depot

Most drain cleaners are not suitable for toilets for several reasons: Any bleach left behind from cleaning a toilet combined with the ammonia commonly found in drain cleaners will produce a toxic gas called chloramine. Additionally, most drain cleaners are abrasive, which can cause damage to your pipes. But the Green Gobbler Ultimate Main Line Drain Opener is formulated with non-chemical ingredients that make it ideal for toilet clogs. This non-corrosive and odorless liquid can eliminate toilet paper, baby wipes, and other buildup that may clog your toilets. It can also be used in sinks, garbage disposals, bathtubs, septic systems, and all types of pipes.

Johnson prefers the Green Gobbler drain cleaner for its biodegradable and non-hazardous ingredients, which include natural enzyme-producing bacteria that feed and break down whatever is causing the clog. This is exactly what makes this enzymatic cleaner safe to use in toilets, unlike other caustic or acidic cleaners. Even though this product is much more expensive than our top pick, we think its versatility, cleaning power, and safe ingredients are worth it—especially if you need to unclog a toilet drain.

Type: Liquid | Size: 64 ounces

Best for Grease

Pequa Drain Opener

$30 at Amazon $32 at Walmart View on Home Depot

Most people know that you should avoid pouring grease down the kitchen sink to prevent clogs and damage to drains and pipes. But in those inevitable times when grease does end up in the drain, Pequa's Heavy Duty Drain Opener is the most effective option. This liquid cleaner is quick to clear all organic debris and residue (like grease, hair, and soap scum), and it's safe to use on nearly every type of pipe, whether in a residential or commercial setting.

The fast-acting product is particularly powerful enough to keep kitchen drains clean, but it can be a great option for shower and bathroom sink clogs, too. This product is made in the U.S., but unfortunately it's quite the hidden gem because it isn't easy to find in most big-box retailers.

Type: Liquid | Size: 64 ounces

Best Enzymatic

Bio-Clean Drain Cleaner

$50 at Amazon

Enzymes are naturally occurring bacteria that break down residue. Bio-Clean is our favorite enzymatic drain cleaner for its efficient and biodegradable formula that doesn't compromise its cleaning power. All the organic waste and buildup found in drains (like hair, soap scum, and paper) act as food for the bacteria in this drain cleaner. It will feed on, swallow, and digest the clog, ultimately clearing your drain. Because the formula in Bio-Clean only affects organic matter, it will not damage your pipes and other inorganic materials. As a bonus, this product has environmentally-friendly ingredients that will not create harmful fumes.

Since this drain cleaner comes in the form of a naturally derived powder, it might take a few tries (or even a few days) to fully restore the flow of your clogged drain. But with monthly maintenance treatments, you'll likely notice that slow-running drains aren't a problem anymore. Like other natural enzymatic drain cleaners, this product is safe to use in bathrooms, kitchens, grease traps, septic systems, garbage disposals, and even kitty litter pans. While this drain cleaner is on the pricier side, each canister has enough product for up to 100 chemical-free treatments.

Type: Powder | Size: 32 ounces

Best Crystal

Insta-Flo Odorless Drain Cleaner

$16 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $15 at Ace Hardware

Most of the recommendations on our list come in liquid and gel form, but crystal formulas are the strongest type of chemical drain cleaner. We like Insta-Flo's Odorless Drain Cleaner since it's a non-acidic crystal cleaner that can clear out clogged drains extremely fast—in just 60 seconds, according to the brand. It's mostly used for severe clogs in slow-draining sinks and tubs. "It's best to use hot to boiling water to activate its magic since high temperature allows the crystals to dissolve and remove any debris," says Johnson.

Insta-Flo Odorless Drain Cleaner can clear out all types of clogs, but it is not suitable for use in toilets or garbage disposals. Despite its crystal form, this product is safe to use on porcelain, chrome trim, polished brass, plastic, or metal pipes.

Type: Crystal | Size: 16 ounces

Best for Prevention

CLR Clear Pipes & Drains Monthly Build-Up Remover

View on Amazon $28 at Walmart View on Zoro.com

One of the best ways to avoid future clogs is with a preventative drain cleaner. While regular drain maintenance may not seem like the most exciting task, avoiding a clog can save time, money, and headaches in the long run. That's why we recommend CLR Clear Pipes and Drains Monthly Build-Up Remover. This product is non-toxic, free of caustic chemicals, and formulated with natural bacteria to dissolve clogs at the source. It's also an EPA Safer Choice product, which means that it meets strict criteria for ingredients, performance, packaging, and more.

To keep blockages away, the label suggests using this cleaner monthly (preferably overnight or during times of minimal water usage) on bathroom drains, kitchen drains, and garbage disposals. This product can be used to successfully clear drains of everything from toothpaste to hair to food particles to oil. It takes some time to work and requires a few tries for the best results, but it's still the best choice when it comes to maintaining drains and pipes to prevent clogs down the line.

Type: Liquid | Size: 42 ounces

Best Foaming

Drano Dual-Force Foamer Clog Remover and Cleaner

$7 at Amazon $9 at Walmart $6 at Home Depot

Foaming drain cleaner coats the interior of a pipe to cleanse the buildup from previous cleaning. The Drano Dual-Force Foamer uses the classic formula in a foaming version that is safe for all pipes, garbage disposals, and septic systems, making this a versatile option for almost any drain. Once you pour the liquid, it turns into a fast-acting foaming cleaner that thoroughly dissolves gunk and sources of odor in just an hour. While this drain cleaner is best for lighter to moderate clogs, it’s an excellent foaming option for just about any drain in your home.

Type: Liquid | Size: 17 ounces

Best for Kitchen Sinks

Drano Kitchen Granules Drain Clog Remover and Cleaner

$27 at Amazon $10 at Ace Hardware $9 at Home Depot

Kitchen sink clogs are a pain to clean, filled with stubborn clogs from grease and grimy food that resist routine drain cleaning. We recommend the Drano Kitchen Granules, which features solid beads that can cut through kitchen gunk. To use them, pour three tablespoons of the granules down the kitchen drain, allow it to sit for 15 minutes, and follow with two cups of hot water and two cups of cold water to rinse. The granules dissolve whatever mess is clogging your kitchen sink.

We also like that the formula is safe for PVC, metal pipes, garbage disposals, and septic systems. Keep in mind that you may need to do a few rounds if your clog persists, but if you opt for regular weekly cleaning, you can use one tablespoon to keep clogs at bay. 

Type: Solid granules | Size: 8 ounces

Best for Disposals

Glisten Disposer Foaming Cleaner

$4 at Amazon $4 at Walmart $6 at Office Depot

Since you can’t see your garbage disposal in action, it can be hard to know when clogs and buildup begin to form. For regular cleaning that keeps it working seamlessly, we recommend the Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner. The powder comes in paper packets that you place directly into your garbage disposal—then, turn it on and watch as the blue foaming bubbles rise into your sink. We love the refreshing lemon scent it leaves behind that smells clean but not chemical. 

Depending on the strength of your garbage disposal blades, you may need to reach into your garbage disposal and grab any leftover pieces of the paper packet. Still, this drain cleaner is impressively efficient at refreshing your garbage disposal and keeping the kitchen sink, drain, and pipes clean. 

Type: Foaming powder | Size: 4.9 ounces

Best for Odors

BioWonder Septic Tank Treatment

$43 at Amazon $43 at Walmart View on Sears.com

It’s only a matter of time before a clogged drain emits unpleasant odors. If you want to clean clogs and eliminate strong drain odors, the BioWonder Septic Tank Treatment is your best option for its multi-function formula. This powder is made from natural, enzymatic bacteria to break down smelly residue in your pipes and around your drains. Simply use the provided scoop to mix the formula with one cup of warm water and pour it into the drain, septic tank, or toilet. 

Although severe clogs may need weekly to biweekly treatments, this cleaner comes in a generous 31-ounce container that lasts a while (though it is still a bit pricey). This drain cleaner is also unscented to clear strong odors without adding fragrance. 

Type: Powder | Size: 31.9 ounces

Best Snake

FlexiSnake Drain Weasel Sink Snake Cleaner

$18 at Amazon $18 at Walmart $7 at Home Depot

Snaking a drain can be an unpleasant task, but it’s sometimes necessary to get rid of thick clogs, especially those that are mostly hair. The FlexiSnake Drain Weasel Sink Snake has a 360-degree rotation and a generous length of 18 inches, which allows you to effectively tackle clogs without damaging your pipes. 

While some drain snakes are long pieces of plastic with ridges, this one has a Velcro tip wand that collects debris as it spins. Plus, there's no need to clean the gunk off your tool, as you can toss the tip in the trash after use. As you use these wands, you will have to purchase refills. However, this snake’s overall effectiveness and mess-free design outweigh this small downside.

Type: Plastic snake | Size: 18 inches

Best Stick

SANI 360° Sani Sticks Drain Cleaner and Deodorizer

$8 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $11 at Ace Hardware

While less popular than other drain cleaners, drain cleaner sticks can efficiently eliminate odors and act as a preventive treatment. We love Sani 360° Sticks Drain Cleaner because these are small yet mighty and use enzyme-cleaning action to clear your pipes and refresh your drain. We especially like that these are available in 10 scents, including an unscented option. These are also safe for all drains, plumbing, and septic tanks and have no harsh or caustic chemicals. While these are slower to work than other options, they’re great for light clogs and refreshing your drain with a light scent (we’re partial to the lime honey). 

Type: Sticks | Size: 24 count