Tell me about Drano

[NoliMum]

I was looking up info on organic drain cleaners (our bath drains very slowly, and I can't get a hanger in deep enough to clean it out) and I found this info.

Would using Drano really be a better solution than enzymes? I have Bac-Out but it didn't do much to help. I'm reluctant to shell out the big bucks for another natural solution that won't do anything, and may also end up harming the environment anyway.

Help!

[Spastica]

You're going to think I'm nuts, but I woke up with a strange solution to this even though I don't have a clogged drain right now. See if your liquid laundry detergent works. It's just gloppy enough and has a high pH (pH basic) that IT JUST MIGHT WORK!

You're my guinea pig, see if it works. You can use a plunger along with this as well.

The hanger method is what I do - and I yank it straight with exception to the end, I make a j-shaped hook to yank out glop.

[NoliMum]

I totally would, only I just use BS and vinegar in my laundry. I tried that in my drain, letting it fizz for hours, but it didn't work!

[Spastica]

Nah - I was thinking the actual commercial stuff, not just BS and vinegar...

[iamama]

Truth be told...get under your sink and disconnect the little pipe that is "u" shaped and most likely there is a nasty slimy goo ball that will slide right in to a garbage bag. No chemicals, no money spent just a nasty job.

[kosheng]

right, but a bathtub's trap is going to be much harder to access, if not downright impossible for most people to access.

this is something that i would not remain crunchy on... if the hanger trick isn't producing anything, than the least amount of drano that produces the results you need is the lesser of the evils.

good luck!!

[snanna]

How about a drain snake? Or one of these?

Drano is pretty pricey, so this might be cheaper in the long run. And no chemicals! (And I have to say that I've had very limited success with the chemical route in the past).

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

I was looking up info on organic drain cleaners (our bath drains very slowly, and I can't get a hanger in deep enough to clean it out) and I found this info.

Would using Drano really be a better solution than enzymes?

I think so. I tried a product which was a mixture of enzymes & bacterial cultures, which I saved for a while but now can't locate so don't know the name, and it had no discernible effect when used multiple times as directed on slow but not stopped drains.

I'm reluctant to shell out the big bucks for another natural solution that won't do anything, and may also end up harming the environment anyway.

Drano is hazardous to use, but harmless to the environment beyond.

Robert

[Taedareth]

I called the repair guy to come fix our slow-draining bathtub. I told him I'd tried Drano (or Liquid Plumber, whichever) but it had no effect. He said that Drano is nothing but a ploy to separate you from your money - it is virtually useless, and just burns the plumber's skin if he has to take the drain apart. The thing he says really works is to put baking soda in the drain and pour vinegar down. The fizzing action often really helps.

[Contrariety]

the last time my bathtub clogged, i tried just about EVERYTHING short of calling a plumber to get the darn fixed... lucky for me, i was pregnant at the time and spent lots of time in the bathroom peeing and thinking about that darn drain and had an epiphany... plunge the sucker!

and that's what i did. it wasn't a dainty job, by any means. i put about two inches of water in the tub, then just went at it. after the first few plunges, i could see that it was really going to work. after a few minutes, i had a fabulously clog-free drain. who knows what was in there?

it may not work for your specific clog, but it's worth a shot! it's free and environmentally friendly, at least!

[MissMommyNiceNice]

We have this trouble from time to time. Is it your kitchen sink? I use white vinegar, borax, and boiling water. put the borax down, wait a few minutes, give it a big shot of vinegar. Then start your water. When it boils, pour it down.

If that doesn't work, I have used this product before. It really does work, and is worth the xtra money. I wouldn't touch drano with a 50 foot pole, sorry, Robert! I my watershed too much!

http://www.ecos.com/pages/earthenzymes.html

Several of my local stores carry it, so I have used it personally with success. It eats the goo ball the pp was talking about. Or the hair, if it's your bathroom sink or tub.

One thing to consider, as well, is whether or not it is a symptom of a greater problem, such as tree roots in your sewer lines. We have this problem often. You can purchase a completely natural enzyme root killer called root x. In my state, (PA?) you cannot purchase it from a store, as it is a controlled substance (?) and you need a permit. We have a friend who works at public works (who we had to come out and drill a 3 in root out of our sewer line) who advised it is the safest thing on the market and to purchase it off the internet. Drano is toxic to watersheds. This is not. Here's a link:

http://www.jsplumber.com/

Totally worth the price, after the second time we called a plumber in the middle of the night! We use it about every six months or so.

Good luck!

[Spastica]

Drano works to a degree, I wouldn't agree with the plumber and call the stuff useless....it kind of depends on what kind of clog you have and how bad it is.

[NoliMum]

How can you find out if you have a root in your pipes?? We just moved into this house, which was built in the 50's, so who knows what is going on inside the walls and under the floors...

Last night I tried sea salt, BS, and vinegar and let it fizz for awhile, then followed with boiled lemon water. We're still draining slower than I'd like.

I did look into the drain with a flashlight and it doesn't go straight down. The opening is on the side, so when you look straight in you just see metal. This is why I couldn't get the hanger in there- you have to go in sideways, which is impossible.

This is the bath tub drain, btw.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

tub drains are tough...you may actually need to get a plumber. They can tell you if you have roots in lines. They have snake camera that looks as it clears. Before you take that step, though, the enzyme cleaner I linked to works well on hair. We treated all our drains before bed and rinsed them in the morning.

[Spastica]

I have a crappy apartment tub, and I use use the hanger to yank stuff out first. I think there are two different places it usually gets clogged up, the first trap I can clean out, there's some other trap that a plumber is needed.

[calebsmama03]

Originally Posted by snanna

How about a drain snake? Or one of these?

Drano is pretty pricey, so this might be cheaper in the long run. And no chemicals! (And I have to say that I've had very limited success with the chemical route in the past).

We have this and it works great. Got it for about $2 at home depot, too. It is flexible enough that it would go around the curve that the hanger could not.

[NoliMum]

Well, I bought the Zip-It (very cheap, $2.50 at Wal Mart!!) but no matter how hard I pushed, it couldn't get past the clog. Looks like we're going to have to go with Drano.