Drano is one of the most popular drain cleaning products in the US. The brand states that their products contain "chemicals that quickly dissolve hair, soap scum and gunk."
But are these chemicals proven to be effective for cleaning drains? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? And is there a free and natural solution?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Drano to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also share a totally free, natural alternative that we've found works just as well.
Does Drano Work?
The ingredients in Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner are shown below:
image source: https://drano.com/en-us/products/clogs/liquid-drain-cleaner
Sodium hypochlorite is used to disinfect and clear organic matter.
Sodium hydroxide is the core chemical compound used for drain clearing.
It converts fat and grease into water soluble compounds which are easily cleared by running water.
Based on its ingredients, we consider Drano likely to be effective for clearing drains.
Is Drano Unhealthy?
In our view, its best to avoid harsh synthetic chemical compounds wherever possible, because they can have negative health and environmental effects.
Accidental ingestion or skin contact can cause severe, acute effects.
Ingestion of Drano is clinically shown to cause severe internal damage.
Contact on skin is clinically shown to cause cutaneous burns.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry also documents that "very low levels" of sodium hydroxide can produce irritation of the skin and eyes.
Drano is safe when used appropriately, but it may be a higher-risk product for families with young children.
A Washington University document suggests that Drano can get into waterways.
Overall, we consider Drano to be relatively unhealthy due to its potential for harm at low concentrations, and the synthetic, harsh chemical compounds used.
Is There a Safer, Free Alternative?
One of the most effective, and healthy, ways to clean drains that I've found is to simply pour hot (but not boiling) water down the drain weekly as a preventative measure.
I heat up tap water in an electric tea kettle:
I let it cool until it's at a safe temperature to pour down drains (under 140°F), and then pour it twice down my sink drains and thrice down my shower drain.
It's important not to pour boiling water down the drains if you don't know the drain material, because this can damage PVC plastic.
I'm a relatively hairy guy and I use soap that contains coconut oil (Dr. Bronner's brand), so I used to have to deal with drain clogs all of the time.
Since switching to this method, I have not had one single shower or sink drain clog in over five years, and it's saved me money as well.
