Does Drano work on Kitchen Sinks? 

Even with a garbage disposal unit, some grease and debris will get stuck in the pipe, clogging your kitchen sink. Luckily, there are various ways you can use to unclog your sink. In that regard, some drain cleaner manufacturers like Drano even claim that they’ve products that you can safely use to unclog your sink. 

But are these drain cleaners really safe to use on kitchen sinks? Does Drano work on kitchen sinks? 

Well, read on to find out if putting Drano in your kitchen sink is a good idea. First, here’s something you probably didn’t know about Drano! 

What is Drano? 

Drano is an American chemical drain cleaner brand for removing clogs in household plumbing that is manufactured by SC Johnson and Sons. More importantly, Drano products contain a highly concentrated blend of sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium nitrate, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and aluminum chips. Moreover, these drain cleaners are either available in gel or liquid form. 

When mixed with water, Drano products produce heat and trigger a strong chemical reaction that dissolves grease, hair, and other clog-causing materials. So, if you have a clogged kitchen sink, shower, tub, or other drains, you can use Drano products to get them back to flowing fast. However, these products can have some harmful effects, meaning you should handle them with care. Other than that, they are ideal for use as a temporary solution for severe clogs. 

Drano products include; 

• Drano Max Gel Clog Remover
• Drano Liquid Drain Cleaner 
• Drano Dual Force Foamer Clog Remover 
• Drano Kitchen Granules Clog Remover 
• Drano Kitchen Gel 
• Drano Hair Buster Gel 
• Drano Advanced Septic treatment 
• Plumber’s Snake Plus Tool
• Drano Gel System 
• Drano Max Build-Up Remover

Can you use Drano in Kitchen sinks? 

Generally speaking, Drano products work well with both metal and plastic pipes in kitchen sinks. For that reason, they’re safe to use in the kitchen drain, especially if the sink is clogged by food waste, soap scum or grease build-up.

 As mentioned earlier, Drano products contain sodium hydroxide, which is very effective in eating through these materials. Therefore, if you’ve got a really tough clog in your kitchen sink, you can use a Drano product like Drano Max Gel clog to clear things up. 

One thing you need to note though is that Drano products also contain other harsh chemicals. More importantly, the manufacturer of Drano doesn’t recommend using Drano Professional Strength Crystal Clog Remover in kitchen sinks as it’s very abrasive. On the other hand, most professionals don’t recommend using any Drano product to break down clogs in kitchen sinks, particularly if you have a garbage disposal. Instead, they recommend that you use other natural and effective remedies that don’t involve abrasive or corrosive chemicals like vinegar and baking soda. 

Does Drano work on Kitchen sinks? 

Yes, Drano contains harsh and abrasive chemicals that will effectively eat away any items clogging your kitchen sink. However, you should be very careful when using Drano products as they’re highly toxic both for humans and animals. For instance, if you inhale fumes from Drano, you can experience breathing problems. Similarly, if you don’t cover your skin properly when using these products, you may have burnt skin, rashes, or allergic skin reactions. 

What is the best Drano product to use in kitchen sinks? 

Drano products contain chemicals that are powerful enough to dissolve any nasty clogs without harming your metal or plastic pipes. However, not all Drano products are ideal for use in kitchen sinks.

Some Drano products that work well in kitchen sinks include; Drano Max Gel clog remover, Drano Max Build-Up remover, Drano Dual-Force foam clog cleaner and Drano Liquid drain cleaner. 

The Dual-Force foam clog cleaner helps to reduce odors coming from the drain while unclogging the pipes. On the other hand, Drano Kitchen Granules clog removal is a great option for sinks that do not have a garbage disposal. Its formula creates inside the drain that melts and dislodges grease clogs. 

However, Drano Max Gel clog remover is considered the best Drano product for tackling an average kitchen sink clog, especially if the sink has a garbage disposal. Thanks to its affordable and effective formula that comes in an 80-oz bottle. Plus, it is safe to use on metal pipes, PVC, septic systems as well as garbage disposals. 

In addition, this gel, liquid clog remover has a thick formula that pours through water straight into the clog. Even better, it’s designed to dissolve all the debris fast and destroy tough, greasy kitchen clogs in no time. On top of that, you can use this Drano drain cleaner to unclog other areas like the shower, bathroom sink, and clogged bathtubs.

How to use Drano liquid to unclog a kitchen sink 

Put your thumb down on the Drano Liquid 32 oz bottle’s childproof cap and turn it counterclockwise to open it. If any spills happen when opening the bottle, make sure you clean them up immediately. Also if you want to close the cap, press it down the bottle and tighten the screw. 

After opening the bottle, slowly pour half of the Drano liquid over the sink drain to speed up a slow drain. However, if the drain is completely clogged or moving very slowly, you may want to pour the full 32 oz bottle down the drain. 

Now that you’ve applied the Drano liquid to slowly draining or clogged kitchen sinks, let it work for about 15 – 30 minutes to dislodge the clog. Then rinse and flush the sink with warm water for about 5 – 15 minutes.  

Finally, run cold water down the drain to rinse the sink thoroughly. However, if the kitchen sink is still clogged, repeat the steps above until you unclog the drain or try alternative methods. 

How often should you use Drano? 

You can use Drano to unclog a clogged sink or garbage disposal once a week. However, you should only use these drain cleaner products when the drain is clogged and not as a preventative measure. More importantly, you should NOT use Drano products on your kitchen sink more than 3 times a week as it can damage the disposal unit. 

After all, there are several natural, chemical-free options you can use to keep your kitchen sink drain and garbage disposal clean. In fact, it’s recommended that you try using other DIY methods to see if you can effectively clean the clogs before using any Drano product! 

Can you leave Drano in the drain overnight? 

No! You should NOT leave any Drano drain cleaner down the drain overnight as it can damage your plumbing fixtures and melt the pipes. Actually, you should NOT even leave Drano in the pipe, drain, or garbage disposal for more than 30 minutes. 

When Not to Use Drano 

• Although Drano is safe to use on metal and plastic pipes, it can severely damage PVC pipes and fittings due to its corrosive and acidic nature. So, if your kitchen sink is connected to PVC pipes, I’d suggest you look for other ways to unclog the drain instead of using Drano. 
• Secondly, Drano is not ideal for use in toilets. This is because toilets use S-traps, meaning Drano will not even reach the blockage 
• Lastly, you should not use Drano if your house has old pipes as its chemicals can damage the adhesive holding the pipes together. 

Alternative ways to unclog a kitchen sink 

Apart from using Drano, there are various methods you can use to unclog your kitchen sink, depending on how bad the clog is. These methods include; 

• Using Vinegar & Baking Soda 

Using a mixture of vinegar and baking soda is a natural way of clearing blocked drains without using harsh chemicals. Better yet, vinegar and baking soda are popular household products that you probably have in your home already. To be precise, you need a 1 ⁄ 2 cup of baking soda, ½ cup of white vinegar, boiling water, and ¼ cup of salt (but that is optional). 

Next, pour the baking soda down the drain and add the white vinegar & salt. Let the mixture sit in the sink for about 30 minutes, then flush it down with boiling water. 

• Drain snake 

A drain snake is another great tool you can use to unclog a kitchen sink. Simply push the drain snake down the clogged kitchen sink until you feel resistance. Next, turn the handle of the drain snake counterclockwise to get rid of it until you loosen the blockage. Lastly, remove the drain snake from the sink and run warm water down the drain to clear out the remaining debris. 

• Boiling water 

Sometimes, boiling water may be all you need to get rid of grease, food scraps, and other items stuck in your kitchen drain. After all, it’s the easiest way of unclogging the sink as it doesn’t require any drain cleaners. However, you should be very careful when using this method as splashing hot water can lead to sink burns. Also, you should not use this method if your kitchen sink is connected to PVC pipes to avoid damaging or melting the plastic. 

With that in mind, boil a half gallon of water and pour it down the drain. Repeat this process a few times if necessary, then run cold water down the drain to check if it’s draining steadily. 

• Plunger method 

Alternatively, you can use a sink plunger to unclog your sink drain. Here are the steps you need to follow to unclog your kitchen sink with a plunger; 

Fill the sink about halfway with water. 

Put the plunger over the sink drain to ensure a tight seal.

Push and pull the plunger up and down vigorously for about 30 seconds. 

Remove the plunger to check if the water drains. Repeat the above process a few times until water can flow down the drain with ease. 

How to prevent kitchen sink clogs 

Most kitchen sink clogs are caused by 4 main things; too much soap scum, cooking grease, food scraps, and coffee grounds. Therefore, if you avoid putting these things down the drain, you can help prevent sink clogs from occurring in the first place. 

Other ways to prevent your kitchen sink from getting clogged include; 

• Using vinegar and baking soda to clean the kitchen drain once a month
• Using a mesh drain strainer 
• Rinsing the sink daily with hot water to clear any grease 
• Using the garbage disposal properly 
• Composting food scraps instead of putting them down the drain 
• Avoid pouring oil, grease & fatty liquids down the kitchen drain as they solidify and clog the plumbing system. 

Conclusion 

Overall, Drano has many types of drain cleaners that are ideal for use in clogged kitchen sinks. For instance, Drano liquid clog remover contains chemicals that break down clog-causing items, while getting rid of foul odors in the kitchen drain or garbage disposal. 

However, you should be very careful when using Drano to unclog your kitchen sink as it contains corrosive chemicals that can damage your drain pipes. For instance, you should not leave the product in the drain for more than 30 minutes or overnight. Also, you should wear protective gloves when using Drano products as they contain toxic chemicals that can cause skin burns and rashes.