Does Drano work? Each product, by clog

Drano Max Gel is SC Johnson's thick bleach gel for sink and tub clogs. The label says it cuts through standing water and clings to the clog, and it names hair, soap scum and other gunky clogs as its targets. That's why it's the Drano to buy when water is already sitting in the bowl.

SC Johnson's 2021 Max Gel safety sheet lists bleach (sodium hypochlorite) at 1 to 5 percent, salt (sodium chloride) at 1 to 5 percent and lye (sodium hydroxide) at 0.1 to 1 percent, pH 11.5 to 13.5. Its signal word is Danger: causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Its number matches the formula on the Target label.

The label adds sodium silicate, listed as a corrosion inhibitor. That's the ingredient behind the listing's line about protecting pipes from corrosion. SC Johnson rates the gel for PVC, metal pipes, garbage disposals, septic systems and laundry sinks.

Pour half the 32 oz bottle, about 16 oz, slowly into the drain. Let it work 15 minutes, or longer for a tough clog; the product copy says 15 to 30. Flush with hot tap water and repeat if needed. For a complete clog, the listing says to use all 32 oz.

The 80 oz bottle is the same gel. Its directions call for a fifth of the bottle per dose, which is the same 16 oz. Its description also says the gel can be left overnight for the toughest clogs, a longer wait than the smaller bottle's directions mention.

Two limits matter most. The label says not to use it in a toilet or with a plunger, and SC Johnson says Drano is not effective in clogged toilets because of the plumbing layout. If a disposal drain doesn't clear, don't switch the disposal on, because the gel can splash back.

Wear rubber gloves and splash goggles, the gear SC Johnson's Max Gel safety sheet names, and open a window or run the fan. The label says to leave the room right away if gases form.

My call: this is the one Drano bottle most homes need. Keep it for a sink or tub with standing water and use one dose. If a second dose doesn't open the drain, stop and call a plumber, and tell them it's Drano Max Gel so they know what's in the trap.

Drano Liquid is the plain liquid version of Drano's bleach and lye cleaner. The label aims it at hair and soap scum in shower and sink drains, and the dose matches Max Gel: half the 32 oz bottle, about 16 oz, poured slowly. Let it work 15 minutes or longer, then flush with hot water.

SC Johnson's label lists bleach, water, a cleaning agent, caustic and a corrosion inhibitor. Its warning names sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite and sodium silicate, the same three named on the Max Gel label. The signal word is Danger, and it says the liquid can burn eyes, skin and mucous membranes.

The difference is in the claims. Max Gel's label says its thick formula cuts through standing water. The Drano Liquid label text we read makes no standing water claim, and it doesn't mention toilets, disposals or septic tanks either. We marked those cells as not stated instead of guessing.

The listing also pitches it as a monthly cleaner: use it once a month to help prevent buildup, and whenever a clog occurs. For a complete clog, the listing says to use the full 32 oz bottle. Its wait time is 15 to 30 minutes, the same as the gel.

Its label spells out storage: keep the container tightly closed and store it in a locked cabinet. SC Johnson's Max Gel safety sheet says it in three words: store locked up. With kids or pets in the house, that lock matters more than which bottle you pick.

Use it the same way as the gel. Gloves and goggles on, fan running, one product only. No plunger and no snake while it's in the pipe. If the drain doesn't clear after a second dose, call a plumber and name the product.

My call: buy Drano Liquid for a slow shower or bathroom sink that still drains, where a thin liquid has a path to run down to the clog. For a sink full of standing water, start with Max Gel. Our slow draining sink guide covers the stopper and trap checks to do before either bottle.

Drano Kitchen Granules are dry crystals made for one job: grease in a kitchen drain. SC Johnson's description calls them “the only product specifically designed for kitchen clogs”, and the listing names cooking oil, lard and bacon grease. The label says the formula melts grease.

This label carries the strongest warning of the six. It reads Warning: Poison, may be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed, causes severe burns to eyes and skin, and may cause blindness. It names sodium hydroxide, which is caustic soda or lye. For eyes, it says to flush with water for at least 20 minutes.

The directions are more hands-on than the liquids. Sponge out the standing water first and take the strainer out if you can. Pour 3 heaping tablespoons, no more, then right away 2 cups of hot but not boiling water. Let it work 15 minutes and rinse well with cold water.

If the drain is still stopped, the label allows one repeat. After that, its words are to consult a plumber. That's the clearest stop rule on any Drano label we read, and it's a good rule for every Drano.

The big limit is the disposal. The label says not to use the granules in a kitchen sink with a garbage disposal and to use Drano Dual-Force Foamer instead. The listing rates the granules for PVC, metal pipes and septic systems. It names no toilet use.

For upkeep, the label says to use one tablespoon weekly to keep the drain running. The label also says the formula is phosphate-free.

Gear matters most here. The label says to avoid contact with skin, eyes, mouth and clothing, so wear rubber gloves and goggles. Keep your face back when the hot water goes in, run the fan, and store the canister where kids and pets can't reach it.

My call: buy the granules only for a kitchen sink with no disposal and a grease clog. Measure with a spoon you keep for nothing else, and label it. If you have a disposal, skip to the foamer below.

Drano Dual-Force Foamer is the Drano for a sink with a garbage disposal. SC Johnson's description says two ingredients combine in the drain into a foam that fills the pipe and clears its walls. The listing adds that it helps clean disposals and removes sources of odor.

SC Johnson's safety sheet for the foam lists sodium hypochlorite at 1 to 5 percent, sodium chloride at 1 to 5 percent and hydrogen peroxide at 0.1 to 1 percent, at a pH above 12.9. The label ingredients add caustic, a foaming agent and a corrosion inhibitor.

The sheet's warnings differ from the gel's. Danger: harmful if inhaled, causes skin irritation and serious eye damage. It says to wear gloves and eye and face protection, avoid breathing the spray, and use it only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. In a bathroom, that means the fan on and the door open.

The dose is the whole 17 oz bottle, poured slowly. Let it work one hour, then flush with hot water and repeat if needed. That's four times Max Gel's 15 minute wait, so plan the sink around it.

Read the limit before you buy. The label on Drano's EarlyAction Foamer, which its own description calls Dual-Force Foamer, says it's for slow-running drains and not for standing water clogs. For those, it points you to Drano Max. It also says not to squeeze the bottle and to keep hands and face away from the drain.

SC Johnson rates the foamer for all pipes, garbage disposals, septic systems, and kitchen and laundry sinks. No toilet use is listed on either foamer listing.

This listing is Drano's commercial line bottle, 17 oz, sold by Amazon.com when we checked. Its ingredient line matches the EarlyAction Foamer's, and its directions give the same whole-bottle dose and one hour wait.

My call: use the foamer for a slow kitchen sink with a disposal, or any slow drain that still drains. If water is standing in the sink, it's the wrong bottle. Don't run the disposal until the drain flows freely again.

Drano Balance is SC Johnson's clog remover with a label that names every ingredient. The listing says it's made with only the essential ingredients needed to break down clogs, has no harsh smell and restores flow in about an hour. The directions: half a bottle poured slowly, 45 to 60 minutes, then a hot water flush.

Its full ingredient list is water, sodium hypochlorite, amine oxides, sodium hydroxide and sodium octyl sulfate. So it's still a bleach and lye cleaner, the same chemistry family as Max Gel and Drano Liquid. The label's signal word is Danger.

That's the conflict worth knowing. The listing says it's non-corrosive to pipes. The label says it causes irreversible eye damage, is harmful if swallowed and irritates skin, and it tells you to use eye protection. Both can be true: gentle on pipes is not the same as gentle on eyes.

The label is strict about toilets and plungers: do not use it with a plunger or in a toilet. Never plunge during or after use, because the product may still be in the drain. For slow toilets, SC Johnson points you to its Max Build-Up Remover instead.

Disposals get a specific rule. If a disposal drain doesn't clear, don't turn the disposal on, since Balance may splash back, and consult a plumber. The listing rates it for all pipes and septic systems, and its title claims it cuts through standing water.

Storage is spelled out too: keep the container tightly closed in a cool place, upright, in a locked cabinet. For eyes, the label says to rinse with water for 15 to 20 minutes.

My call: Balance fits a slow bathroom or kitchen drain when you can give it an hour. It isn't gentler on your hands, so wear the same gloves and goggles you'd wear with Max Gel. For standing water and a short wait, Max Gel's 15 minutes is the quicker route.

Drano Max Build-Up Remover, sold on Amazon under the FlowGuard name, is the one Drano here that doesn't open clogs. SC Johnson's description says it helps remove buildup but will not unclog your drain. It's a monthly upkeep product for kitchen and bathroom drains, and the only Drano here rated for toilets.

The ingredients are water, enzyme, thickener, fragrance, dye and a pH adjuster. The listing adds probiotics and says it's free of bleach. The label text we read carries no Danger or Poison warning. The bottle has a childproof cap, and the directions say not to squeeze the bottle or splash it.

Dosing is slower than any gel. Run warm, not hot, water for a minute. Turn it off, pour a quarter of the 64 oz bottle named in the directions, then run about two cups of water to spread it along the pipe. Leave the drain alone overnight, six to eight hours.

For worse buildup, the directions say to repeat for three nights in a row, using two ounces. For a slow toilet, flush four ounces down it three days in a row and avoid flushing for six to eight hours after each dose.

That toilet dose sets it apart. Drano's gels say not to use them in a toilet, and the Balance label sends slow toilets here instead. It's rated for garbage disposals and septic systems too, per the listing.

Don't pour it into a drain that still holds a bleach or lye cleaner. The Max Gel, Liquid and Balance labels say not to mix them with other cleaners or chemicals. My call: wait until the drain is open and flushed with plenty of water before you start.

My call: start the monthly routine after a clog is cleared, not during one. Our enzyme vs chemical drain cleaner page explains the two approaches. For enzyme products from other brands, see our best enzyme drain cleaner guide, and our Zep Drain Defense vs Green Gobbler page compares two of them.