# Well the first bottle of Drano didn't work. Now what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 17, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103 "2014-01-17T21:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/1 "2014-01-17T21:59:58Z")
My bathroom sink is clogged. I don’t know why. It clogs a lot, actually, but it usually goes away with some Draino. But this time, no luck. The bottle I used was this stuff: > **[Amazon.com: Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator, Drain Clog Remover, Liquid Drain...](https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Plumr-Pro-Strength-Clog-Remover-Eliminator/dp/B00CZ5GE30)** > > Liquid-Plumr Hair Clog Eliminator gets rid of the toughest hair clogs teed, or your money back. Our powerful gel destroys hair clogs the first time with 70% more actives. Hair Clog Eliminator effectively unclogs your bathtub, shower, bathroom sink... Oh, actually, I see it was Liquid Plumber. Either way - useless. I also have a bottle here with this stuff - Liquid Plumbr Full Clog Destroyer. > **[Amazon.com: Liquid-Plumr Pro-Strength Full Clog Destroyer Plus PipeGuard, Liquid...](https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Plumr-Pro-Strength-Destroyer-PipeGuard-Packaging/dp/B002XK5QU4)** > > Fight fully blocked drains and protect pipes with the triple action formula of Liquid-Plumr Pro-Strength Full Clog Destroyer plus PipeGuard. This easy to use Full Clog Destroyer has a powerful triple action formula that pours through standing water... If I add it to the standing water and chemicals from the last bottle, will it explode in a fountain of flaming bubbles? Is there something else I should try? So aggravating. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/2 "2014-01-17T22:03:02Z")
Can you take the trap apart? Then you could go at it with a ["sna](https://www.google.com/search?q=plumber+snake&client=firefox-a&hs=g7I&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=WajZUpDjIsS1sASm7oC4BA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=627)ke", a coiled up twisted wire with a crank on one end. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/3 "2014-01-17T22:03:04Z")
Have you tried removing the cap on the drain to see what falls out? Fairly simple to do. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/4 "2014-01-17T22:20:11Z")
I would always recommend trying some mechanical means of clearing the clog before messing with chemicals. In addition to snakes you can also purchase for a few bucks a long, flexible plastic thing with barbs that will snag hair and other gross junk and pull it out. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/5 "2014-01-17T22:24:14Z")
A word of warning – you now have concentrated lye (or something similar) in your sink and pipes. That means you should wear gloves and eye protection from now on while dealing with this clog, as even a splash in the eye could be serious business. (This is also why most plumbers don’t recommend using this kind of clot buster.) My first inclination would be to give it more time to work. If that doesn’t happen, then you’ll have to go with the snake or disassembling the drain. Again, gloves and eye protection. Plungers can also work, but they make splashes, and you don’t want concentrated lye solution everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/6 "2014-01-17T22:27:18Z")
What’s wrong with me? When I read the thread title I thought it was a suicide reference… I had a plugged sink like that and the plumber had to come out and snake it. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/7 "2014-01-17T22:51:09Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > A word of warning – you now have concentrated lye (or something similar) in your sink and pipes. That means you should wear gloves and eye protection from now on while dealing with this clog, as even a splash in the eye could be serious business. (This is also why most plumbers don’t recommend using this kind of clot buster.) > > My first inclination would be to give it more time to work. If that doesn’t happen, then you’ll have to go with the snake or disassembling the drain. Again, gloves and eye protection. Plungers can also work, but they make splashes, and you don’t want concentrated lye solution everywhere. Thanks for the suggestions, and the safety notes. I’m reluctant to disassemble things right now because the sink is full of water (and Liquid Plumber). But if I get one of these snakes, I should be able to use that any way, right? Is the drain cap the plug thing that goes up and down? (Sorry. We are outside my wheelhouse here, but I’m willing to learn.) ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/8 "2014-01-17T22:55:56Z")
> [@desertmonk](#): > > What’s wrong with me? When I read the thread title I thought it was a suicide reference… > > I had a plugged sink like that and the plumber had to come out and snake it. Well, I see how you made that connection. Drinking Drano? 😛 But I knew what this thread was about. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/9 "2014-01-17T23:21:07Z")
Did you try a plunger? Plug up the overflow drain with a rag and plunge away. Might do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/10 "2014-01-17T23:26:16Z")
Unclogging a sink is ridiculously easy. Put a bucket under the p-trap, then remove the p-trap. Knock the clog into the garbage and replace the p-trap. Done. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/11 "2014-01-17T23:28:07Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Is the drain cap the plug thing that goes up and down? I think he is referring to the [clean out](http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/plumbing-basics-ga-3.jpg). Looks like a bolt on the bottom of the trap, the J or S shape pipe beneath the sink. Newer or inexpensive traps no loner have them ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/12 "2014-01-18T00:02:08Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Thanks for the suggestions, and the safety notes. > > I’m reluctant to disassemble things right now because the sink is full of water (and Liquid Plumber). But if I get one of these snakes, I should be able to use that any way, right? Yes, you can use a snake right away. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I think he is referring to the [clean out](http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/plumbing-basics-ga-3.jpg). Looks like a bolt on the bottom of the trap, the J or S shape pipe beneath the sink. Newer or inexpensive traps no loner have them If you decide to remove the J trap in the above linked picture, all you need is a wrench/pliers & a bucket (& gloves/goggles). If you can remove some of the water from the sink (bailing it out before you start), there will be less to go into the bucket; otherwise, you might want to have two buckets on hand…& some paper towels. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/13 "2014-01-18T00:04:14Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Did you try a plunger? Plug up the overflow drain with a rag and plunge away. Might do the trick. This is what I do when my sink gets clogged. But as others have mentioned, be very careful if you decide to do this now with the liquid plumber stuff. It’s liable to splash everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Tamarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/14 "2014-01-18T02:09:27Z")
These things have worked well for me in the past for clogs…I have long hair and I shed a lot. These are awesome for clearing those kinds of clogs. They are super cheap at home depot. [http://zipitclean.com/](http://zipitclean.com/) Definitely be careful with the sink full of water and draino though. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/15 "2014-01-18T03:06:33Z")
> [@Tamarin](#): > > These things have worked well for me in the past for clogs…I have long hair and I shed a lot. These are awesome for clearing those kinds of clogs. They are super cheap at home depot. [http://zipitclean.com/](http://zipitclean.com/) > > Definitely be careful with the sink full of water and draino though. Cool. No more from the OP…is he crawling about on the bathroom floor, blinded and acid burned? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/16 "2014-01-18T04:07:29Z")
Unless the entire drain assembly in the house is PVC there is a serious risk of destroying an iron pipe with acid. This happened in my house. The sink drained into a larger pipe that went to the vertical stack. Unfortunately the house had settled and the pipe no longer had a slope. The acid ate a 2" x 8" hole dumping all my shower water into the floor below. Plunging is the quickest way to move a clog around but that doesn’t always work. In my case there was a vent between the sink drain and the clog. All I did was move water up and down the vent. My suggestion is to put a bucket under the sink trap and remove the drain stop lever from below. This will allow you to pull the drain stop up and out. this gives you better access to the drain and may be the source of the clog. You can then use one of the little plastic drain snakes they sell at stores. Use gloves and eye shields to protect you from acid and have a clean water source nearby to wash anything that splashes on you. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/17 "2014-01-18T04:17:30Z")
Even I sometimes give up and call a plumber. 🙂 A plumber talked to my High School speech class. Why? The hell do I know, it was Catholic High. “What do you need to know to be a plumber? How to make the shit run downhill.” “I LOVE it when you use draino!” ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/18 "2014-01-18T13:02:49Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Unless the entire drain assembly in the house is PVC there is a serious risk of destroying an iron pipe with acid. This happened in my house. The sink drained into a larger pipe that went to the vertical stack. Unfortunately the house had settled and the pipe no longer had a slope. The acid ate a 2" x 8" hole dumping all my shower water into the floor below. No. The active ingredient in Drano and Liquid Plumber is sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as lye. It is a base. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/19 "2014-01-18T15:09:46Z")
There are, or have been, sulfuric acid based drain cleaners on the market. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103/20 "2014-01-18T15:46:03Z")
Soap is very basic, too. I’d think to go after wads of soapy hair, an acid would work better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-first-bottle-of-drano-didnt-work-now-what/679103.md?page=2)