If your pipes are clogging up because of hair, you need to know what you can use to dissolve hair in a drain. If you’ve got some hairy situation going on in your pipes, you need a fast solution at your fingertips.
You’ll be surprised at some of the creative ways that folks try to unclog their drains.
How to Remove Hair From A Drain
The best drain cleaner for hair is a drain auger. But, not everyone has a drain auger handy or the budget to grab one. What if your pipe is clogged NOW? You NEED to get that standing water out of your sink, tub or shower right away!
The quick solution to get rid of hair clogging your drains and get them running smoothly again could be a chemical drain cleaner. But what chemicals melt hair out of your drains? What destroys hair in a drain? Is there a home remedy for clogged drains with hair?
Here is a quick list of the drains cleaners and home remedies we have tried or heard of that can be used to dissolve hair in a drain. We will go through each one, how to use them and give you the low down if they work to dissolve hair in a drain.
Drain Openers for Hair: Editor’s List
- Talon Drain Cleaner – Professional Grade
- Drano
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Bleach
- Salt
- Sani Sticks
- Boiling Hot Water
- Homemade Drano
- Coca Cola (this one surprised us)
Talon Drain Cleaner – Professional Grade
Like a rocket ship blasting through your pipes, Talon Drain Opener is what the Pros use. Because it’s Pro Grade it does cost more than your standard liquid drain opener. BUT, you’re getting some kick butt results for the price. It’s worth it.
We had a slow running sink drain, clogged up with hair and decided to test it out. It’s not liquid like other chemical drain openers. Talon is grainy, flakey and powdery and you put it into your drain and wash it down with water.
Our test showed that our drain ran like new after using Talon Drain Opener. It’s also safe for septic systems and won’t wreck your chrome, plastic or brass sink fittings.
Exactly what you’d expect from a professional grade product like this.
You can grab Talon Drain Opener in either 1 pound or 2 lb containers. The bottle pictured here is the 2 pound container, which we always have on hand. And the 2lb container is a great deal, costing only about 10$ more than the 1 pound container.
Drano
Does Drano dissolve hair? Does it actually work on your pipes full of hair? Drano is available in most stores so it gets 5 stars for being easily accessed by anyone that needs to unclog a pipe full of hair. It’s also affordable. But, does it destroy hair in your drains?
The main chemicals in Drano are different types of sodium, bleach, aluminum, and lye. The chemicals work together to dissolve hair, soap build up and gunk. How it does this is it sits in your drains and causes a chemical reaction to dissolve the nasty stuff. But, that chemical reaction generates heat that can damage your pipes.
If any is left over in your pipes after you unclog your drain, and it comes in contact with other chemicals it could cause a reaction that makes some toxic fumes. Not good.
Our Verdict: Most plumbers will tell you, steer clear from Drano.
Heat makes your pipes expand. Porcelain doesn’t expand or contract based on temperature so using drain cleaners will CRACK your toilet. Take our word for it, you don’t want to get THAT bill.
Home Remedy for Clogged Drains with Hair: Fake News?
Are natural drain cleaners for hair actually going to work? Do they destroy hair in drains so your pipes run clear?
You should know the low down if you’re trying to go environmentally friendly and not use any chemicals in your house or put them down the drain.
Obviously, a drain auger or drain snake is the best option to keep chemicals out of the water and your home, but in a pinch you might consider trying one of the following homemade drain cleaners.
Baking Soda
Can you dissolve hair in a drain with baking soda? Is it just a rumor? Baking soda can do a ton of things, but unclogged a drain plugged with hair? The answer is don’t waste your baking soda. The hot water that you’re using to run the soda down your drain is what’s actually melting the grease in your pipes.
Bad news is it’s only making a short term solution. Your slow running drain or clogged pipe will return. Save your baking soda.
Our Verdict: Save your baking soda. Doesn’t work, short term solution. Easier to use just boiling water and dishsoap to melt grease and gunk down your pipes.
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Homemade Drain Cleaner Without Baking Soda
What happens if you don’t have any baking soda around? Can you clear your drains of that plugged up hair without baking soda? Are there home remedies for clogged tubs and sink drains that work? Give the drain cleaners for hair below a try to destroy the hair in your drains.
Can you Use Bleach on a Clogged Drain? Does is Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
Can you use bleach to unclog drain? We recommend not using this method if you’re on septic. You pour diluted bleach down your drains and flush it with water. This method will definitely clean your drains, but unclog them? No way.
Our Verdict: Doesn’t work
Unclog Drains with…..Salt?
This is one that surprised us, but does this natural drain cleaner for hair work?
Once again you are using boiling hot water to wash something, this time rock salt, down your drain. The salt isn’t actually doing anything: it’s the boiling water that is clearing your pipe of grease and gunk. But, your problem will remain. In short time, your drain will start running slowly again because the main issue, hair stuck in the drain, didn’t dissolve.
Our Verdict: Doesn’t work, short term solution, waste of rock salt.
Do Sani Sticks Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
Sani Sticks are placed in your drain and claim to dissolve hair, grease and gunk that collects in your pipes. They are an OK preventative measure and won’t help you to unclog a drain once it’s clogged. The best thing to prevent hair clogs is to put a mesh stopper in your drain that traps hair before it goes down into your pipes.
Sani Sticks need to be replaced every 30 days or so and they do help to deodorize your drains. Your drains will run slower if you have a sani stick in the pipe. They are safe to use if you’re on a septic too.
Our Verdict: We aren’t fans of using Sani Sticks as a way to dissolve hair; too many mixed opinions on how effective they are.
Homemade Drano
For you hardcore DIYers, homemade Drano for hair clogs is a thing. But, like the other methods, it’s only going to work to wash away grease (and not really the hair) because of the small reaction combined with the HOT water.
Our Verdict: This is a short term solution.
Does Coke Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
Good old Coca Cola Classic. Could it be possible that this fizzy soda can destroy hair in a drain? We were super skeptical so we decided for fun to test it out on our slow running bathtub drain. Hair central there.
Coke and Pepsi contain phosphoric acid, which, if left in your drain for one to 2 hours should dissolve build up in your drains. Then you run hot water down your drains and the gunk should be flushed down the drain. So, Coke doesn’t dissolve hair; it actually dissolves the gunk in your drains that is full of hair.
Our Verdict: Short term solution and a waste of soda
Boiling Hot Water
With this method you pour boiling hot water down your drain. The hot water will hopefully dissolve the gunk in your pipes and loosen up the clog enough to move it down the pipes. Further down, your pipes increase in diameter or size, so the clog should just get flushed out. It doesn’t destroy hair in your drain; it just moves it down the pipe and may cause a deeper clog.
Our Verdict: This method is not guaranteed and we can’t see it being a solution for longer than a few days when any left over gunk and hair start collecting more and more crap and clog your drain again.
Drain Clog Prevention
Here are some tips to prevent future drain clogs:
- Watch that the kids put anything down the drains
- Clean out your pipes twice per year with a drain auger
- Grease should be poured into a container and thrown out, not down your toilet
- Use a drain catcher in your sink drains to catch any debris that gets into the sink
Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger
Hiring a plumber to unclog your drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A drain auger can be as cheap as $30. You can also use your drain auger as many times as you like, so I consider it an investment.
Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger
Hiring a plumber to unclog your drains costs anywhere from $100- 250, depending on the area and how complicated the clog is. A drain auger can be as cheap as $30. You can also use your drain auger as many times as you like, so I consider it an investment.
Conclusion
There are many options out there that you can use to dissolve hair in your drains. Pick the one that fits your budget and the type of clog you have and get those drains running clear ASAP. Click the button below to level up your drain game and grab a drain auger before your next clog happens.
- How to Remove Hair From A Drain
- Home Remedy for Clogged Drains with Hair: Fake News?
- Baking Soda
- Homemade Drain Cleaner Without Baking Soda
- Can you Use Bleach on a Clogged Drain? Does is Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
- Unclog Drains with…..Salt?
- Do Sani Sticks Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
- Homemade Drano
- Does Coke Dissolve Hair in a Drain?
- Boiling Hot Water
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- Talon Drain Cleaner – Professional Grade
- Drain Clog Prevention
- Cost of Hiring a Plumber Versus Buying a Drain Auger
FAQs
Buy yourself a mesh drain catcher screen for around $1 at the dollar store or on amazon and place them over your drains, including the bathroom sinks and bathtub/shower drains. You’ll be surprised how much stuff these small cheap screens catch.
