Unfortunately, we regularly have to use drain cleaner and drain unblocker to make sure that our homes’ plumbing continues to work. This isn’t always an easy job, as finding a drain cleaner that actually works effectively can be quite difficult. One popular drain cleaner and drain unblocker is Jeyes drain unblocker – but is it actually good at cleaning drains?
Why do we have to clean drains?
First of all, if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of cleaning and unblocking drains, it’s important to note why you are doing so. Since we have many drains in and out of our homes, they are used on a very regular basis. Both indoor and outdoor drains get plenty of fluid and other items flushed through them on a day to day basis, and sometimes this can lead to clogs forming. Clogs tend to form due to grease, hair, food particles, product residue, leaves and other debris, and they can be really detrimental to the pipes.
When a clog forms, we often notice the signs in the kitchen or in the garden. If an interior drain suffers from a drain blockage, we tend to see plumbing issues like slow draining sinks and showers, weak water pressure, and sometimes weak or slow flushing toilets. We might also experience a foul smell and subsequently an influx of drain flies. This is not only inconvenient, but it can be deeply unpleasant, too. When outdoor drains suffer a blockage, it often results in the garden flooding as well as a bad smell and drain flies, which is not ideal and can lead to damage to outdoor furniture and the property as a whole.
Is Jeyes fluid good for cleaning drains?
The short answer is yes. Jeyes fluid is widely considered one of the top brands in the UK for drain cleaning, and it is even rated a solid 4.2 stars out of 5 on the e-shop Amazon. It has reached such heights for its ease of use on outdoor drains as well as its speed.
Jeyes drain unblocker works in 30 minutes and is tough on grease, hair, soap scum, and decaying leaves. Users simply have to pour 100ml of the fluid into the drain and leave for 30 minutes then rinse the system with hot water because the flexible hose under the sink can have sludge build up. After doing so, the vast majority of customers claim to see a drastic improvement in their outdoor drain function.
Jeyes does not only unblock drains, though. It is great for use on fully blocked drains for this purpose but also because it works as a heavy-duty cleaner, tackling bacteria and viruses such as avian flu and it is a powerful deodoriser. Any bad smells caused by your outdoor drain blockage will quickly be removed by the disinfectant, even when you only use a small amount.
The downside of Jeyes drain unblocker is that whilst the clinging formula cleans drains quickly with minimal fuss, working even on the toughest blockages without needing to use the whole bottle, it also contains harmful chemicals. The ingredients within Jeyes drain unblocker could cause eye damage and have negative impacts on the local environment. Jeyes can also be harmful to plants and pets, so should be kept away from both, which can be hard when using the cleaner on outside drains.
What other cleaners work well on drains?
Jeyes ranks highly in the list of drain cleaners and drain unblockers, but there are other drain cleaners which also have their own powerful formula. All of the drain cleaners on this list will tackle blockages caused by hair, grease, soap scum, leaves, and build up, and will deliver on their promises quickly.
Chemical cleaners
HG Liquid Drain Unblocker
This product also takes 30 minutes, and simply needs to be left and then rinsed away. Like Jeyes drain unblocker, it does not require diluting and can be used straight from the bottle.
HG Hair Unblocker
This product is designed specifically to dissolve and remove hair. Simply pour bottle one down the drain, then bottle two, and leave for an hour before rinsing.
Scotch Corporation Drain Opener
This cleaner is very strong and has very harsh chemicals in it, so must be used with gloves and goggles. Best used on very big blockages and left overnight.
Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker
The quickest of the high-rated brands, Mr Muscle can work in as few as 5 minutes!
Natural cleaners
If you don’t want to risk using potentially harmful chemicals on your drains, then there are other natural options. The natural cleaners work best on organic blockages like those caused by food, grease, hair, and soap scum. They are usually used most on indoor drains and don’t necessarily work as quickly as the more chemical cleaners, however, they appeal to many people as they’re safer for use around pets and children.
Baking soda and vinegar
This is arguably the most common method of cleaning a drain, and it involves half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar, and then some boiling water or hot water. The baking powder is poured down the sink or drain, followed quickly by the vinegar. The two ingredients form a chemical reaction, fizzing away in the drain pipes. You can then leave for 30 minutes or longer, return and flush the system with hot water, and you should find that the blockage is gone.
Boiling water
For small blockages both indoors and outdoors, boiling or very hot water often does the job. All you have to do is boil some water or get some very hot water from the sink and simply pour liberally down the drain slowly. Do this regularly to help prevent larger blockages causing fully blocked drains.
Salt
Whilst many people would not consider salt to be a drain unblocker, it works surprisingly well. Not as well as chemical-based cleaners like Jeyes drain unblocker, but for small indoor blockages, pouring salt down your drain and then adding hot water often dissolves small organic blockages fairly quickly.