Choosing a Drain Cleaner

"You’re standing in front of the home cleaning supplies at your local store and are completely immobilized. There are so many different product choices out there on the market today that you have no idea which one you want to use. Do you go with the name brand that you know from the commercials whose jingles get stuck in your head? Do you select the shiniest packaging which advertises that it can solve all of your problems? Or do you reach for the products that advertise that they won’t harm your health and home? Choosing household products is a difficult task indeed.

Here are some tips for choosing a drain cleaner:

• Consider what the reason is that you need a drain cleaner. Do you have a clogged drain that you’re trying to make run efficiently again? Or are you trying to prevent a clogged drain by incorporating a drain cleaner into the list of products that you use regularly? The reason that you’re buying a drain cleaner can make a big difference in whether you choose a harsh product that gets the gunk out or a mild product that’s intended for daily use.

• Identify what items are most likely to clog your sink. Do you have a problem with hair getting into your drain? If so, you’ll probably want to get not only a drain cleaner but a strainer to catch the hair and a drain brush for pulling out the hair that’s already in the drain. If you tend to put sticky foods down your sink, you might want to select a drain cleaner that has properties which will disintegrate that food. Being clear on what the drain cleaner is supposed to do will help you choose the right one.

• Assess your level of concern about chemicals. If you don’t want harsh chemicals around your sinks, you should seek out an organic drain cleaner that’s easy on the people in your home. If this isn’t a concern to you, you might want to ask yourself if there are certain ingredients that you do or don’t want in your product.

• Budget. You don’t want to skimp and buy only the drain cleaner that’s the cheapest. After all, you want something effective. But you don’t have to buy the most expensive drain cleaner on the market either. Choose one in a medium price range to fit your budget.

• Name brands. Name brands are not necessarily the way to go when choosing a product like drain cleaner. If you know there’s a line of household products that you love, try out their drain cleaner. If not, don’t concern yourself with the brand name when you’re shopping.

• Shop around. You might want to pick up two or three different drain cleaners and try them out. This is the only way that you’re really going to be able to tell what’s effective in your own home and what isn’t.

• Recommendations. Start asking around to see if the people that you know have a drain cleaner that they really like. The next time that you have to call your plumber, ask what he or she recommends."