Is Drano Safe for Shower Drains? Updated 2022

Are you facing a clog in the shower drain? If so, you might have devised the idea of using Drano to solve the issue.

And why not? After all, Drano has shown positive and effective results in removing all types of drain clogs you have faced before.

But one of the essential questions about using Drano is whether it’s safe.

Because Drano is a highly corrosive chemical solution, it can gradually damage PVC and metallic pipes after several uses.

The corrosive chemical makes both metallic and PVC pipes leak — *Frequent uses of corrosive chemicals like Drano will damage metal and PVC pipes.*

That is why the company of Drano themselves strictly prohibits it that it shouldn’t be used on toilets as it will ultimately damage and eat up their interior.

And so the same question arises in the case of using Drano for shower drains as well. That is, whether Drano will damage the shower drain or not.

I will share the answer to this question in detail throughout this article. Check it out!

Quick Answer

As per the claim of the company of the drain cleaner brand Drano, it is safe for shower and bathtub drains.

Even though I have never used Drano in the shower drain, those who have tried it highly recommended it as it efficiently cleans clogged shower drains with the least to no damage.

The Drano Max Gel is rated by many plumbing experts as one of the best solutions to clean up clogged, or slow-moving shower drains.

Drano Max Gel is the recommended drain cleaner for shower drains with the least damage — *Drano Max Gel is the recommended drain cleaner for shower drains with minor damage – Image source: Drano*

What Makes a Shower Drain Clog?

If you have female members in your house who have long hair and use the shower, the drain of which is clogged now, then there’s more than a 90% chance that this is due to the deposition of hair clots.

Fallen hair and others make shower drain clogged — *Fallen hair is the primary cause of the shower drain clog*

Human hair is made of a very tough protein called Keratin. Because of this protein, the hair is very elastic, flexible, and hard to break.

That is why whenever a clot of hair accumulates at a place, it’s tough to break it down. And so, to remove such hair clots forming clogs, you need something chemically powerful.

And there’s no doubt that Drano is a very chemically robust solution since it has the capability even to damage iron pipes.

Thus, Drano is considered one of the best solutions to clean up shower drain clogs as it can eat up hard hair clots through decomposition.

What to Try Before Drano to Clean the Shower Drain?

Whenever you feel like there’s a clog in your shower or bathtub drain obstructing your drain’s smooth movement, don’t just jump into using Drano first.

First, check for visible obstructions on your drain. Many of the blocks or clots, mainly due to hairs, are visible on the surface of the drain or somewhere shallow.

If you notice such a clog that is visible and near enough for you to reach, then remove it immediately from there.

Check whether visible obstructions like fallen hair are available and remove them first. — *Removing visible obstructions like fallen hair is the primary precaution to prevent shower drain clogs.*

If you don’t see any clogs with your naked eyes anywhere near, then check whether your shower drain consists of a stopping or closing mechanism.

Many modern shower drain toppers have a mechanism to block or close the drain to prevent the water from getting drained when you don’t want it to.

This very mechanism is mainly observed in bathtub shower drains.

Hence, to check it, you just need to ensure enough space between the shower drain topper and the drain to properly expel the water to the drain.

If you feel there isn’t enough space for the water to pass smoothly through, check for ways to open the shower drain stopper.

There are different types of closing systems on shower drain toppers.

Different shower drain toppers — *Different types of shower drain toppers are used in modern bathtubs*

Many shower toppers contain a separate portion in the middle that must be unscrewed to rise and open the shower drain.

The shower drain topper is open — *The shower drain stopper should be open enough to flow the water without any disturbances.*

The shower drain topper is closed — *When the shower drain topper is closed, water isn’t draining*

The shower drain topper lid is removed — *If it seems like the water isn’t draining, you can remove the lid of the shower drain topper and adjust the height between the lid and the drain*

Therefore, in case the stopper or closing system of your shower drain has accidentally closed, it can be the reason why the shower water isn’t draining.

Alternatives to Using Drano for Cleaning the Shower Drain

If your shower drain is open and clogged and you can’t reach or see the clog, you will have to use Drano to clean it.

But if you’re still not confident enough to use Drano on your shower drains even though it is confirmed safe for them, there is no pressure.

You can try out these alternative methods to clean your shower drain instead. And see if this works for it.

Below, I list alternative methods to clean the shower drain rather than going for Drano.

Using Boiling Water

If your shower drain clog isn’t too hard to break, a pot full of boiling water should be the most straightforward and instant solution.

So, you should try it first, even if you’re planning to go for Drano. All you have to do is to take a pot full of boiling water and pour it carefully into the shower drain.

Before using Drano as the primary solution, pour boiling water into the shower drain to remove clogs.

Repeat this process three to four times, and then check if you notice any change in the water flow to the shower drain.

If the change isn’t significant enough to satisfy you, repeat it a few more times until it completely clears out the drain.

Using Natural DIY Cleaner

If boiling water doesn’t work for your clog, you can make a quick, easy, yet very effective DIY natural cleaner from Vinegar and baking soda.

Together vinegar and baking soda can be used as a DIY cleaner — *A vinegar and Baking Soda mixture is a compelling DIY solution for removing shower drain clogs.*

To make the natural DIY cleaner, mix a cup of white Vinegar with a cup of baking soda. Note that any vinegar or baking soda would work no matter how cheap it is.

First, pour some boiling water into the drain before dropping this solution down. So, the clog gets loosened due to it.

After that, pour the mixture of baking soda and Vinegar over it. Then wait 15 minutes and run some more boiling water to clean away all the broken clogs.

@natnat_natalia
Thanks mum. #lifehack #mumknowsbest #diy #athome #bathroomproblems #lifehacks #vinegarandbakingsoda
♬ original sound – NatNat

The best DIY solution for removing the clogs in shower drains is a Vinegar and baking soda mixture and then pouring boiling water into the drain.

Using a Drain Snake

This is a bit of a messy method that can make your clothes and shower base very dirty. For this, you’ll need a plumbing tool called a drain snake.

Drain Snakes are a trendy plumbing tool that helps clear drain clogs. Thus, you can use it to clean your shower drain clog.

It should be available in any plumbing or hardware store near your house. Generally, drain snakes are metallic, but a disposable plastic version is also available.

It is a retractable and flexible drilling tool that is supposed to be pushed down the drain and dragged up the clog hung with it.

metal wires and plastic drain removers can simply remove the hair clots in shower drain — *Different types of drain snakes, like plastic and metallic drain snake products, help* remove the clogs without chemicals and quickly remove hair clots in the shower drain.

Final Words

I hope I could help you with the information you need through this article.

It is challenging to answer accurately among the many controversies and debates on the safety of using Drano.

So, if you don’t feel like using Drano for your shower drain, don’t go for it until there’s no other option left.

Thanks for reading till the end!

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James Miller

James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.