UK’s best drain unblockers: Top drain and sink unblocker tools reviewed – HG Duo, Mr Muscle and tools compared

HG 139100106 Liquid was the first on my list for best drain unblocker and is designed more for bathrooms and toilets than kitchens – if you need a kitchen drain unblocker then move onto the next review as that’s also a cheap one too. As I mentioned it’s best to try to solve the problem for free, but if you can’t then cheap that works is the next best alternative 🙂

The HG 139100106 Liquid works by simply pouring into your blocks toilet basin or sink and leaving it for 30 minutes. Two things about this I don’t like. Firstly, from experience I know overnight is a far better solution and far more likely to fix the problem. So my best advice would be to start the process late at night, just before bed. This especially applies to bathroom sink as you can definitely do without that overnight. Hopefully you have more than one toilet but if not, it is what it is. Being a litre bottle you get three goes at this as they recommend 300ml per hit. So if you are in a rush you can try one 30 minute. Should that fail pour in the other 600ml and leave overnight.

Personally though knowing what I know and being an all or nothing kind of bloke, I’d pour in the whole litre late evening and hope to leave it to work its magic through the night. Then come in with a kettle of boiling water to finish the job. If this doesn’t fix the problem then you’re at that point where you’re going to need to go with a drain unblocking tool or call a plumber. It works by slowly eroding away at the blockage in extreme cases:

Two words of advice on this unblocker, if you’ve inadvertently got some metallic object lodged or perhaps a stone or cement, then theres no chance of this will work. You’re more likely to clear the problem with a hook or unblocking tool to give it a manual prod. You could up the game to the HG Duo which is more potent still if you don’t fancy getting your hands dirty!

The other thing is have a care when you pour this down the drain. It’s designed to dissolve nasty organic matter, it’ll not differentiate between that and your fingers.

Pros:

• Very cheap option
• Decent chance of it clearing the blockage if you check online reviews
• Trustable brand
• No known reports of damage to the plastic pipework or ceramic toilet pan etc

Cons:

• Won’t clear metal or stone

Good old Mr Muscle, I’ve been subjected to his naff ads when I was growing up on an almost daily basis 😀 . On the plus side, they’ve now got a product to match up to the over the top ads – Mr Muscle Drain Foamer is probably the best drain unblocker in the UK to get rid of nasty smells in a kitchen sink as well as unblock – at least I think so from my testing. And the better news still is the price, it’s only a few quid like the HG 139100106 Liquid which is comparable in cost but designed for the bathroom instead. I decided to use and test this on my kitchen sink as it was running a bit slowly and started to smell. Yes I do a lot of greasy bbq’s and cook and prep a lot of fish. No doubt scales and all manner of nasty bits made their way down the drain – sorry for the graphic explanation but I’m sure you have your own battles if you’re here reading my article 🙂

So when you open the bottle the first thing you’re going to realise is it’s got two compartments that obviously store different chemicals and when they combine cause some kind of foaming reaction. Here’s a look at that:

As you can see when I pour it the compound begins to foam in the drain, this happens almost instantly- a good sign to me. Try to keep an even pour as one of the compounds seems more liquid than the other:

I use about half the bottle. I don’t know if I used too much, or because I have a slight block the foam started coming back out of the drain and into the pan. Either way I have no problem using a bit more than needed when you consider the alternatives are messy jobs 🙂 To start off with the foam was just in the plughole:

But after a minute or two it began to bubble out as I mentioned – I am guessing there is a smallish blockage but whatever I am happy to have used too much if it is fixing a problem:

I left it for a few hours and I have to admit I was impressed, the drain was running much better and the smell had gone. I will be using this again for maintenance to avoid a big build up. I am quite happy with the with putting her greasy washing down the plughole – she deals with all that and I am not going to interfere 🙂 So I’ll just help if it goes wrong 🙂 Here’s a look a few hours later – the foam has all but gone and I suspect no longer acting much:

After that, I just pour boiling water down the drain and that is us sorted. The smell appears to be gone. There is one issue though, there is a lingering bleach smell and it’s rather pungent so I just run the cold tap for a minute or two and that seems to do the trick. Here’s a look at the kettle and boiling water going down the drain:

Here’s an overview:

The way Mr Muscle Drain Foamer works is pretty much given away in the name. You gently pour it down your kitchen sink where it can sink to the blockage and will foam up. Assuming the build up is the usual – old fat and food, you have a pretty good chance of this working. It works by creating pressure, pushing the nasty blockage about and hopefully dislodging it. The hope is once dislodged hot water from the tap will be enough to finish pushing it away. I have to say, in my experience, nothing works quite this well for the money. It’s definitely the best liquid sink unblocker at this money. The big plus is that if this does work to remove the block, it’s a nailed on certainty to get rid of unpleasant odours too. Here’s a look at the simple instructions:

As you can see grease, hair, smells, and slow drains are its best applications. I have to say I prefer Buster bathroom drain unblocker for the bathroom when I compare these two directly though.

So to round up and generally summarise: it’s super simple to use and incase there’s any doubt over my technique here are the steps from their official video – the important parts. First is application:

Step 1) Simply pour in when your drain is empty allowing water to flow straight into your drain.

Step2) Wait for half an hour or check if the recommended time varies on back of packaging

Step 3) Flush with hot water and you’re good to go:

The manufacturers say give it half hour, I say give it as long as you can. There’s no harm is there and you give yourself the best possible chance of an easy fix.

There’s a few negative reviews online that it didn’t work. Some of those reviews were a mistake picking the wrong type of drain unblocker – there’s a big difference between the type designed to break down fat in kitchen pipes and hair in bath traps. Fortunately if you’ve read my review you’ll now know the difference and give yourself a reasonable chance of pulling off a fix without a plumber or a physical unblocking kit! That said, if this doesn’t workout you can always try with something stronger – The HG Duo which is pretty much unrivalled by the first two reviews when compared for ability to clear a blockage.

Pros:

• Super cheap liquid sink unblocker that actually works
• Best sink unblocker in the UK for the money
• Easy to apply
• Solves the problem quickly – 15 minutes or so but I kept mine in the drain for a few hours
• Highest rated for kitchen sinks online

Cons:

• Only for kitchens
• Not the strongest solution

When you comparer HG Duo to normal drain unblockers it’ll become pretty obvious the competition don’t stand much of a chance. This two part formula comes together to unclog seriously tough blockages in both the bathroom and kitchen.

Now you’re probably thinking that goes against everything I’ve been telling you to this point given I say drain unblockers are generally for either bathroom or kitchen and not for both applications. In this use case, you simple change the amount of each component you add. So in the bathroom you’ll addd a 2-1 ratio from bottle B to A, whereas in the Kitchen those ratios are reversed. So, here’s my problem with that. Given both bottles are equal volume, unless by some miracle you have blockages equally in the bathroom and kitchen you’ll end up with waste chemicals since it’s clear one method is more effective, you’ll be putting in a less effective method the second time…not really ideal is it and a trade off for the extra strength no question.

Like the other drain blockers there’s a specified minimum time, in this case it’s an hour, but just as I always mention leaving overnight is your best bet. If you’ve already tried boiling water and other options before this super strength one then chances are leaving overnight is going to be your best bet.

What you’ll find when you checkout other peoples opinions is the ability to clear blocks isn’t always possible calling it as waste of money! Some say caustic soda worked better, conversely others mention caustic soda worsened the block! What I’m getting at here is no two blockages are the same matter. Overall HG Duo definitely gives you the edge on an even playing field and is the best drain unblocker in the UK at the moment from my perspective.

The key to maximising your chances are to remove as much stagnant water as possible so the formula gets straight into the pipes. This give the least diluted solution direct to the source of the problem blockage. Give it overnight from here and then run your taps as per the instructions in the morning and see where you’re at. But to call it a waste of money is not true, it’s definitely worth a go, and as you know, people leave negative reviews far less frequently than positive. Most people using this product silently and happily use it again. I would realistically say it is fixing you 9 out of 10 times. Beats a plumber callout and it’s what I do with a block no question about that when you compare the situation and take a step back. And remember if it doesn’t work the first time you still have another chance in the same set pouring what’s left of the set in and crossing fingers 😀

Just remember though, this isn’t an outside drain solution, with all the mention of strength I just wanted to clear that up! 🙂 If this fails there are really only two options left, get a drain unblocker tool or call a plumber. It depends largely on whether or not you’re willing to get your hands dirty!

Pros:

• Very strong and your best chance of clearing a serious block
• Instructions pretty clear
• Multiple attempts in one set to clear the problem
• Definitely a last resort option
• Clears blockages caustic soda cant sometimes

Cons:

• Doesn’t fix all blockages
• Bit on the expensive side so worth trying a cheaper solution first

If you’ve got a bathroom blockage the Buster Bathroom Plughole Unblocker is where I’d go first, no question on that and when I compare it to its direct rival the HG 139100106 Liquid I feel like this is a better shout because of the price point – granted HG 139100106 Liquid gives you more chances when directly compared (they are direct competitors) but still, this is my favoured means of attack, especially if you’re willing to leave the chemicals down for a decent amount of time. And Not only that, I have tried and tested this for a slow running bathroom trap clogged with all sorts – I think hair, cardboard, gunk, and whatever else you can imagine! I thank the kids for that, I haven’t had this bathroom unit in for much more than 6 months. Anyway here’s a quick look at how this bathroom unblocker saved me from getting my hands dirty:

Not only is it the cheapest, it’s also probably the most effective as well. You basically pour in the whole bottle and cross your fingers. 😀 No seriously though – cross your fingers 🙂

Remember to get rid of all the stagnant water so this can go straight down into the pipes. I don’t like to be receptively boring but it’s crucial to give this formula as long as possible. You’ll notice the manufacturer saying give it 15 minutes but the reality is two days wouldn’t be too long! The more time you give it, the more chance this formula has at dissolving hair, and other nasty organic waste down there as well as soap and bits and pieces. Here’s a look at the instructions close up:

Make sure there is no water in the sink pan and just pour it down – nothing fancy. Here’s me testing the Buster bathroom drain unblocker on a slow drain:

I can’t over stress enough to leave it be, I know it’s kind of exciting to know if this has worked to clear the blockage, but when the time comes, boil up a kettle of water and get it boiling straight into that pipe. You’ll realise from my raised high pitch voice how pleased I was 😀 Well done, there’s a seriously decent chance you’ve just fixed the problem without a plumber or getting hands messy!

If that didn’t fix the problem though you’re at a cross roads, do you go for the HG Duo which is considerably stronger, or do you buy a physical unblocking drain tool? When I compare the options available I’d have to say the drain unblocking tool is the best probability for success though I know for a fact I will use HG Duo as I’m not a fan of getting stuck into the old muck 😀

From a cost standpoint this is my choice for the best bathroom drain unblocker.

Pros:

• Best priced chance to clear drain block
• Good at dissolving hair for bathroom blocks
• Highest block clearing rate on Amazon
• Just throw it in an empty plug hole

Cons:

• Only one shot so might want to buy two

So far we haven’t looked at a solution for the outside drains. Jeyes Drain Unblocker is the solution you’re looking for. Not only is it the highest rated with thousands of feedback, when you compare the effectiveness to other outside drain unblocker, this is ahead of the pack making it my best choice for outside drain unblocker in my mind.

Given the external drains are so large, I tend to throw in loads of Jeyes own the drain which I should point out is NOT the manufacturer recommendation, they suggest 100ml so you essentially get ten goes at it. However, that didn’t work for me so I panicked and poured down way more which worked. I felt that gives me the best shot at clearing whatever grease and built up fat and muck that is on the inside of my pipes. The manufacturer says give it half hour – this is quite difficult if you’ve got a load of kids or guests, be it the sink running, dishwasher, washing machine, the flush of a toilet etc. So rather than do it at night, what I do is pick a time we are all headed out and I know no one is in. Be it we are hitting the shops for a couple of hours or work and school. The point is I set it up so that I don’t have to worry about the fluid being washed away and letting it do it’s thing.

Looking closer at timing, The manufacturer says half hour but longer the better is the real answer – any edge you can get without calling in a plumber to blast out the drain saves you a fortune. You can repeat this process if it doesn’t work the first time but the costs add up. Personally I throw some caustic soda down the drain if the drain unblocker doesn’t get it, then I get out the unblocker pipes, sadly, that’s your best bet otherwise you can end up slinging fifty quid down the drain 😀 no pun intended.

Give a bit of consideration to the fact this is corrosive on metals too – that should tell you everything you need to know about the strength of the acid in this 🙂

Pros:

• Best choice for outside drain unblocker
• Reasonable price
• Highest rated to clear your outside drain

Cons:

• Might not work first time if block is severe.
• 100ml suggested might not be enough

I’ve had the horrible misfortune of bringing you a main drain rod test 😀 I tell you what. These rods were superb and did the job no hassle. Except one absolutely shocking thing. I have to tell you – it’s nasty. I’m like a magnet for crap, literally 😀 As I pulled the rods out (clearly I’ve not put this on video) Seeing the mess alone is enough. As I’m undoing the rods I’ve got the gloves on fine. The parts come away nicely. I am carrying them and I haven’t noticed one of the hollow tubes has a leak! Yes, sh-t water all up my leg. Needless to say the wife found that hilarious. I ran for the shower. Apart from that, these drain rods were superb. They worked fo well I wasn’t even angry about the above, just relieved I’d sorted the drain problem.

WARNING AN TIP FROM PERSONALLY USING AND TESTING THESE: make absolutely sure as you screw the rods together you keep turning the rods in the direction that tightens the rods together. If you turn the rods the wrong way you can unscrew them and really get into trouble. My video shows this:

These rods were really nice and flexible. They screwed together well, and when it came to giving the block a good shove it cleared very easily. The screw sections felt tight and secure if I kept spinning in the direction to tighten them as I pushed the rod down the waste:

I was hesitant at first but grew in confidence once I realised I found the block! I used the grapple hook rather than the plastic circular section. I wasn’t convinced on how strong that looked and the grapple is smaller therefore much less likely to catch.

So something I also factored. My drain pipe was about 15m long, so I bought two kits as you can just keep screwing the rods together, and the fact they are just shy of a metre section they work in tight spaces where you’re near a wall as I am. I felt very comfortable flexing these as I say so all good really.

As I mention above the tubes are hollow (as I unfortunately found out on one that leaked), and very flexible. If you had to go around angles it’ll need a big shove but will go. For the money I paid these are cheaper than the Baileys, it’s direct competition, and definitely stood up to the test. I would buy the Baileys again if these were out of stock, otherwise, sticking to these is a decent saving in my opinion from testing.

The Silverline 395010 Drain Unblocker is without doubt a cracking tool and with some patience you’ll be able to drill your way through whatever fat, or block you have and it’s equally as effective in bathrooms as it is kitchens, which when you compare the different options is unusual as drain unblockers go. So it’s definitely a great tool. When I reviewed this a couple of year back it didn’t have anywhere near as much feedback and was very much an unknown. The design hasn’t really changed at all – its still effective for the money.

But with that said you’ve got to go steady and be patient with this thing. The negative reviews you’ll see online are almost always with regards to the mechanism bending. We need to be clear, this is NOT a ram rod. It is a drill bit. Treat it as such and you’ll have a really good chance of clearing blocks that chemical drain unblockers would not have managed. If you look at the construction and think carefully its obvious how this is intended to be used. The grapple on the end is design to drill it’s way into the clog. You then pull backward releasing some of the blockage, then push forward, slowly breaking your way through the entire block. This isn’t a quick method for the most serious blocks but it will work.

It’s obviously no where near as robust at the best drain unblocking tool we reviewed and compared with this model but it is certainly much cheaper and worth a go before spending upwards of forty quid on a real drain ram rod.

Don’t be put off either, one chap managed to clear an entire length of pipe with this tool, you just have to be reasonably steady:

The best advice I can give you on serious blocks is try with a friend or helper, one can hold the tool while the other operates it. Four hands seem to be ideal to slowly work away at your blockage!

Pros:

• Top selling and rated drain unblocker
• Very well priced – less than HG Duo when compared
• This unblocker can be used for cleaning sinks, drains and showers.

Cons:

• • Push too hard and you’ll buckle it.

I really like Mr Muscle Sink and Plug Unblocker for a couple of reasons. Its a really good all rounder that can do the job of both HG 139100106 Liquid and Buster Bathroom Plughole Unblocker. Whilst more expensive to clear the block when compared with these two options, you do get two packs and far more chemical. The clearance rate is considerably higher and I would compare the performance to HG Duo which is arguably the best liquid drain unblocker available in the UK at the moment.

It’s really easy to use. Just pour this straight into the drain with as little water sitting as possible. Leave it for just 5 minutes and you’re good to go according to Mr Muscle. That said you want to leave be for much longer if possible to give yourself the very best chance of clearing the block. As a sink unblocker I think its second to none and by far the easiest and safest seriously strong block remover.

A word of warning, this is so potent you really don’t want to mix it with other cleaning products – you run the risk of a chemical reaction and literally releasing chlorine gas…

Pros:

• It can be used for kitchen, bathroom, and even bathtub drains.
• Super effective for an ease to use liquid
• Well priced
• As good as HG Duo when compared for unblocking ability.
• Only needs 5 short minutes

Cons:

• Other cheaper unblockers might do the job before spending on this.

These are great. The Bailey 5431 Universal Drain Rod Set is just as reliable as it was three years ago when I initially wrote this review. Amazingly they haven’t much improved on this design but instead made a lockable set so you don’t nee to twist in a clockwise direction to hold the screwing mechanism together.

The set is pretty flexible I have to say. You can normally get around a 90 degree angle or two before this will give up on you which isn’t far off what the professionals have to work with. The most important thing is to read the instructions and make sure you keep turning them clockwise so they don’t come apart when inserting or puling out. If you’re not comfortable with that extra complication then pay more for the Bailey 5503 when they become available again.

Don’t forget to give them a good clean off after use obviously. I’d personally pour boiling water over them first to kill anything unwanted.

Pros:

• Normally clear most blocks
• Pretty well price
• Bailey 5503 available if you don’t want to rotate clockwise

Cons:

• Involved process
• Have to rotate clockwise or will fall apart