Is Bleach really effective at cleaning drains? How does it get around the water in the trap?

Thank you to all the plumbing professionals who offer their advice and expertise

Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts

Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:

How to Show Images

Newest Subjects

Is Bleach really effective at cleaning drains? How does it get around the water in the trap?
Author: JamesAA (CA) I've heard from people and read a few things online about putting a cup or 2 of bleach down the drain to eat away at all the gunk, then flushing with water some hours later. But how can the bleach ever get past the water in the trap? Edited 1 times.
Post Reply

Re: Is Bleach really effective at cleaning drains? How does it get around the water in the trap?

Author: hj (AZ)

That is the problem will ALL chemicals, they have to be heavy enough to sink through the water, but also powerful enough to withstand the dilution by the water. Bleach is completely ineffective as is baking soda and vinegar. The commercial drain cleaners are already diluted when you buy them in order to avoid harming you and initiating product liability lawsuits. In 60+ years I have worked on multitudes of drains with "Drano" in them and have never been burned by them, whether I was wearing gloves or not. The only way I know the customer poured a drain cleaner down the drain is that the water has a "slippery" feel to it.

Please note:

Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.

Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:

Plbg Advisor List Common Plumbing Terms Find A Plumber Plumbing Manufacturers Directory theplumber.com

Special thanks to our sponsor:

to FAQ's - to popular subjects - to plumbing books - to Tankless 101 - to plumbing history - to helping charities - to contact us