Cleaning the bathroom is a chore that few people - aside from cleanfluencers - relish, but it’s a job that always needs doing.
While scrubbing soap scum off the sink and getting rid of watermarks is tedious, we would take these tasks hand over fist if the other job was unblocking drains.
Even if you live by yourself, clearing standing water from the bath, shower or sink is a heinous mission - and if you share with family or flatmates it’s enough to bring the ick out in us all. After all, it’s one thing clearing up your own gunk, but quite another when it’s someone else’s.
Beyond the bathroom, the kitchen is another top candidate for blockages. Large pieces of food waste, scraps and packaging can tumble down the drain and become lodged, needing urgent action.
Clogged drains aren’t the end of the world but they do need to be addressed quickly, or you could find yourself footing expensive plumber bills. Although they happen all the time, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to at least slow down how often you’ll have to fix this particular issue.
As always, prevention is better than cure. Make sure to use a proper plug to catch bigger bits of debris to drop them travelling down and blocking the drain in the first place. Pop-up designs means they’re easier to remove and wipe down with a tissue when they’ve caught as much rubbish as they can.
You can also get drain protectors to position over the top of plugs as a first defence against larger pieces of dirt and to catch jewellery that has accidentally fallen off.
And for really stubborn situations, there are special liquids and tools to help clear your pipes and return your bathroom to regular working order.
We’ve rounded up the best unblockers and blocking preventers to keep your drains in tip-top shape and spare you having to clean them all the time. From best selling products to a few new inventions, here are the best to buy now.
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Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker, Sink & Drain Cleaner
Stubborn blockages promise to vamoose under the unforgiving presence of Mr Muscle’s drain unblocker.
The formula is designed to be used all in one go to clear your pipes of built-up dirt and grime and standing water. Simply pour, wait five minutes and flush through with hot water.
This is the big gun to call in if the blockage is too big for a snake drain.
Buy now £5.40, Amazon
Clarsen Drain Cleaner
Big blockages call for big solutions. This cleaner comes with a set of adapters to fit everything from the sink, shower/bath - even the toilet - ready to call on should they become overwhelmed with gunk.
There’s no need for toxic chemicals or sluicing off compacted waste with this option. Instead, this gadget uses compressed air to blast away dirt, grease and other kinds of build-up - just pump and pull the trigger.
Of all the unblocking options out there, this is the funnest. Future blockages? You’ll relish the prospect.
Buy now £15.99, Coopers of Stortford
Green Gobbler Dissolve Tub, Sink & Drain Unblocker
When you start noticing water isn’t swilling down into the sink as quickly as it does usually, it’s time for action. This bottle of Green Gobbler can clear pipes, toilets and septic systems using a biodegradable and scentless formula that is guaranteed to work - or your money back. There are two applications in this bottle design but one is enough for tubs and sinks (a double does is best for lavatories). Pour in, wait at least 15-30 minutes or ovenight if you can, and then flush with water to get things moving again.
Buy now £19.97, Amazon
LEKEYE Drain Hair Catcher
Made to catch pet as well as human hair and stop it building up in your drains, this stainless steel catcher promises to be a sound investment in the bath or shower. It collects hair and winds it around a rubber sealing ring, making it easier to remove and bin when the time comes. While it can keep large bits out of your pipes, the design means that it won’t impede water flow or slow down drainage.
Buy now £11.99, Amazon
2 Pcs Silicone Drain Protector with Sucker
If you’re not able to replace your current sink plug, give it a helping hand with this drain protector which can be placed over it. It will act as a first line of defence for your drains, stopping large bits from tumbling down into your pipes and causing a headache in the future. Made from easy-clean silicone, there are rubber suckers under each corner to prevent the mat from moving around.
Buy now £3.99, Amazon
Ecozone Enzymatic Drain Cleaning Sticks - Citrus
If you’re not into the idea of essentially napalming your drains with bleach and other chemicals, Ecozone offers a kinder solution that’s still tough on blockages.
Available in a pack of 12, simply drop one stick down the plug and let it sit there for four weeks before replacing. The preventative measure will break down food, fat and grease that end up in there, making back-up and bad smells a thing of the past.
Do this every month for healthy, happy, free-flowing drains.
Buy now £4.50, Ocado
Universal Pipe Dredging Sink Cleaning Brush
The daily business of getting yourself squeaky clean has a dark side, and it can be found in your plugholes.
Build up causes slow drainage, so before it reaches a point where you’re standing in ankle deep water, get ahead of the grime game with help from this tool. The stainless steel device is covered in hard wearing nylon bristles that will lift sludge from beneath your sink, bath and shower plug holes, ready for the bin.
We can’t deny the ickiness but it’s better than standing in scummy water.
Buy now £3.99, Amazon
Marigold Unisex Marigold gloves
These cleaning gloves should be in everyone's cleaning supplies. Strong and long-lasting with triple layers and a comfortable cotton lining, consider them your armor against bacteria, dust, mould and other nasties.
Buy now £2.70, Amazon
