Expert Guide
12
Products Compared
15,000+
Reviews Analysed
£2
Best Value Winner
Chemical vs
Enzyme Compared
Drain Unblocker Reviews UK 2026Complete Brand Comparison: Which Actually Works?
Honest comparison of Mr Muscle, Buster, HG, Ecozone & supermarket brands. We analysed 15,000+ real customer reviews to find out which products actually work - and which are a waste of money.
Quick Verdict: Our Top Picks
💰
Best Value
Sainsbury's Own - £2
Beat Mr Muscle in Which? testing at half the price. No reason to pay more.
💇
Best for Hair
Buster Bathroom - £2.50
Specifically formulated for hair. Hundreds of 5-star reviews for shower drains.
🌱
Best Eco-Friendly
Ecozone - £8.33
100% biodegradable, vegan, Amazon's Choice. Safe for pipes and septic systems.
💡
Professional Plumber's Advice
We don't recommend chemical drain cleaners for regular use. They only punch a hole through blockages - they don't remove debris. The clog returns within weeks. A wet vac + plunger is a better £50 one-time investment that actually removes blockages completely.
Environmental Impact Comparison
| Product | Biodegradable | Septic Safe | Waterway Impact | Pipe Damage Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Muscle Power Gel | ✗ No | ✗ No | High | Medium |
| Buster Bathroom Plughole | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | Medium | Low |
| Sainsbury's Sink & Plughole | ✗ No | ✗ No | Medium | Medium |
| Ecozone Enzymatic Kitchen | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | None | None |
| HG Kitchen Drain Unblocker | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Low | None |
| Domestos 15 Minute Sink & Pipe | ✗ No | ✗ No | High | Medium |
Source: EPA 2021 Report - 46% of rivers and streams in poor biological condition, with household chemical runoff a contributing factor.
What's Actually In Them?
🧪
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)
Found in: Mr Muscle, Buster, Kilrock, Supermarket Brands
Concentration: 15-50%
How it works: Generates heat up to 100°C, saponifies fats, dissolves hair through alkaline hydrolysis
Notes:
- Burns skin on contact
- Damages PVC pipes with repeated use
⚗️
Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)
Found in: Domestos, Some Multipurpose Cleaners
Concentration: 5-15%
How it works: Oxidizes organic matter, kills bacteria and breaks down protein-based clogs
Notes:
- Toxic fumes when mixed with acids
- Can bleach/discolour surfaces
🌱
Enzymes & Bacteria
Found in: HG Kitchen, Ecozone, Bio-Clean
Concentration: Natural
How it works: Natural bacteria colonies digest organic matter over hours/days. Biological decomposition.
Notes:
- None - safe for pipes
- Safe for septic systems
Price Comparison Table
| Product | Size | Price | Price/Litre | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's Own | 500ml | £2.00 | £4.00/L | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Tesco Own | 500ml | £2.25 | £4.50/L | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mr Muscle | 1L | £4.25 | £4.25/L | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Buster Bathroom | 300ml | £2.50 | £8.33/L | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Domestos | 500ml | £3.50 | £7.00/L | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| HG Kitchen | 1L | £7.00 | £7.00/L | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ecozone | 1L | £8.33 | £8.33/L | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Full Product Reviews
Mr Muscle Power Gel
ChemicalPrice
£3.75-4.25
Rating
4.7/5 ⭐
Reviews
331+
Work Time
5-15 minutes
Best For
Kitchen grease blockages
Pros
- ✓Fastest acting (5 minutes)
- ✓3x more effective than bleach
- ✓Safe for all pipe types
- ✓Cuts through standing water
Cons
- ✗Strong chemical smell
- ✗Not septic safe
- ✗Environmental concerns
- ✗May need multiple applications
⭐ Best Review
"Had a bath drain so clogged it took 4 hours to drain. Used Mr Muscle, the following morning the shower drained perfectly. Would have been £200+ for a plumber."— Amazon UK
👎 Worst Review
"A complete waste of money. Poured two bottles down with boiling water, left it 12+ hours each time. Didn't help at all."— Trustpilot
Verdict: Fastest-acting option for urgent situations. Works well on grease and food blockages but has environmental concerns. Best for one-off emergency use.
Buster Bathroom Plughole
ChemicalPrice
£2.50-3.00
Rating
4.6/5 ⭐
Reviews
500+
Work Time
15-60 minutes
Best For
Hair and soap scum
Pros
- ✓Specifically formulated for hair
- ✓No strong bleach smell
- ✓30-year track record
- ✓Septic tank safe
Cons
- ✗Smaller bottle size
- ✗May need overnight for tough clogs
- ✗Higher price per litre
⭐ Best Review
"Used Mr Muscle, which did absolutely nothing. Used this and drain unclogged in minutes. Will buy again. Hundreds of five-star reviews from verified buyers."— Amazon UK
👎 Worst Review
"After reading rave reviews I bought a 3 pack and used one full bottle per plug, left it overnight and flushed through with boiling water. Zero change."— Amazon UK
Verdict: Best choice for bathroom drains with hair blockages. Specifically formulated and more pleasant to use than Mr Muscle. Worth the premium for bathroom use.
Sainsbury's Sink & Plughole
ChemicalPrice
£2.00
Rating
4.5/5 ⭐
Reviews
100+
Work Time
15 minutes
Best For
Best value for all blockages
Pros
- ✓Best value (£4/litre)
- ✓Beat Mr Muscle in Which? tests
- ✓Cleared blockages in 15 minutes
- ✓Widely available
Cons
- ✗Generic packaging
- ✗Same chemicals as premium brands
- ✗Not septic safe
⭐ Best Review
"Sainsbury's cleared my sink in 15 minutes for £2. Why pay more? The £2 buy beat Mr Muscle in independent testing."— Which?
👎 Worst Review
"Same as any other chemical drain cleaner - works but doesn't fully clear the blockage long-term."— LatestDeals
Verdict: BEST VALUE. Outperformed premium brands in independent testing at half the price. No reason to pay more for big brand names.
Ecozone Enzymatic Kitchen
EnzymePrice
£8.33
Rating
4.5/5 ⭐
Reviews
200+
Work Time
20 minutes - overnight
Best For
Eco-conscious homeowners
Pros
- ✓100% biodegradable
- ✓Vegan & cruelty-free
- ✓Amazon's Choice
- ✓No harsh chemicals
- ✓Safe for all pipe types
Cons
- ✗Slower acting
- ✗May need multiple applications
- ✗Won't clear severe blockages
⭐ Best Review
"Used in the bathroom and kitchen and has certainly improved the flow. No chemical smell and being eco friendly is a definite bonus."— Amazon UK
👎 Worst Review
"Needed more than one application. Works but slowly - not for emergencies."— Amazon UK
Verdict: BEST ECO-FRIENDLY OPTION. Perfect for regular maintenance and environmentally conscious users. Not for emergencies but excellent for prevention.
HG Kitchen Drain Unblocker
EnzymePrice
£6-8
Rating
4.3/5 ⭐
Reviews
41+
Work Time
30 minutes - overnight
Best For
Kitchen grease (eco-friendly)
Pros
- ✓Biodegradable
- ✓Septic tank safe
- ✓No pipe damage risk
- ✓Freshens smelly drains
Cons
- ✗Slower than chemical alternatives
- ✗More expensive
- ✗Not for severe blockages
⭐ Best Review
"Bleach didn't fix it, drain unblocker didn't fix it, but this did! The best one ever for persistent kitchen drain issues."— Robert Dyas
👎 Worst Review
"Works eventually but you need patience. Not suitable if you need a quick fix."— Amazon UK
Verdict: Best eco-friendly option for kitchen drains. Slower but safer for pipes, septic systems, and the environment. Ideal for regular maintenance.
Domestos 15 Minute Sink & Pipe
ChemicalPrice
£3-4
Rating
4/5 ⭐
Reviews
150+
Work Time
15 minutes
Best For
Quick fixes and odour elimination
Pros
- ✓Works in 15 minutes
- ✓Eliminates odours
- ✓Trusted brand
- ✓Effective on soap scum
Cons
- ✗Bleach-based (toxic fumes)
- ✗Not for all blockage types
- ✗Can discolour fixtures
⭐ Best Review
"Unblocks pipes in just 15 minutes. Works efficiently on clogged showers and slow-draining sinks."— Amazon UK
👎 Worst Review
"Strong bleach smell. Didn't work on a hair clog at all - had to use Buster afterwards."— Amazon UK
Verdict: Decent all-rounder but bleach-based, so not ideal for hair clogs. Better for soap scum and maintaining fresh-smelling drains.
When to Use Each Type
| Blockage Type | Best Product | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hair (bathroom) | Buster Bathroom | Specifically formulated for hair dissolution |
| Grease (kitchen) | Mr Muscle or HG | Sodium hydroxide saponifies fats effectively |
| Soap scum | Sainsbury's Own | Best value, effective on soap |
| Preventative maintenance | Ecozone | Safe for regular use, no pipe damage |
| Septic tank home | HG Kitchen or Ecozone | Enzyme-based, septic safe |
Hampshire Hard Water Considerations
The chalk aquifer serving Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8) and Hungerford (RG17) produces some of the hardest water in the UK. This affects drain unblocker performance:
- •Limescale accelerates drain buildup - more frequent maintenance needed
- •Chemical unblockers work faster in hard water (more to dissolve)
- •Enzyme cleaners work slower - may need longer contact time
- •Monthly maintenance is essential - don't wait for blockages to form
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