The Chemical Used in Drain Cleaner

Chemical drain cleaner solutions are products that are typically poured into clogged or sluggish drains, effectively clearing them from obstructions that are causing the slow flow of liquid from your sinks, toilets, tubs, and drains. These formulations are devised to help dissolve or at the very least soften or break down human hair, waste, grease build up, and/or food particles, that usually back up sinks and drains. Drain cleaner chemical products come in a variety of shapes and forms. Most cleaners are liquid formulations that can easily be poured down directly into your drain pipes. Others come in powder form, designed to be used with warm water or poured directly into drains to cause a reaction and soften clogs. Drain cleaner formulations available these days either use conventional chemical formulations or more environmentally friendly, biodegradable forms.

Chemical drain cleaners are by far the most commonly sold and used types of cleaners the world over. Most formulations consist of sodium hydroxide in the form of lye or caustic soda and/or sulfuric acid.

These are extremely corrosive chemicals that break down organic materials along with many types of metals. Chemical cleaners help clear clogs quickly, but they can also be damaging to different materials and can burn through skin and clothes. This is why utmost care must be taken when using these types of cleaners. More environmentally friendly cleaners come in the form of enzymatic formulations, which may not work as quickly as chemical based cleaners but don’t pose the same risks as corrosive chemicals.

Caustic soda or sodium hydroxide in its pure form comes as a solid, waxy, white substance that readily absorbs water. Sodium hydroxide is a caustic base that decomposes proteins. This highly soluble compound absorbs carbon dioxide and moisture from the air. It is most commonly used as an ingredient for many types of cleaning agents, including industrial cleaners. A powerful compound, sodium hydroxide in cleaning solutions is able to dissolve oil, grease, fats, and other protein-based deposits. This is what makes sodium hydroxide an effective chemical for cleaning and unclogging waste discharge pipes. In many cases, surfactants are added to sodium hydroxide solutions to help stabilize the dissolved substances and prevent redeposition.

TruFusion has the best range of drain cleaner chemical products and chemical drain cleaner formulations designed to help dissolve clogs and prevent further build-up. TruFusion’s series of drain cleaners feature concentrated formulations that ensure rapid action against stubborn drain obstructions, opening up your pipelines for a continuous, smooth flow of fluids.