I tested cheap supermarket drain unblockers – a £2 buy beat Mr Muscle and worked immediately

The Sun

23-04-2025

MOST households have suffered a blocked drain at some point, especially residents who have long hair or live in older homes.
However, even the toughest blockages can be dissolved quickly if you pick the right drain unblocker.
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Saving you time or the cost of a plumber, most of these solutions use a mix of chemicals that can quickly break down clogs caused by hair, grease, soap and food waste and get your water flowing again.
We put a range of drain cleaners to the test to find out which ones do the job and are worth your time and money.
Mr Muscle Drain Gel (500ml)
£3.75, ocado.com
I tested this on a kitchen sink that was quite blocked with grease, food particles and washing up liquid causing it to drain quite slowly.
Enter Mr Muscle, a potent formula made which is made up of caustic soda and bleach so it can dissolve fat and oils quickly.
After about 15 minutes I could see it was foaming and after flushing it out with hot water, the drain was clear.
It does have a very strong smell so it's best to ventilate the room whilst using it.
If you are sensitive or prefer a mix that is kinder to the environment, this might not be for you. This one is very pricey, too.
Peformance: 5/5
Value: 2/5
Overall score: 7/10
Drain Unblocker Gel by Asda (500ml)
£1.88, groceries.asda.uk
An excellent price from Asda, this is the cheapest unblocker I could find. You can leave it for 15 minutes or overnight for tough blockages before rinsing away.
Initially, I thought it had worked well on a clogged up bathroom sink and for a couple of days the water was flowing away quickly again.
However, within a week, it appeared clogged again and I had to use a second treatment so I'm not sure it was the best value for money.
Performance: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Overall score: 6/10
I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1)
Tesco Sink and Drain Unblocker (500ml)
£2.25.
The Tesco solution worked quickly, clearing a blocked sink in just 15 minutes.
For tougher blockages, you could leave it overnight. The smell wasn't too overpowering and it's suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms.
It got the job done, quickly and easily, with minimal effort on my part. This one is also reasonably priced for the quality.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall score: 9/10
Sink and Plughole Unblocker by Sainsbury's (500ml) - WINNER
£2, sainsburys.co.uk
This fast-acting formula from Sainsbury's was impressive. It's designed for use in bathrooms and kitchens and managed to unclog simple build-ups in just 15 minutes.
Compared to many of the other products, it was fairly gentle on the nose and I didn't suffer any irritation after using it.
My bathroom sink had been draining very slowly for some time but when I poured this in, I could see it was bubbling away and it worked.
It worked just as well on kitchen sink grease as it did getting rid of hair clogs in the bathroom.
A solid all-rounder, a great price, and now a must have in my cleaning cupboard.
Performance: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Overall score: 10/10
Stardrops Sink and Drain Unblocker (500ml)
£2, groceries.asda.uk
This one worked in a very similar way to the Sainsbury's unblocker and the ingredients look the same. The bottle is virtually identical in every way.
It performed well, producing a satisfying gurgle as I poured it down the drain and I could see it was bubbling away.
It took around an hour to clear clogs and when I left it overnight, all clogs vanished completely.
Performance: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Total score: 9/10
Elbow Grease Drain Unblocker (750ml)
£2, ocado.com
You get a bigger bottle here for your £2, but that didn't make the solution any more effective. It cut through standing water and quickly reached the blockage, fizzing away.
It did ease the blockage but it didn't entirely clear it, even if left overnight.
It's not suitable for pouring down toilets or septic tanks.
The instructions recommend using half a bottle every week - I'd rather only pay out for these once in a while.
Performance: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 5/10
Buster Unblocker Bathroom (300ml)
£4, amazon.co.uk
This Buster unblocker is specifically designed to combat common bathroom clogs including hair, soap scum, shower oils, toothpaste residue and the like.
The first thing that hit me was the potent smell - it's very strong. It's also a smaller bottle, containing just 300ml fluid, so I was sceptical if there was enough to make a difference.
I left it for half an hour before rinsing with hot water but the concentrated formula had worked.
The drain was clear and there was no need for a second treatment. Buster also offers a money back guarantee if it doesn't get the job done.
Performance: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Total score: 8/10
Cillit Bang Drain Hair Unblocker (1litre)
£4.50, amazon.co.uk
Another product designed specifically to tackle hair blockages and soap scum. It fizzed away, getting rid of hair from the shower drain, and seemed to perform ok.
The clogs did reappear after a few weeks so I'm not convinced its the best value on offer, although you don't have to use the full litre each time.
It's handy that you can order this one on Amazon.
Performance: 3/5
Value: 2/5
Total score: 5/10
Lidl W5 Drain Cleaner Gel (1 litre)
£3.09
Lidl's drain cleaner is quite powerful, containing chlorine-based cleaning agents. As a result, it smells quite potent so you'll need to ventilate the room whilst using this product.
It's great value for a big bottle and even half of it did a good job of clearing stubborn blockages.
The chemicals and smell probably mean it's not the best eco-friendly choice but if you are struggling with blockages, this is very powerful and works a treat.
Incredible value - goes to show buying a big brand doesn't always mean they perform better.
Performance: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Overall score: 9/10