Zep Clog Attack Vs. Drano: Which Drain Clog Remover Is Best?

Drain clogs can occur in any home, causing unwanted water backups and unpleasant odors. Two popular chemical drain cleaners on the market are Zep Clog Attack and Drano Max Gel Clog Remover.

But which one is more effective at busting through tough clogs? Here is a detailed comparison of the key features and performance of these two products to help you decide which is best for your needs.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	Zep Clog Attack	Drano Max Gel
Active Ingredients	Sulfuric Acid, Nitric Acid	Sodium Hydroxide, Aluminum
Form	Gel	Gel
Scent	Light citrus	No added fragrance
Safety	Moderate precautions needed	Use extreme caution
Directions	Pour directly into drain	Pour into drain, wait 30 mins before rinsing
Drain Types	Sink, tub, laundry, sewer line	Sink, tub, laundry, sewer line
Claim Time	Works in 10 minutes	Works in 15 minutes
Price	$10-15 for 32 oz	$4-8 for 32 oz
Customer Rating	4.5 out of 5	3.5 out of 5

Overview of Zep Clog Attack

Zep Clog Attack is a highly concentrated sulfuric and nitric acid-based gel formula designed to quickly penetrate and dissolve organic matter clogs. Key features include:

• Active Ingredients: Sulfuric acid and nitric acid work together to dissolve hair, soap scum, grease, oils, paper, food, and other organic clog-causing materials.
• Gel Formula: Clings to pipes instead of running off quickly like liquid drain openers. Provides concentrated contact with clogs.
• Fast-Acting: Promises to start working within 10 minutes to open drains.
• Light Citrus Scent: Provides a light citrus fragrance instead of harsh chemical odors.
• For All Drains: Can be used to clear clogs in sinks, tubs, laundry drains, sewer pipes.
• Caution Required: Gloves and proper ventilation needed when handling. Can cause burns if mishandled.

Overview of Drano Max Gel

Drano Max Gel Clog Remover contains sodium hydroxide and aluminum shards to break down and remove clogs. Key features include:

• Active Ingredients: Sodium hydroxide breaks down oils, hair, and other organics. Aluminum shards help pierce through debris.
• Gel Formula: Adheres to pipe walls like Zep Clog Attack. Stays in contact with clogs.
• Wait 30 Minutes: Instructions say to wait 30 minutes after use before rinsing drain.
• For All Drains: Can be used to clear sink, tub, laundry, and sewer line clogs.
• Use Extreme Caution: Very corrosive to eyes, skin, aluminum, and other materials if mishandled.
• No Added Scent: Does not contain fragrance like some drain cleaner gels.

Also Read: Comparison Between Zep Liquid Heat and Drano

Key Differences Between Zep Clog Attack Vs. Drano

We have discussed about their fundamental’s yet. Now let’s explore the key differences across their features:

Active Ingredients

• Zep Clog Attack contains two powerful acids – sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The combination of these two acids allows Zep to dissolve organic material clogs rapidly.
• Drano Max Gel’s active ingredients are sodium hydroxide and aluminum metal. The sodium hydroxide breaks down oils and organics while the aluminum shards physically pierce through debris to open clogs.
• The sulfuric/nitric acid combination in Zep Clog Attack is able to dissolve a wider variety of clog-causing materials than sodium hydroxide. The acids can breakdown organics like hair as well as inorganics like soap scum or mineral deposits.

Safety Precautions

• Zep Clog Attack requires gloves, eye protection, and using in a well ventilated area. The acids can cause burns if they come in contact with skin or eyes. However, the fuming citrus scent provides warning if vapors are present.
• Drano Max Gel is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns and eye damage if mishandled. The product contains lye (sodium hydroxide) which can burn skin, eyes, mouth, and lungs rapidly if exposed. Drano does not have an added scent to alert users to vapor presence.
• While both products require caution, Drano Max Gel is generally considered more dangerous than Zep Clog Attack if accidentally splashed or touched without protection. The sodium hydroxide in Drano can cause worse tissue burns more quickly than Zep’s acid formula.

Odor

• Zep Clog Attack has a light citrus scent from fragrance added to the formula. This provides a more pleasant odor than many drain cleaner chemicals when used.
• Drano Max Gel has no added fragrance or scent. As a result, it tends to produce strong chemical odors during and after use in clearing clogs. The smell can linger for a while after it is used.
• For those concerned about odor, Zep Clog Attack’s citrus smell is a clear advantage over the harsh chemical fumes produced by Drano Max Gel.

Directions for Use

• Zep Clog Attack directions are straightforward – pour directly into drain, wait 10 minutes, then flush with hot water. No mixing or dilution required before use.
• Drano Max Gel also pours directly into the drain, but directions say to wait 30 minutes before rinsing the drain, significantly longer than Zep’s 10 minutes.
• The shorter wait time before rinsing makes Zep Clog Attack a bit more convenient and user friendly. Drano’s 30 minute wait requires more patience.

Drain Types

• Both Zep Clog Attack and Drano Max Gel can be used in all standard household drains – sinks, tubs, shower, laundry drains, and sewer pipes.
• The effective ingredients in each product are able to break down and dissolve the types of organic clogs that commonly occur in kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room plumbing.
• When it comes to versatility for clearing clogs in different drains, Zep and Drano are equal in their range of approved uses.

Speed of Action

• Zep Clog Attack claims to start dissolving clogs within 10 minutes. This rapid action helps open drain lines quickly after use.
• Drano Max Gel states that it will begin working within 15 minutes to clear out clogs. This is slightly slower than the performance time claimed by Zep.
• While difficult to test definitively, the consensus is that Zep Clog Attack tends to provide faster-acting clog relief in less time than Drano based on manufacturer claims.

Value

• A 32 ounce bottle of Zep Clog Attack costs between $10-15 in most stores. This is at the higher end for drain cleaners.
• Drano Max Gel is more reasonably priced at $4-8 per 32 ounce bottle. This makes it one of the most affordable gel drain cleaners.
• Drano Max Gel provides stronger value than Zep Clog Attack based purely on upfront cost. However, Zep often requires less repeat applications to fully clear clogs.

Customer Reviews

• Zep Clog Attack earns consistently positive feedback from customers, with most rating it 4-5 stars. Users mention it works quickly and effectively for tough clog issues.
• Drano Max Gel earns more mixed reviews, averaging around 3.5 stars. While some praise its powerful formula, others say multiple applications are needed to fully clear clogs.
• Based on customer experiences, Zep appears to offer better overall satisfaction and performance even though Drano is cheaper.

Also Watcha This Review Video:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Choose Between Republic Services And Waste Management.

Final Thoughts

For removing severe drain clogs quickly and effectively, Zep Clog Attack is the clear winner over Drano Max Gel. Zep’s sulfuric/nitric acid formula provides superior dissolving power against all types of organic clogs in any home drain line.

While Drano is cheaper, Zep works faster, produces less harsh fumes, and earns better customer satisfaction overall. Just be sure to take reasonable safety precautions when using any chemical drain opener.