Our best overall pick, the FlexiSnake Drain Millipede Hair Clog Tool, is simple to use, has micro-hooks that grab and cling to hair, and is designed to fit into even the most narrow of spaces. Here are the best drain snakes. The Millipede, as it’s better known after going viral when folks started sharing photos of all the stuff they were pulling up from their drains, lives up to the hype of being easy to use and effective. All you need to do is uncurl it, feed it down your drain, give it a good spin, then yank it back up. The 18-inch snake has 1,000 microhooks that do the hard work for you, grabbing onto stray hairs and other gunk. Be prepared with a trash bag nearby—you’ll need it to contain all of the debris it will grab onto as you pull it up. Price at time of publish: $7 The snake part is a 1/2-inch, compression-wrapped inner core cable that can slide through your toilet’s S-bend to remove blockages beyond what you can see. It can even work on those that have been converted into a low-flow toilet, and the vinyl guard protects your porcelain toilet bowl from scratches. Price at time of publish: $50 Gently guide the smaller end into the drain until it can’t go any further, then carefully pull it out. It can be rinsed off and used time and time again—though if you’re having the problem repeatedly, invest in a drain plate as a smart preventative plan. Price at time of publish: $10 If you have a drain plate hole to catch as much hair as possible before it goes down in the first place (which you should), you’ll need to remove that before using this; otherwise, the hair and crud could come right off on the other side. This pick is made of durable polymer construction that is also safe to use on tubs and sinks. Price at time of publish: $3 Just feed it down the drain until you reach a point of resistance, then gently and slowly turn it into the clog using the large galvanized steel handle. You may want to enlist help when it comes to reeling this back in again, especially if you unleashed all 50 feet of it. It can make a mess as you pull it out, and it can be challenging to rewind, but with patience, your clog will be long gone. Price at time of publish: $40 If you’re still set on trying one, this one from Ryobi that comes with a 25-foot cable is an affordable option (note that the rechargeable battery is sold separately). You can use it in forward or reverse to really screw into whatever is blocking your drain, plus it has a lock-on auto feature that helps to prevent your hands and arms from getting too tired. This pick works on drains up to 2-inches wide, including sinks and bathtubs. “If the clog in the pipe doesn’t quickly budge or if you’ve fed all the cable into the pipe and still haven’t reached the clog point, it’s time to call a professional who is equipped with longer cables and professional-grade equipment,” Abrams says. Price at time of publish: $79 Feed the flexible plastic tool down your sink drain until you make contact with the clog, give it a good spin, then pull it back up to see what you’ve “caught.” Though the instructions say to throw it away after one use, you could potentially clean it and use it one or two more times on minor clogs. Price at time of publish: $3 Price at time of publish: $8
Powered vs. Manual
Drain snakes can be broadly split into two categories: Powered drain snakes and manual drain snakes.
Powered drain snakes provide extra muscle to break through tough clogs, but they also reduce user fatigue because the electric motor is doing all the work. Some models even have a cable that automatically retracts by pushing a button, making recovery and clean up easier. Just keep in mind that powered drain snakes typically cost more than manual drain snakes.Manual drain snakes are very easy to find in most home improvement stores. They usually have a small hand crank to advance or retract the cable and can be one of the most effective methods for clearing small clogs in the toilet, tub, kitchen sink, or bathroom sink. The drawback to these tools is that the user needs to manually turn the hand crank and rotate the drain snake, which can take a toll if you are working for a long period.
Construction
Light-duty drain snakes are great for quickly clearing hair clogs in the shower or grabbing items that were dropped down the drain. These drain snakes are often made of high-quality ABS plastic that is both flexible and durable. There are also heavy-duty drain snakes that are made with high-carbon steel. This type of drain snake will often have an ABS plastic handle, but the actual cable will be made of metal. ABS drain snakes are generally shorter than high-carbon steel snakes, which is why they are best for removing clogs that aren’t very deep in the drain. High-carbon steel snakes are designed to travel through the drainage pipes of the home and can exceed 75 feet in length.
Cable Dimensions
When you are looking for a drain snake to deal with plumbing issues around the home, it’s important to consider the dimensions of the drain snake cable, including length and diameter. Common problems with hair clogs or unclogging the kitchen sink after accidentally pouring fat down the drain can be solved with a 25-foot cable, but if you live in a multistory home, it may be better to invest in a 50-foot or 75-foot cable to ensure that the drain snake can clear clogs at any point throughout the drain system. For light-duty clogs, use a cable that is 1/4 inch or 5/16 inch thick. If you are dealing with tough clogs, consider investing in a drain snake with a 1/2-inch-thick diameter.
Head Design
As mentioned above, some drain snakes are made for breaking through clogs, while others are made for grabbing clogs and pulling them out of the drain. These two different functions are achieved with the use of specialized drain snake heads. Cutting heads are made to cut through solid clogs with sharp blades and barbs. Professionals frequently use cutting heads on heavy-duty electric drain augers. Coil heads or toothed heads are designed to wrap around, latch onto, or otherwise grab objects that are causing clogs. Once attached, the drain snake can be pulled out of the drain carrying the clog, like a ball of hair, wads of toilet paper, wipes, sanitary pads, diapers, and other objects that shouldn’t be put down the drain.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Additional reporting and research for this article was done by Timothy Dale, a long-time home improvement expert specializing in plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, among other topics. Additionally, you should not use a drain snake to unclog your toilet. A snake can scratch the porcelain and damage the toilet. Instead, use a toilet auger with a rubber or plastic sleeve to protect the porcelain finish while unclogging the toilet.
