The $12 Solution That Cleared My Clogged Shower Drain

I’m just going to come out and say it: My shower drain gets clogged on an embarrassingly regular basis. It’s mostly my fault — the amount of hair I shed would shock you — but my apartment’s ancient pipes are also to blame. Snaking the drain isn’t an option for obvious reasons (gross), and I was fed up with wasting money on the harsh store-bought drain cleaner I typically reached for (it always took multiple “treatments” to clear the drain), so I decided to try something new: the Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver.

I see commercials for it all the time, and the Amazon reviews were impressive (there are over 100,000 and counting), so it had to be good, right? I put it to the test on my clogged shower drain to find out. 

The Green Gobbler is the drain cleaner to end all other drain cleaners. The heavy-duty, liquid formula dissolves everything from hair, soap scum, and grease, to toilet paper, flushable wipes, and any other organic matter that’s clogging your pipes. It’s safe for use on PVC, ABS, copper, and cast-iron pipes; shower and tub drains; sinks; and even toilets and septic systems. What’s more, it’s a bleach-free and noncorrosive formula, so you don’t have to worry about nasty fumes or risk damaging your home’s pipes. 

The 31-fluid-ounce bottle contains two treatments’ worth of drain cleaner, and there’s a clear panel on the side so you know exactly how much to use (no need to measure or eyeball it). 

Unlike the drain cleaner I was previously using, the Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver cleared my shower drain in a single treatment, so I say it’s 100% worth it. I simply poured half the bottle down my drain, using the clear panel as my guide, and let it work its magic overnight. In the morning I flushed the drain with hot water — and just like that, the clog was cleared (no weird smells, no pipe damage). I really wasn’t expecting it to work in just one treatment; it’s the most effective drain cleaner I’ve tried, by far. 

While the bottle’s clear window may sound like a small detail, it keeps me from over- or under-using product, which means nothing goes to waste, and I’m not wasting money on unnecessary restocks, too. Plus, the wide bottle opening is easy to pour without splashing. 

I haven’t tried the Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver in my sink or toilet yet, but if the way it handled my chronically clogged shower drain was any indication, it’s definitely up to the task. It’s effective, easy to use, and only costs $12. I’ll always have a bottle on deck. 

Buy: Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver, $12