Imagine cleaning out your bathroom sink cupboard only to find a half-full bottle of Drano. It’s been years since the last time you had to use it and it’s probably past its effective date. What is a person to do with the old container?
To get rid of the old Drano, you can pour it down the drain with warm water. Because it’s meant specifically to unclog pipes, the safest place to dispose of it would be down the drain and into your pipe system. To dispose of the empty container, you just need to carefully wash it out and add it to your pile of recycling.
In this article, we’ll cover exactly what you need to do to properly dispose of your old Drano container. We’ll also briefly cover what effect Drano has on the environment and whether or not it’s actually safe for your pipes.
Can You Put Drano in the Trash?
You should never pour Drano in your trash. The chemicals in the Drano will eat away at all of the organic waste in your trash bin and the bag could also disintegrate. However, if recycling isn’t available to you, you can dispose of the empty container in your trash. Before doing so, make sure the lid is tightly screwed on to avoid any residual liquid from oozing out.
Can You Put Drano in a Garbage Disposal?
Garbage disposals are safe for Drano usage unless you have Drano Professional Strength Crystals Clog Remover. This product is too harsh and can cause issues with your garbage disposal and pipes. With that said, Drano gel or liquid will work just fine without messing with the inner workings of your garbage disposal.
Can You Recycle Drano Containers?
All Drano product containers are made of 30% post-consumer recyclables. You can also dispose of the container in your recycling. To properly recycle your Drano container, you should carefully rinse out the inside and tightly screw the cap back on. Doing this will ensure no residual gel or liquid is left to accidentally ooze into the rest of the bin.
Can You Flush Drano Down the Toilet?
There is only one Drano product that is deemed safe for use in toilets and septic tanks: Drano Max Build-Up Remover. The formula in this product contains microorganism enzymes that help break down gunk and solid waste that has built up in your toilet and septic system over time.
Drano and the Environment
Because of the harsh chemicals used in Drano, it’s common for people to think it’s bad for the environment. However, while it may be worse than other alternatives, Drano isn’t considered a pollutant. In fact, it has been found that Drano has a minimally negative impact on the environment as opposed to other cleaning solutions.
While Drano has a seemingly minimal impact on the environment, we still believe it’s important to remember that the chemicals are still dangerous if you come into contact with them.
Is Drano Bad for Your Pipes?
Because Drano is designed to flow through pipes, it has no immediate effect on the integrity of your pipes after a treatment. With that said, it’s possible it can corrode your pipes for a few reasons. First and foremost, using the product too excessively or incorrectly can cause immense stress on your pipe system. As a result, the pipe will bubble or corrode.
Drano may also cause issues if you have an old home with pipes that already show signs of corrosion. For the most part, though, your drains should be safe as long as they’re metal or PVC.
Parting Thoughts
Pulling an old Drano container out from under your bathroom sink can be a surprise. When that same container is still half full, you may be left baffled as to how to dispose of it. Luckily, it’s as easy as pouring it down your drain with warm running water. Just simply rinse the container out after, screw the lid back on, and then chuck it in your recycling bin.
Drano disposal is a lot easier than you’d think and takes little to no time at all. We hope this article has been helpful for you and you’ve finally cleaned out the old Drano containers collecting under your bathroom
Check out our related Drano articles:
- How Long to Flush Drano with Hot Water
- Can I Leave Drano Overnight?
- Does Drano Work in Standing Water?
- Is Drano Safe for Shower Drains?
- Does Drano Work on Hair? All You Need to Know
- Does Drano Expire? Everything You Need to Know
- 5 Easy Fixes When Drano Isn’t Working
- Zep Liquid Heat vs Drano | What’s Better?
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.