Does Drano Work on Paper Towels? The Answer!

Does Drano work on paper towels? Can I use it in case I accidentally flush them down the drains?

This question has bugged me for a while now, and I wanted to make sure whether this is recommendable or not.

So, I did what I had to do and did full research about it! I even spoke to our local professional plumber about it!

Yes, Drano can work on paper towels because paper towels and other organic materials down drainage systems. However, it’s best to note that you should refrain from using Drano and other similar chemical solutions in toilet bowls.

What Can Drano Dissolve?

Drano is one of the best and most effective materials in dissolving clogs and blockages in drain systems.

But do you know what things Drano can dissolve?

As marketed by the company, Drano is a solution that can properly unclog a drain fast and urgently – it can do so in under an hour!

Furthermore, you can expect Drano to dissolve a wide array of matter, such as:

• Hair stuck down the drain
• Soap debris and residue
• Gunk
• Scum
• Toilet paper

If it is effective in dissolving tissue or toilet paper, will Drano dissolve paper towels?

And no, tissue paper and paper towels aren’t the same – there is a distinction between them.

Does Drano Work on Paper Towels?

So, would pouring Drano down the drain take care of paper towels like how it would take care of toilet and tissue papers?

The quick and easy answer is yes, it would.

Just like many organic materials, Drano can quickly dissolve and deteriorate paper towels as paper towels disintegrate and dissolve on their own, especially when they’re subjected to continuous liquids.

This process usually takes anywhere between 3 to 4 hours, but that still is not a guarantee.

Unlike toilet paper, though, they’re not as flimsy and fragile.

However, the thin fibers of paper towels aren’t really durable enough to resist chemicals like Drano.

NOTE: In unclogging paper towels, make sure that you use Drano Max Build-Up Remover. 

As per the company, this is the only type of Drano that’s designed to break down all types of organic matter including toilet paper, paper towels, and even thin plastic down the drains.

How Else Can You Remove Paper Towels in Drains?

Drano isn’t the only solution for this. In fact, there are other methods or ways of removing paper towels down whatever drain, they include:

Method #1: Toilet Plunger Method

The first method you want to try is to use a plunger.

What this will do is put pressure, force, and stress down the drains to push the paper towel down gradually.

When doing this, you want to make sure that there is standing water, and if it’s slowly flowing, you add more water to help push it further down.

What you want to do is to angle the plunger into the drain, and then perform the push and pull to create force and pressure.

Method #2: Drain Snakes

For the next method, you’ll need a drain snake or also called a plumber snake to break it down for it to be brought and pushed down the drain easier and faster.

You simply have to insert the snake down the drain and locate where the paper towel is.

Break it down by moving the snake side-to-side when you locate it. Eventually, that will break down and be flushed down the drain.

NOTE: if you don’t have a drain snake, you can create a homemade snake or you can rent it from a plumbing company.

Method #3: Hot Water and Dish Soap

Last and most definitely not least is to use a combination of dish soap and hot water.

For this method, you don’t want standing water anywhere within the path going up to the clog.

When that’s all clear, pour dish soap down, and then pour hot boiling water.

This will soften the paper towel and will make it slippery, allowing it to be pushed down the drain easier.

Why You Should NOT Use Drano in Toilet Bowls

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard how you should refrain from using Drano down your toilet bowls, and yes, this is true.

There are actually a few reasons why you should step away from doing this, the most common would be:

It Doesn’t Work Quickly on Toilet Clogs

As I keep on mentioning, Drano has little-to-no effect if you use it in an area where there is standing water – and the toilet has standing water.

What happens is that the effects could be slower, or there could be no effect at all.

It Can Crack Porcelain

Another reason why you should refrain from using Drano in your toilet bowls is the fact that it can react with porcelain, but not in a nice way.

The heat generated by the chemical could crack and can actually be the culprit in softening the PVC pipes, bringing us to the last and final reason, which is…

It Can Damage the Pipes

When the pipes soften and become loose, they will eventually be damaged because they wouldn’t be able to handle the content, pressure, and force coming from the toilet bowl.

While you would rarely see paper towels down your toilet drain, it’s still worth noting the fact that Drano does not actually blend well with toilet bowls.

Where Can You Use Drano?

Being a flexible and versatile product, you can expect Drano to be effective in a variety of drainages.

But to help you in detail, you can use Drano on the following drains:

Kitchen Sinks

If you’re anything like me who has a big family and always faces problems when it comes to kitchen drainages, then you’ll always most likely have Drano prepared.

And besides, Drano is the easiest and fastest solution to gunk, food starch, and mild grease.

Bathroom Sinks

Drano is also an effective tool for unclogging bathroom sinks.

It can easily deteriorate hair, tissue and toilet paper, plastic, soap, and other forms of dirt that can go down the bathroom sink.

Shower Drains

In case you have problems and dilemmas about hair, gunk, scum, and even soap being stuck down the drains, don’t worry, you can use Drano to clear all those up!

Bathtubs

If you see your bathtub drains flowing slowly, then pouring Drano down while there’s no still water is the best and most effective thing you can do.

Drano is an effective product to help you break down and dissolve soap scum, hair, and plastic, as well as small materials and articles.

Outdoor Drains

Last, but most definitely not least is your outdoor drain.

Hardened soil, plants, leaves, flowers, and other materials can cause a blockage, and therefore, you can rely on Drano to dissolve those.

These are the only locations that Drano can accommodate. As much as possible, refrain from using Drano in toilet bowls.

If you’re desperate, you can use any of the other methods mentioned or you can purchase Drano Max to do the job for you.

FAQs

In case you’re wondering, here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about using Drano on paper towels.

Does Bleach Dissolve Toilet Paper?

No, bleach does not dissolve toilet paper. This is actually one of the most common misconceptions about bleach.

To clarify this, no, bleach isn’t capable of dissolving toilet paper. In most cases, toilet paper will dissolve by itself after a few hours.

Will Vinegar Dissolve Toilet Paper?

Fortunately, the baking soda and vinegar concoction has been found effective in dissolving toilet paper faster than their natural timeframe.

You would simply have to pour baking soda down the drain first, and then follow it up with vinegar.

Final Thoughts

In case you were asking, does Drano work on paper towels, the answer is yes, it can.

Like most dissolving chemicals and products, you can rely on Drano to take care of the clog or the blockage that your paper towels caused.