Instead of using Drano, plumbers often use mechanical tools or other safer natural remedies to help break down grease and buildup.
Plumbers often avoid using Drano and other harsh chemicals when possible because of the caustic ingredients, which can damage pipes.
The mechanical tools that plumbers use for clearing clogs include plungers, drain augers or plumbers snakes and even physically removing the P-Trap.
A good heavy duty flat plunger for sink clogs or even a good flange plunger for toilets provides enough necessary pressure and suction to dislodge most clogs.
Drain augers or plumbers snakes are long, flexible metal cables that are fed down the drain manually to physically hook onto and extract hair, soap, scum and other debris in the drain.
For severe blockages, the plumber or even yourself may need to remove the P-Trap under the sink directly to clear out the trapped blockage manually.
For natural remedies for clearing clogs, plumbers and even yourself can use baking soda and vinegar for some clogs or dish soap and hot water.
To use baking soda and vinegar for clearing some clogged drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar.
Then cover the drain and allow the fizzing action to break up the clog for around 30 minutes and then flush it down with boiling water.
To use dish soap and hot water, which is ideal for kitchen grease clogs, pour around a cup of liquid dish soap down the drain, followed by a pot of very hot water, to melt and wash away the grease.
The dish soap and hot water will only work on some grease clogs and not other clogs like hair, food debris etc.
If the clog is in your main sewer line, the sewer line will need to be augured out to clear the clog or if it's really severely clogged or the line is cracked or broken, you may need to replace the sewer line, but that is rarely needed.