As stupid as it says on the tin. Can you remove hair clogs with Nair?

EDIT: I don’t actually have a drain that needs to be unclogged. This is a showerthoughtquestion.

  • over_clox@lemmy.world
    72·
    5 months ago

    Disclaimer: I’ve never used Nair before.

    But if I’m not mistaken, I think the main thing Nair does is basically cause the hair follicles to break loose at the skin/scalp level. I don’t think the stuff outright dissolves the hair.

    But hey, if I’m wrong, by all means someone correct me.

        • pelletbucket@lemm.ee
          10·
          5 months ago

          your typical household drain cleaner is basic rather than acidic. acid will attack metal pipes, so if you don’t know what’s going on downstairs, I would stick with lye. and acid isn’t good for septic systems

        • kinkles@sh.itjust.works
          18·
          5 months ago

          Acids don’t work as well on the substances that contribute to typical household drain clogs compared to bases, which is what Drano is.

          When it enters your drain pipes, the sodium hydroxide reacts with fatty acids and proteins from your typical clogging culprits like oils, grease, soap scum, hair, and food particles.

          This reaction generates heat, breaks large molecules into smaller ones, and liquefies solid gunk. The extremely high pH enables the sodium hydroxide to saponify fatsand dissolve organic matterthrough chemical decomposition.

          Acids simply wouldn‘t have the same cleansing effects on drain clogs. Grease and oils are composed of tough-to-break-down fatty acid chains that resist acidic breakdown.

          Quoted from here.

        • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
          5·
          5 months ago

          Yup, although boiling water works like a charm just about every time.

          Usually what I use for a clog.

          • over_clox@lemmy.world
            51·
            5 months ago

            Advice: Don’t use boiling water for toilets. It’ll melt the wax seal at the base…

              • over_clox@lemmy.world
                71·
                5 months ago

                That’s not just advice, that’s coming from experience. My dad did that for a while in the winter, to warm his toilet up. Yeah, after a couple months, the base of the toilet started leaking.

                I mean hey, you do you, but wax seals melt when exposed to hot water…