It happened gradually.
Water was taking longer and longer to disappear down the bathroom sink. Then one day, it sat completely still and went nowhere.
A low-end liquid clog combatant failed to clear the pipe. Ditto for a high-end version of the same type of product. No matter what, the blockage stuck, and stayed that way for more than a week. During that time, hands were washed in the bathtub, and teeth were brushed in the kitchen sink.
Then, when all hope seemed lost and the fear that only a real, live plumber could dredge that dark abyss, the CLR Power Plumber Pressurized Drain Opener became a last-ditch Hail Mary.
The Power Plumber is a narrow aerosol can topped with an oversized green plastic cap. It stands about 7 inches tall. The top half of the cap is a hollow cavity with a dubious pinhole at its center.
The instructions seemed innocent enough: Fill the sink with enough water to submerge the cap, block the sink’s overflow with a wet rag or sponge, then place the cap over the drain and press down for 1 second.
Makers underscore the importance of following these instructions to the T. But in truth, the instructions failed to capture the magnitude of the clog-busting event that was about to occur.
The sink was filled and the suggested overflow rag was in place. The upturned can was pressed down.
Then came the explosion.
Water shot from the sink and splashed on dumbfounded faces. A strange white mist engulfed the small bathroom, making it difficult to immediately judge whether the blast actually cleared the drain or caused irreparable damage.
After a few moments, the haze lifted and exposed one last swirl of water spinning down the drain.
Yes!
The Power Plumber label says the product is environmentally safe. Big deal. It says the product is nontoxic and contains no harsh acids, additives or lyes. Whoopee.
The real news here: This thing is a torpedo in a can!
In hindsight, maybe an old- fashioned plunger would have worked, given the opportunity, but who cares? Once the impressive CLR Power Plumber went to work, the only thing that mattered was clogging another drain as soon as possible, just for the fun of watching the Power Plumber in action one more time.
The best part? The Power Plumber actually boasts 15 applications, including sink, tub, toilet and garbage disposal cleaning.
The CPL Power Plumber is about $8 for a single can and $20 for a kit that includes additional drain-opening accessories. Find it at most major home improvement stores. For a video demonstration of the product, along with detailed steps for clearing tough clogs, visit
