Mini Hot-Tank Idear

It is a cleaner used for a lot of different products. See info below. You can get it at a hardware store.


A non-sudsing powdered Trisodium Phosphate compound that is formulated for heavy duty cleaning. Preferred by painting and cleaning professionals for removing heavy deposits of greasy grime, smoke, soot stains and chalked paint from walls, woodwork and floors. Removes mildew and mildew stains when mixed with bleach. Cleans and prepares surfaces for repainting. Also recommended for washing away paint remover sludge.

 

I wouldn't go any further with this - lye is pretty darn dangerous. An open pot of liquid lye is something you do not want around if you have children or pets, or even curious adults.

Drano contains more than lye - IIRC some kind of metal chips, probably aluminum, and maybe other ingredients. I'd guess the metal reacts with the lye in solution and the chemical reaction generates heat. This could soften the clog, and will speed up the saponification (soap making).

You used to be able to buy boxes of lye at the ahrdware store. Maybe not anymore - we're more aware of toxic waste now.

<edit> BTW, at Chuchua's in Fullerton, they had a hot tank. One day, it was empty - it sprung a leak and the contents flowed out to ... somewhere. Probably went under the buildings; that place was some kind of ramshackle barn and warehouse building. They tore it all down when they moved to Placentia.