Customer Reviews

Turbo Snake - Original - 2 Packages Included! - As Seen on TV

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

I saw an ad on TV for the "turbo snake" that got me hunting down something similar here on Amazon. First up, don't buy the turbo snake from its online site, or on the phone. Like all these pitchman products they slaughter you with the S&H, and you can do much better here on Amazon. (If you're dead set on this particular name brand, buy it here.) The turbo snake, like many other variations on Amazon are basically a thick flexible nylon or plastic strip around 18" long that have some kind of teeth at the end designed to grab and extract the hair and gunk that gets caught in the trap of bathroom sinks and tubs. Most of the products you will see here on Amazon,(including the turbo snake) claim they are for one application only. (Something they don't bother to mention in the infomercial). Be advised this is a gray area. ALL the products of this type can be used more than once if you have a strong stomach, or just plain cheap. The reason why drain cleaners such as these tell you to toss it out after each use is because the prickly system of teeth employed at the business end that is responsible for grabbing the hair and gunk is very hard to clean. The teeth tend to hold on to its yucky prize most tenaciously. You will be forced to use your fingers diligently to dislodge the crap, which a lot of folks will cringe at. And in the course of the cleaning you may get carried away and break a few of the sensitive teeth, thus making it a little less efficient each time. Still however, if you're willing to do this, and or feel that a little disgusting chore comes about easier than $$$, you can accomplish it and use each of these tools at least a couple of more times. The other reason why products such as these tell you to throw them away is because after each use the flexible rod gets bent and twisted a little, thus a tad harder to operate. Not impossible or greatly damaged, but a little misshapen. Certainly not does it get so bent out of shape after one application that it becomes useless to be sure. One has to decide for oneself if they want to use this tool once and buy in multiple units, or perform the disgusting deed. As for the tools effectiveness, let me say first off that I have owned 3 different versions of this type of unclogger and have found them all to be of great use in getting to the clog and effectively extracting the crap. There is only a very small or moderate difference in all of them. Mainly in the design of the teeth. All of these tools are designed for clogs at the trap, and very close to the sink or tub. That means they are unfortunately a little short, around 18 to 24 inches, and designed only to turn the corner of a bend in the sink and that's it. If you suspect your clog is a little deeper, you will either have to purchase a longer snake, or call a dreaded professional. Other than that, this product, and all of them I have tried like them are both very effective, AND reusable if you are willing to accept the terms described beforehand. I cannot recommend any one over the other since all of them seem to be equally effective despite the small differences in design. The name brand Turbo Snake is just a tad thicker and tougher than the others I've used, thus the little higher price. If you do decide to get the TS, the two pack listed here will probably last you through 5 years or more of clogs if you're willing to clean it. Its not a chore that comes up all that often fortunately. My only recommendation would be that if you are going to be one that passes up on the squeamish cleaning and use once, buy several of them at a time and make the shipping charge worth it. Trust me, these little tools work much better and are far easier than removing a trap underneath a sink or tub to get at a clog. Which for me, always and relentlessly no matter how careful I am or how much I tighten it, means they leak forever...

Used this product on both a bathroom sink and tub, and I'm very pleased with the results. Easy to use and didn't have to remove the drain "cap." As stated in another review, be prepared to have your stomach turn at what you'll pull out of the drain. I used a pair of dishwashing gloves and some paper towels to clean the turbo snakes, as I plan to use them over and over again.

I had spent too much money on drain cleaning chemicals before tossing this in my cart on a whim. I took it home and used it to pull a 6" hair clog out of my bathroom sink, and one 3 times that length out of the tub drain. Both drains are working amazingly well now. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is that it is a pain to clean. Use a seam ripper to cut the hair off.

This item is to expensive for what it accomplishes. I have found the Zip It in all major stores such as Hope Depot, Walmart, etc. for only $3 to $4 and it works faster and easier. Zip It has barbs so it cleans out your drains even better. This item is nothing but a wire with cheap fuzz on the end. I now use the Zip-It, the Zip-It blows this product away!!

I tried the turbo snake and found a design flaw. I used the "sink snake" piece on my sink and in just one turn, the plastic coated sheathing and velcro head stripped off, leaving me with a silver wire. I had read the directions, and worked slowly and did not tug hard on the snake when removing it from the drain.

Luckily, I was able to pull the stripped off piece out of the drain. Somehow, by twisting the turbo snake, it appears that it is possible that the drain stopper itself (mine is plastic) can cut into the black plastic sheathing on the sink snake, causing it to break off.

I had thrown the original packaging away, so I can't return it to Staples. I also tried the tub version and that seemed to remain stable, so at least I have that version intact. I think the idea is a good one, but the fact that is sliced-up so easily was a disappointment and a flaw in the design. It appears to be made cheaply and not durable. I would not recommend the Turbo Snake for this reason.

Thought it would be a quick and easy way to get rid of a clog, boy was I wrong. Within seconds after inserting the snake down the drain and twisting as per the directions, the head part of it snaps off and is now down in my drain along with the clog !!

Unless you want to make clogs worse don't buy this product.

The turbosnake is a sham. Save your money. All they give you is two wires that are attached with velcro. I had a minor sluggish drain problem. I used the turbosnake as directed and twisted it into the drain. Keep in mind the tv commercial shown that the turbosnake is a tool. It is not. It is just a piece of electrical wire with a logo on it. You try twisting it in the drain and it just bunches up. The drain wasn't cleared and I went back to a chemical declogger. I purchased this useless junk because they guaranteed it clear the drain that was safer than using chemicals. The money back guarantee is a joke. The shipping and handling cost me MORE to return it than I got back in return. AMAZON PLEASE STOP SELLING THIS PRODUCT!

I live with 2 long haired females who seem to think that you just wash loose hair down the drain. Maybe I'm just jealous cause I can cut what's left of my hair with a Flowbee. Anyways their bathroom sinks always get plugged up. I would use a plunger or have to take out the p-trap. Always wondered about Turbo Snake so I bought the 2 pack from Amazon.

Like others have said it is mostly a wire with Velcro and you could make it yourself but you would have a hard time making up the sewn together Velcro end cap which is the key to the whole thing! So for the time savings it is much better to just buy this package.

One important thing! Just as some mentioned the larger snake's Velcro cap cane off inside my drain first use and I had to take out p-trap to get it out. But all you have to do if is the following to make it perfect:

* Gently but firmly wiggle and slide and pull off the large snake's end cap with pliers or teeth. Best to do it before using it as it is gross what comes out of drain and attaches to end cap.

* Use wire cutters or wire stripper to take about 1/2" of wire insulator off end or big snake end where the Velcro end cap just was. Do not weaken or damage wire itself.

* Slide the Velcro end cap back on and firmly wiggle and slide the cap until the bare wire reaches the end of the Velcro end cap's end.

* Then slide and push harder until the bare wire makes a hole and pops through the Velcro end cap.

* Bend the bare wire all the way over and then be sure and crimp the end into the Velcro end cap so that it is pushed into it and will not hang up in a drain when you pull it out.

With this improvement the large snake is a very strong tool and the end cap will never come off and if you bend the wire into the end cap properly it will not hang up during use.

I do not think you have to do this with the small snake as it's end cap seems to be on much better and also the small snake is a lightweight use tool. I have used the small snake several time as it came and it worked fine as is. But you certainly could do the same upgrade to it.

I used to just use the small snake on the sink drains and it worked ok. But then I tried the upgraded large snake and I hit the mother lode. You can really dig with the firmer large snake.

The included handy storage hook is a great idea too. I just store both snakes on it inside the cabinet under the sink and it is always there. Great idea and product (almost) but you can finish the product easily.

FAIL - does.not.work.period.

was difficult to get around the first bend. Eventually it did go. then reached another impasse I could not get by. Either this snake is too rigid, too short, or a combination of both.

Standard plunger worked much better, a more flexible snake would likely also work/help

ps - cheaper at Target - $10. There was also a no brand snake for similar price at 5 foot in length. Should have gotten that one.

My husband saw the ad on late night TV which is never a great recommendation in my book but at his urging I ordered these through Amazon - reviews on line indicated that people ordering from the company had hidden fees added and charged to their credit cards. We had two slow drains in our bathroom. Following the instructions within a minute he pulled out a incredible very nasty large chuck of goo. The drains work like new. I recommend using gloves and getting someone else to do this task. They do look flimsy and I am not sure how long they will last but they are not expensive and I have spent more on liquid drain cleaner over the year then I did not these, and they did the trick, so if I have to replace them every couple of uses they will still be cheaper then the harsh chemicals.