What Are You Currently Seeing
- Black sludge or slime in drains?
- Black mold around the sink drain?
- Black gunk in sink faucet?
However, you want to label it, something abnormal is going on in your sink drain, and it needs to be fixed. The black slime you are seeing might seem like a gross infestation of something, but the truth of the matter is, the black gunk is normal.
Dont Use Chemicals On Your Drains
Its important to avoid using chemicals on your bathroom sink drains. This can cause them to become clogged and stop working properly. Not only will this prevent you from unclogging your sink, it might also cause other problems down the line. For example, if you have a water leak, the clog could be the perfect ingredient for causing that problem.
How Do You Unclog A Sink Drain Naturally
You can try to unclog a sink naturally by using a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Follow these steps to unclog a sink drain:
Step 1:
Pour a pot of boiling water down your drain.
Step 2:
Pour a mixture of one cup of water and one cup of vinegar down the drain.
Step 3:
Cover the drain with a plug and wait 510 minutes.
Step 4:
Flush the sink drain with boiling water.
If your sink still drains slowly, or has a clog after trying the baking soda and vinegar method, try Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer Plus+ Foaming Clog Fighter.
For more information, check out our article about how baking soda and vinegar work.
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Remove Any Clogs Or Debris You Can Reach
First things first: if thereâs an easy-to-spot and easy-to-reach clog , use your fingers and/or any other tool you have handy to fish it out. Dispose of it, and then run the faucet for 5â10 seconds.
Phew! Thatâs better!
Pro tip: aim to do this weekly. It only takes 30 seconds and will go such a long way toward keeping your drain at the top of its game and preventing mold, mildew or bacteria from building up. Thatâs half a minute well spent if you ask us.
Baking Soda & Vinegar To Clear A Drain Clog

A tried & true method of clearing drain clogs, and one using materials most likely to be found in your kitchen cabinets, is the baking soda & vinegar method. When baking soda & vinegar react, it creates a neutralized reaction that helps to flush material clinging to the pipes in your bathroom sink. all you need to do is mix around 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a cup. Youll have to immediately pour this solution down the drain to be effective. Rinse with hot water after about an hour.
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Mix Up A Diy Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Vinegar is the best. Hands. Down. Full stop. Why? Itâs cheap, versatile and just so darn effective. Seriously, vinegar is one of THE best cleaning hacks there is.
If youâre already onboard the vinegar bandwagon, feel free to use your go-to vinegar cleaning solution here. If youâre new to using vinegar as a household cleaner, though, or are just in the mood to try a new vinegar solution recipe , mix up equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, and then add a dash of baking soda . Youâre going to need about one cup of solution in total. And if youâre not crazy about that vinegar smell , consider adding a bit of lemon juice to give that solutionâand your drainâa bright, zesty aroma.
How To Clean Your Bathroom Sink Drain In 7 Easy Steps
Have an unpleasant odor emanating from your sink? Or just a big olâ clog? Donât worry. Weâve got you covered.
Your bathroom sink drain puts up with a lot. Think weâre exaggerating? Consider, if you will, just how many different substances you wash down your bathroom sink on a regular basis. Yep. Face wash, soap, hair products, hair, toothpaste ⦠the list goes on.
Now think about the last time you cleaned it.
⦠Yeah.
So the next time you notice a smell in your bathroom thatâs a little off or see that your sink isnât draining quite like it should be, consider whether it might be time for your sink drain to receive some routine cleaning. Trust us, giving your bathroom sink drain a little TLC on a regular basis will help prevent serious clogs from forming and take care of any mold or mildew that might be growing in your drain before it gets out of control .
The good news is that cleaning out your bathroom sink drain is incredibly straightforward. Even better news? We have an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide that will have your bathroom sink drain sparkling in no time!
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How To Fix A Smelly Bathroom Drain
We are going to discuss how you can fix your smelly bathroom sink drain according to the causes we already laid out above.
Before giving you detailed steps, here is a video showing you the overall process and where stinky smells might be hiding.
Note: We donât recommend pouring bleach into your sinks or drains. See this link for a similar drain brush as featured in the video, and also an enzyme-eating cleaning agent.
Now, here are some detailed steps for you to reference.
Disassemble The Components Under The Sink
Before you start fixing the bathroom sink drain leaking around threads, make sure you turn off your water supply. Pour ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of white vinegar down the drain so that it drains quickly. Duck under the kitchen sink and nicely place the 2 washers on the basket and push them through the flange.
If you find a piece that is damaged, replace it with a new one. Water pooling around new drain in bathroom sink terry love. Push the flange inside the drain opening.
Check to see that the horizontal pivot rod is connected to the clevis. Use your wrench to test the how tight the seal is. Unscrew the drain stopper and clean the.
However, you will need to use pvc cement to secure. To decorate a small bathroom can be a difficult experience. How to replace bathroom sink drain pipe with a new one in wall.
Remove the horizontal pivot rod from the drainpipe. How to seal a bathroom sink drain? To boost up the power of vinegar, add sodium bicarbonate to your cleaning solution!
How to fix a leaking bathroom sink drain 1. Replace the faulty rubber gasket with a new item. A smelly bathroom sink drain is a common problem, as odor, residue and bacteria accumulate regularly in the drain.
A loose nut is the most common cause of leaking bathroom sink drains. Move everything from under the sink so you have room to work. It is good to be familiar with what causes a smelly drain and some home remedies to fix it.
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Organic Material And Bathroom Sink Smells
First, stinky drain buildup is typically caused by a buildup of organic matter in your sinkâs pipes. For example, hair and soap residue can combine with moisture over time to create a smelly, sticky substance known as biofilm that clings to the sides of drains. This is one reason for the foul smell.
One type of bacteria is pink. If your bathroom sink has pink stains, you clearly have bacteria present.
It’s Not A Fun Job But Someone Has To Do It Read Our Tips For The Most Effective Ways To Clean Your Bathroom Sink Drain
Your bathroom might look clean, but that stinky smell coming from your sink drain says otherwise. No matter how careful you are about preventing items from slipping down your sink, soap and residue builds up and slows down the drain over time. And nobody wants a smelly drain, especially in small spaces like bathrooms and powder rooms. If left untreated, a blocked drain can clog the entire pipe, preventing water from draining properly. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent and clean a bathroom sink drain. Follow along for our guide on how to prevent and treat a smelly bathroom sink drain.
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How To Clean The Bathroom Sink Drain
You are washing your face in the morning, and you lean forward to rinse away the soap when you are hit by an unpleasant odor from the sink drain. This smell is due to the accumulation of toothpaste, facial hair, soap and dirt in your bathroom sink drain over time. At this point, it is crucial to know the proper methods to clean your bathroom sink drain. The stoppages of scum and debris in the pipe could result in bad smell and even block the water flow. Sparkling and Beyond will go through several methods to help you clean the bathroom sink drain effectively.
Call A Professional Cleaner

Its not fun to clean the bathroom sink drain, especially if you have to deep-clean. You might even be overwhelmed with how much work it is to scrub everything down.
If youre frustrated with your bathroom sink drain and want to find a way to handle it, you can call professional cleaners and get rid of it faster. They have a lot of experience in cleaning drains and can know exactly what they need in order to get the job done right.
Okay, Ill summarize of how to clean a bathroom sink drain article. You could apply this according to your condition!
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Consider Using A Drain Snake To Help Clear Particularly Stubborn Clogs
As miraculous as vinegar is, once in a while, you may end up with a clog that just wonât budge. If that happens, a drain snake can be a mighty effective tool. Follow the manufacturerâs instructions to use it to dislodge any remaining clogs.
Thatâs it! Run that water, and inhale. No odor and a sink drain that drains just like it ought to? We thought so.
Chemical Cleaners For A Bathroom Sink Drain
The first method you may consider is using an over the counter drain unblocker. They are easy to come by and are generally very effective. Each will have its own designated methods for use, which you should follow carefully.
While chemical cleaners do work, many people prefer to try other methods first. This is because chemical cleaners are very powerful, and are not ideal to have sitting around the house. In addition, they can be particularly harmful to the environment.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Smelly Drains
To fix a smelly bathroom sink drain, you will need to clear any clogs that might exist in the drain or in the P-trap.
Start with boiling water and vinegar, and donât use bleach. You can also use a plunger or plumbing snake to clear the clogged drain or disassemble the P-trap to remove debris manually.
Alternatively, you can use a liquid drain cleaner to dissolve organic materials, debris such as soap buildup or toothpaste, or other unpleasant odor-causing bacteria.
Organize Needed Tools To Clean A Bathroom Sink Drain
Before you start, youll need some tools. This includes a plunger, a bucket, a vacuum cleaner, and a cleaning cloth.
You can also use a plunger to push the hair and soap out of the way so that you can unclog your sink drain. The bucket can be used to collect water and debris, while the vacuum cleaner will help clean the drains quickly. When it comes to cleaning your bathroom sink drain, make sure to use a cloth so that you dont cause any dirt or other debris to get on the pipes.
You can use these tools to clean your bathroom sink drain in the following ways:
-Wash the dirt and debris away
-Remove any stains or built-up products
-Clean the plumbing and drains
-A plunger
-Sink cleaner
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Cream Of Tartar And Boiling Water
Another effective method is to pour a cup of cream of tartar into the bathroom sink drain, followed by a pot of boiling water down the drain. Cream of tartar helps break up particles in the pipes leading from your sink, thus providing an easy clean-up process that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals or expensive tools.
Simply mix ¼ cup of salt, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar together. Pour the mixture into the bathroom sink drain. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then pour more boiling hot water through the drain.
Make Use Of A Plunger
If youve got a huge blockage in the bathroom sink, you can unblock it using a plunger that is cup-shaped. Be sure to remove the stopper before you begin to plunge.
The drain should be filled with water if theres not any yet in the bowl. After that locate the plunger on the sinkhole and verify that there is a solid seal. To stop the plunged water from spilling out the overflow hole, probably you will need to cover the hole with a damp cloth.
Keep in mind that the purpose of a plunge is to move the congestion downstream. To get rid of the congestion, make quick, sharp plunges. It might take some attempts to remove the obstruction. Examine whether the water is beginning to drain between the plunges.
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What About Chemical Drain Cleaners
If all else fails and you want to use a drain cleaner, opt for a mild, non-toxic, and biodegradable drain cleaner. You can also try a baking soda and vinegar solution.
Do not use chemical drain cleaners. They may cause damage to the environment or the drain pipes in your plumbing system, and these caustic chemicals can be very dangerous to use.
In addition to their danger, chemical cleaners rarely work on stubborn clogs. And after they fail, you will be left with a sink full of water and toxic chemicals that you must bail out by hand.
Hot Water And Liquid Dish Soap

Bring water to a boil, mix in a tiny amount of liquid detergent, then put it in the drain. Combining hot liquid dishwashing soap and water is highly effective, especially in removing grease and fat. To achieve the optimal outcomes, you should repeat this procedure repeatedly until your drain appears completely clear.
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Why Is My Sink Clogged
To help unclog a sink drain it helps to know the parts of sinks and how sinks work. Kitchen and bathroom sinks are similar. However, kitchen sinks are designed to be hooked up/connected to garbage disposals and dishwashers. There are many things that can cause a clogged sink. Use our tips below to learn how to unclog a sink.
Clogs in sinks can happen in different ways and its important to clear a drain clog right away. How you unclog your sink will vary based on the sink style.
Before you take care of unclogging your sink, be aware of how your sink drain works. Bathroom sinks only involve a faucet and the drain, and most have a pop-up stopper that allows you to fill the sink with water. Bathroom sinks usually have a strainer or a stopper.
Most sinks also have a sink trap, often called a P-trap. A P-trap is the curved portion of pipe under the sink. Its supposed to create a seal by holding water, which prevents sewer gases from getting into the kitchen or bathroom. The P-trap traps water and creates a seal that blocks sewer gases from rising up through the sink drain.
To successfully unclog a sink, youll need to know what kind of sink you have and the parts to it to help resolve the drain clog. For more information about cleaning sinks and drains, check out our article Spring Plumbing Tips for Your Drains.
Using Snake Drain To Clean Your Sink Drain
More unyielding clog would require direct physical contact. Snake drain is recommended for such scenarios. This tool is long and skinny with hooks on either end. By sticking the snake drain into the pipe, it can break down or pull away the stoppage with ease.
Cleaning your bathroom sink drain is not as complicated as people usually believe. Remember to take away the debris on pop-up stoppers or drain guards regularly and use the non-caustic drain cleaner to unclog the pipe if necessary. Natural ingredients like salt, vinegar, baking soda and lemon are also helpful to flush away any stoppage beneath the drain. Snake drain is another useful instrument to unclog more stubborn blockage. If you still need assistance, Sparkling and Beyond is committed to provide professional cleaning service to your dwelling or commercial building. Visit us at sparklingandbeyond.com or dial for a free quote and book our services!
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Final Thoughts On Smelly Bathroom Sink Drains
So, whatâs the culprit of your smelly sink drain? Chances are itâs one of these four causes. Luckily, there are solutions to each of these problems! By the way, these methods also apply to a bad smell in a shower drain, kitchen sink, or garbage disposal.
Have you tried any of these solutions yet? If not, start with the easiest and lowest cost option first. If it doesnât work and you still notice a sink smell, move on down the list.
You can always call a plumbing company, but these DIY plumbing tips will most often resolve it without the need to pay for professional plumbing services.
Additional Help for Your Waterâs Unpleasant Smell:
Dealing with smelly hot water from your water heater? That requires a different solution! The first remedy to a foul odor from the water heater is a hydrogen peroxide flush. The best long-term fix is a powered anode rod for hard water.
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