How To Clean Stinky Sink Drain

Dish Detergent And Boiling Water

Dish soap and hot or boiling water can be a quick and easy way to get rid of harsh smells and drain buildup.

First, boil water in a pot on the stove. Pour the boiling water down the drain to begin softening some of the grime and gunk. Follow this with some grease-attacking dish soap, such as Palmolive Oxi Power Degreaser to further eat away at the clog and give your drain a fresh and clean smell. Continue to boil water and wash through with dish soap until the drain is clear, and your kitchen smells great again.

How To Clean A Stinky Drain

You walk into the kitchen or bathroom and instantly detect an unidentified odor. Is it the trash? No, thats not it. Did the dog have an accident? No, thats not it, either.

Finally, you realize the malodorous offender is the sink. You turn on the faucet and run the disposal if the sink has one, but to no avail. Its official you have a stinky drain.

Fortunately, with a little investigating, cleaning, and preventative measures, you can remove the odor and freshen up the drain for good.

Remove Food Debris And Other Obstructions From The Garbage Disposal

You could also have food particles stuck down in the garbage disposal . Start by removing any large food debris. CAUTION: Unplug the garbage disposal before you put your hand down inside the sink. If your disposal has no plug, flip the breaker connected to your disposal before removing any food particles. DO NOT put your hand down the drain otherwise.

Your breaker box is probably downstairs. It might take some trial and error to find out which breaker is connected to the garbage disposal ).

After youve cleaned up your sink a bit, if the smell persists, try the simple solutions below.

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Get In Touch With Tunnel Vision

Smelly drains are an unpleasant household problem that you can try resolving on your own.

Depending on the root cause, finding out what will work depends a lot on trying a few simple solutions.

However, when all else fails, make sure to call in the professionals. Tunnel Vision has the tools and the skills to clean any smelly drain and clear any blocked drain quickly and with minimal convenience to you. Call us on or book online today!

Dish Soap And Hot Water

One of the first things to try is also the simplest: use dish soap and hot water. Clean your sink and then fill it with hot, soapy water. Turn the garbage disposal on and allow the water to run through it while it works. This allows the water and soap to actually fill the disposal and clean the nooks and crannies that are missed when just running it dry.This tip is helpful even if you dont have a garbage disposal, as an aside. Skip the bit about turning on the disposal but still allow the hot water and soap to run through the pipes.

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Using A Plastic Drain Snake

To use a plastic drain snake, remove the plug and slowly feed the snake down the drain. Holding the tool by the handle, turn it slowly. The snake is covered in short, tough bristles that collect hair and other debris coating the inside of your drain. After several turns, slowly pull the snake straight up out of the drain so you dont dislodge the collected hair, then run hot water full blast for two minutes to flush the line. Repeat every 2 months to prevent smelly shower and bathroom sink drains.

This method takes a little preparation since you probably dont have a plastic drain snake around, but it works so well that I order this multipack of them to use on my drains every few months. Below, you can see why.

What To Do If Your Drain Still Smells

If none of this works, your best option is to inspect the p-trap for any obstructions or to call a plumber to come take a look. It’s best to take care of the problem as soon as possible to avoid any additional pipe or drain issues. If you let us know what the problem is with your drain, we can connect you to some of the top plumbers in your area for some free quotes.

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How To Get Rid Of Sink Smell

Those weird, unpleasant kitchen smells often build slowly, over time. You’re not sure what you’re smelling or where it’s coming from. You wash down the counters and make sure you have a clean fridge. You check the trash, look in corners and behind appliances for the smelly culprit. Then, it dawns on you. It’s coming from the sink.

Reasons for a Smelly Sink Drain

Sink drains can begin to stink for a number of reasons. A smelly drain can be caused by:

• Blocked Sewer Lines: A blockage deep in the sewer line can cause the smelly fumes from the sewer line to leak into your home.

• Rotting Food: Food that gets stuck in the garbage disposal unit can rot unless its dislodged. Even the smallest amount of food can cause the sink drain to smell.

• Common Sink Clogs: Sinks commonly get clogged with hair, soap scum, grease, and food. These types of clogs can create mold and mildew.

Attention Mr Clean: Take Some Notes Because Youre About To Get Schooled

Nothing against Mr. Clean, hes a good guy.

But theres more to just tossing chemicals down the drain.

You need to get all the biofilm off your pipes. After all, thats whats causing the stinky smell.

Take a paper towel and roll it up like you would do to a magazine when trying to kill a fly .

Push the paper towel down the sink drain.

Then use an appliance brush to push the paper towel through the end of the sink drain. This is way cool because the abrasive action of the towel and the brush thoroughly clean the sides of the sink drain.

Do this 2 to 3 times and youll be amazed at all the gunk that comes out of the drain.

Place your container under the drain to catch the towels and biofilm.

Use the same paper towel method on the p-trap and goose neck.

Then take them into the kitchen along with the pivot rod & pop-up stopper.

Fill up your kitchen sink with enough warm water to cover the sink parts then add about 1/4 cup of bleach.

This is the only use of chemicals aside from one other tip I mention in the video.

Let the sink parts soak for 10 minutes then remove them from the water.

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How Do I Stop My Drains From Smelling

Step 1:

If the smell is coming from a sink that is rarely used, flush your drain to ensure your P-trap is filled with water. When filled, the P-trap can do its job, which is to create an airtight seal that prevents obnoxious sewer or septic smells from escaping.

If youre curious about how to maintain septic tanks, check out our article All About Septic Tank Cleaning.

You can also deodorize drains and help smelly drains with a combination of baking soda and vinegar. These ingredients, when used together, can also sometimes help to clear drain clogs.

Step 1:

For this process, start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain.

Step 2:

Next, pour a mixture of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar into the drain.

Step 3:

Insert the drain plug, or close the filter, and wait 510 minutes.

Step 4:

Then, flush the drain with another pot of boiling water.

For more information on this process, check out our article Do Baking Soda and Vinegar Solutions Clear Clogs?

Odor Causing Bacteria And The Bathroom Stinky Bathroom Sink

Another common cause of smelly bathroom sink drains is the presence of odor-causing bacteria. These bacteria are often present in small numbers in our homes and are not generally harmful.

However, they can multiply quickly and become a problem if they have the right conditions to thrive. Your bathroom sink provides just that environment.

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Ice Cubes Salt And Half A Lemon

This combination will help break down the food on your garbage disposal blades. All you need to do is pour one to two cups of ice cubes down the garbage disposal along with a tablespoon of salt. Run your garbage disposal to clean it thoroughly. Then, drop half a lemon down the disposal to ensure it smells fresh for months!

Fix A Smelly Bathroom Drain

• You guessed it: clean the sink first.
• Use a sink stopper, and soak the sink with very hot water and grease-busting dish soapâwe like Dawn.
• After soaking, give it a good scrubânot just the sink, but the faucet and surrounding area, as well. Get rid of any visible gunk. Wipe off all that toothpaste spatter, gobs of rogue lotion and flecks of makeup.

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How To Clean Smelly Sink Drain Smell

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

A smelly drain can be a real pain in the neck. Not only is it disgusting and unhygienic, but it can also attract flies and other pests. The good news is that there are several ways to clean a smelly sink drain without spending a fortune on expensive drain cleaners.

Sink drains can often become smelly due to food and grease buildup. The stench can be overwhelming, making it hard to ignore. Using your nose to detect where the smell is coming from can help you identify and solve the the problem.

In this article, we will show you how to clean sink drain smell and get rid of a smelly drain.

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Do You Smell A Sewer Odor

Bad-smelling drains can indicate a problem with the main sewer line.

If the methods above dont stop the smell, or if youve noticed multiple drains with sewer odors, then the issue is likely damage to the sewer line. The sewer line removes the waste water from your home and transports it to the city sewer system . If the sewer line becomes blocked or sustains damage from corrosion, tree roots, ground shifting, or construction, it will start to back up sewage into your pipes and eventually into your drains.

This needs immediate action or sewage will start to seep into the basement and cause severe damage to your foundation. Sewer line repairs or replacements require a professional plumber.

The experts at HELP will use cameras to locate the break or blockage and then make targeted repairs. In many cases, we can use trenchless drain repair technology to fix main sewer lines without having to dig up your property.

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Cleaning Smelly Drains Solution

Do you suffer from smelly drains aside from the foul odour from your garbage disposal? Not like a musty odour but like something has croaked? When you think about the food, dirt, and hair that got stuck, of course, youll get a smelly drain. The build-up is the most common cause there is for your stinky drain smells. Or it could be moulds having already thrived in the moist environment, releasing tiny puffs of gas that smells.

This is a perfect time to unclog your pipes and get rid of the foul smell and sewer gases filling up your home. There could be bacteria and gunk build-up in your blocked drains causing the drain smells. True, plumbing maintenance is highly recommended, and youll need plumbing services every now and then, but believe it or not, unclogging your pipes of build-up and giving your blocked drains a proper clean today itll save you from a lot of spending and headache in the future. And itll prevent the drain flies from coming to your drains.

There are many ways, without calling for a professional plumber and plumbing service, to go about cleaning drains. You can either pour boiling water down the drain pipes or explore other simple solutions. But have you ever wondered what are the common causes aside from the build-up behind the bad odours and sometimes, the accompanying gurgling sounds, in your kitchen sink drain or smelly bathroom drains?

Lemons A Different Way

If you love the idea of your kitchen sink smelling like lemons instead of sink stinks, you can make the job easier by pre-preparing some lemon and vinegar ice cubes and using them to rid your sink of the smell.

Start with some ice trays and then add cut up some lemon wedges and add one to each cube.

Next, pour vinegar over the lemon wedges and put the ice cube tray in the freezer overnight. The next morning, put a couple of these ice cubes down the drain and turn on the garbage disposal.

Its easy and the result will be well worth the overnight wait!

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How To Clean A Smelly Kitchen Sink

When youre gathered in your kitchen whether its a regular day or a special holiday youre often greeted with delicious smells and happy memories. Its a place to eat, to talk and to just enjoy life.

But every once in a while, you may notice an unpleasant odor coming from your sink disposal or garbage disposal, right? Yuck. A strong odor is one way to disrupt a happy moment!

So why does this happen in the first place?

There are usually two culprits behind a smelly kitchen sink:

1. Rotting food thats stuck in the drain or garbage disposal2. A sewer gas leak thats coming through the vent or drain trap

Thats the bad news but heres the good news: its totally fixable! Thats right you dont have to live with a stinky kitchen sink forever.Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area has put together a quick and handy guide to help you keep your kitchen sink smelling fabulous. If youre wondering how to fix a smelly kitchen sink, read on to learn more.

Why Does My Dishwasher Smell

If you have a smelly dishwasher, it could be because youre not rinsing your dishes properly before loading them. Food particles can collect in your dishwashers filter and crevices, and over time, this can cause an unpleasant odor. To avoid smelly dishwashers or drains its important to know how to clean your dishwasher regularly.

One way to prevent food from accumulating is to practice proper dishwasher usage. A great rule of thumb is to thoroughly scrape and rinse plates, silverware, bowls, and other items before they go into the dishwasher.

Depending on the mess, you probably wont need to scrub the plates with soap, but scrape food off and rinse dishes clean. Failure to do this means large food particles can get caught in the grates . This can result in clogs that prevent draining or can create a smelly dishwasher.

If theres food caught in the drain system of your dishwasher, remove it. Then, use a clean sponge to wipe the area clean. Also, you can pour a chemical drain cleaner down your garbage disposal, too. Itll help freshen the same plumbing the dishwasher uses and leave a fresh, citrus scent.

For more information on how you can use Liquid-Plumr® products, visit our FAQs page.

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The Last Step: Boiling Water Is Biofilms Worst Nightmare

Before you start to take your bathroom sink drain apart, place a pot of water on the stove.

Allow it to heat up enough so that it boils.

This takes about 10-15 minutes which is enough time for you to put all the sink parts back together.

Start by placing the goose neck into the wall drain. Tighten the slip nut so that the goose neck is locked in place.

The nice part is that if you dont move the plastic washer on the goose neck you wont need to guess how far to push the goose neck into the wall.

Place the short end of the p-trap up against the goose neck and the longer end up onto the sink drain.

This is super important: make the end of the goose neck sit flush with the p-trap then tighten the slip nut by hand.

If you dont make these fittings flush and snug YOU WILL HAVE A LEAK.

This isnt a big deal but a pain in the butt.

Do the same thing with the end of the p-trap that slips onto the drain only this time ensure the slip nut washer sits flush with the top of the p-trap.

Again, tighten the slip nut by hand and use channel locks to ratchet down by 1/4 turn.

Put the pivot rod back into the drain and tighten its nut. Reattach the pivot rod to the clevis using the metal clip.

Run the water in the sink and check for any leaks.

If youre vanity base is bone dry youre ready for the boiling water.

Pour it down the sink in 2 cup increments.

The boiling water will do two things: further disinfect the sink drain and move any remaining grime down into the main sewer stack.

Fixing Stinky Drains With Baking Soda

Remember the baking soda and vinegar volcano you made in grade school? That same foaming action is great at deodorizing drains. First, run hot water down the drain for a minute to help soften any buildup. Then, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the opening and follow it with 2 cups of warm white vinegar. Wait for the fizzing to stop, and rinse the drain with alternating hot and cold water.

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