Keep Your Bathroom Smelling Fresh
Clearly, there are a number of ways in which your drains can acquire an unpleasant scent and, thankfully, most of these issues are fairly easily remedied. Again, if you have any problem with your drains that you just cant fix, we invite you to contact a professional plumber for back-up.
In the meantime, there are a number of simple strategies you can keep to make sure your powder room maintains a pleasant, welcoming aroma at all times. We hope youll find these quick tips and habits to be useful.
These are just a few easy, practical ways to ensure your restroom area remains as clean, as hygienic, and as welcoming as possible.
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A Plumber Reveals Five Reasons Your Bathroom Might Smell Like Sewage Or Emanate A Musty Odour
Rebecca Senyard1. Does your bathroom have a weird smell? It may be the dry floor-waste drainwet room designPOC+P architectsCorben ArchitectsTip:2. Or maybe its a deteriorated toilet waste collaralsoCAN ArchitectsTip:4. If your bathroom smells funky, it could be the basin overflowTip:5. Does your bathroom smell like sulphur? It may be the push plugs and basin wastesTip:Caroline McCredieYour turnMore
How Long Should You Leave Vinegar In A Sink
The amount of time you should leave vinegar in a sink depends on how it is being used. If you are using vinegar for cleaning, then it is best to soak the sink for 15 minutes in a mixture of water and vinegar and then rinse the sink with water afterwards.
This will help to break up dirt, grime, and bacteria, leaving your sink fresh and clean.
If you are using vinegar as an odor remover, you may leave it in the sink overnight. Soaking the sink with a mixture of vinegar and water should help absorb strong odors and lessen the smell.
Finally, if you are trying to remove tough stains from your sink, then you should leave vinegar in the sink for a few hours before rinsing it off. This will help the vinegar penetrate deep into the stain, allowing it to lift the stain away more easily.
In general, it is best to use the minimum amount of time necessary to achieve your desired results. As long as you keep it to a sensible amount, vinegar can be a great aid for keeping your sink clean and free from unpleasant odors and stains.
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Shake Out Bathroom Rugs
Bathroom rugs are there to trap water when you step out of the shower or bath, but they also provide the moist fluffy surfaces that mold thrives on.
Get into the habit of shaking your bathroom rugs after a bath or shower and hang them near the bathroom fan so they can dry quicker.
Better yet, hang them outside or drop them into the washing machine every day or two.
Cleaning Sink Mildew With Distilled White Vinegar And Baking Powder
When using baking powder and distilled white vinegar, you will also need to run water down the drain to help with the cleaning.
First, dump ½ cup baking powder into the sinks drain. Then, follow it up with 1 cup of the white vinegar. Let it sit for approximately 15 minutes, allowing the froth to settle. This solution will not only kill pathogens, but it will also loosen up any debris and mildew that are stuck in the drain.
From there, continue the cleaning process by running hot water down the drain for 1 minute. After 5 minutes, finish it off by running cold water for 1 minute.
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Why Do I Smell Mold In My Bathroom Sink
One possible reason could be due to the buildup of mildew and mold from dampness or water that has been standing in your sink due to improper ventilation in the area. Another possibility is a buildup of organic matter including food particles and other debris from washing your hands or dishes in the sink, which can provide an ideal environment for the growth of mildew and mold.
Additionally, a plumbing issue like a leak or clog could be causing the smell, allowing water to accumulate in your sink, further promoting the growth of the mildew and mold. In any case, it is important to address the issue as soon as possible in order to prevent any potential health risks associated with mold and mildew.
Cleaning Hair From The Shower Drain
Trapped hair is a major cause of shower drain clogs and odors, but it is preventable. Try brushing your hair out before washing it in the shower. This will remove any loose, tangled, or excess hair that would otherwise clog the drain.
Another step to take is to assess your shower drain situation. If you have an open drain hole without any kind of cover , you may want to consider buying a shower drain hair catcher . Even if you dont have an uncovered drain hole, you may want to replace your current drain cover with this device because it easily prevents hair clog problems in the long term.
If your shower drain is already clogged with hair, you can try using a product that will dissolve hair, soap scum, and other odor-causing debris, such as Green Gobbler Main Line Opener .
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Reason #: Buildup Of Biofilm
Biofilm is a thin, slimy layer of bacteria that can grow from all the water, soap, shampoo, and body oils that go down the shower drain and accumulate inside the pipes. Not only does this sound gross, it can also smell pretty bad.
So how can you get rid of biofilm? You can try killing the bacteria with one these household solutions:
- Mix 1 part bleach and 1 part water, then pour down the drain.
- First, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain. Then add a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain as the mixture fizzes, then flush with hot water.
If hair gets stuck in the drain or pipes, it can make the biofilm issue even worse . Often, if you can remove the hair, then the smell will go away.
You dont have to suffer from a smelly shower drain. If you try these DIY tips and still cant get rid of the stench, call the experts at Ricks Plumbing at . Well fix the problem so you can go back to enjoying your bathroom oasis.
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.
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Is The Musty Smell In Your Bathroom Mildew Or Mold
If this unwelcoming smell is coming from your bathroom, it may be mildew. Think of mildew as a biofilm of bacteria that grows mostly on flat surfaces. Bacteria, like everything else, is alive, and its probably what that wet, musty smell is.
If youre not familiar with the scent, mildew can smell like wet socks over time. Many also describe the smell as rotting wood or wet paper.
Mildew can be white, tan, or grey and can look powdery in texture. You most commonly find this fluffy-looking growth on the walls of your shower or even under the sink.
If you find fuzzy mold with a particularly pungent odor, be mindful of the color. Mold can range in color from green to black. The color is an important part of identifying what type of mold you have.
Now that you know what to look for, youll need to know how to get rid of the mold. Then, you can banish that musty smell in the bathroom for good.
If Your Drain Smells Musty
…youre most likely smelling mold thats growing in your drain.
As part of their metabolic process, active mold spores release tiny puffs of gas that have a distinct musty smell. Whats worse is that gas can be dangerous. If inhaled, it can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue.
So, how do you get rid of those active mold colonies? Well, according to the EPA, if the mold infected area is less than 10 square feet, you should be able to handle the cleanup yourself. Just follow the steps below.
What youll need:
Steps to remove mold from shower drain:
If your drain still smells like mildew after this or if the smell disappears then returns, you may have a larger mold problem that requires professional cleaning.
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Why Does My Shower Drain Smell
Have you ever stepped into the shower only to be hit with an unpleasant smell? If so, youre not alone. A smelly shower drain is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors.
In most cases, the odor is due to a build-up of hair, soap scum, and dirt. However, it can also be caused by mold or mildew growth, leaks, or a clogged vent stack.
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to get rid of the smell and keep your drain smelling fresh. With a little effort, you can enjoy a pleasant showering experience once again.
Check to see if there is any soap scum or hair clogging the drain. If so, you can try using a plunger or a snake to clear the blockage. If the drain is still slow after doing this, you may need to use a chemical drain cleaner.
Just be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle carefully, as these cleaners can be very corrosive. If the smell persists, it could be coming from the pipes themselves. In this case, you may need to call a plumber to take a look.
In most cases, however, a bad smell coming from a shower drain is due to a simple clog that can be easily fixed.
How Are Mold And Mildew Identified
It is usually easy to identify mold by sight. It looks like a layer of dust settled on surfaces like walls or under your sink. While mildew grows on surfaces, it will not cause structural damage. However, other molds can eat through your walls. Mold testing kits are available in the market easily. But, you can use diluted bleach to check for molds on surfacesmix 1 part bleach with 16 parts water. Dip a cotton swab into it and rub it over the suspected surface mold. With mold, the rubbed spot will lighten instantly. If the spot keeps reappearing on cleaning, its most likely mold.
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How To Clean A Shower Drain With A Toilet Plunger
Your first line of defense for a clogged shower drain is an old-fashioned toilet plunger. Fill the tub or shower stall with enough water to cover the rubber bell of the plunger. Place the bell over the drain opening and plunge away. The force of the pressurized water should dislodge the clog and allow the standing water to go down. If the shower doesn’t drain or drains slowly, try again.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
A tried and true DIY cleaning method, baking soda and vinegar can be very effective for cleaning smelly sink drains.
Start by boiling some hot water on the stove. While your water is heating, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down your drain, and let the mixture sit. After about ten minutes, flush the drain with boiling water.
Finish up by flushing the drain with cold tap water, and wait to see if the odor is gone.
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Clean Your Sink To Remove Biofilm Buildup
We mentioned earlier that one possible cause of a smelly drain is biofilm buildup. Again, this is a pretty easy thing to check for just detach your stopper, pull it out, and see if theres nasty black gunk on the bottom of it.
If so, that means all you really need to do is thoroughly clean out your sink, including a deep-clean down through the drain and into the pipes. You need to eliminate that bacterial buildup, which is whats causing the foul odor.
So what cleaning supplies should you use to clean out your biofilm buildup? You can invest in any store-bought cleaning product thats specifically designed to clean sinks. You can also just use vinegar . One important word of caution: Never mix vinegar with bleach. Doing so can produce noxious, potentially dangerous fumes.
Once youve used the cleaner of your choice, we recommend either pouring a couple of cups of hot water down the drain or simply allowing the hot water to run for about a minute. This can further break down and flush away bacteria.
Add Water to Your P Trap
What course of action is best if the cause of your sewer smell is a dry p trap? This may be an even easier fix. Often, all youll really need to do is run water for a few minutes, allowing that p trap to regain its protective moisture barrier. If this doesnt work, then its possible that youve misdiagnosed the problem or, that youve reached the point where you need to call a plumber.
How To Get Rid Of And Prevent Smells In A Shower Drain
Shower drain odors are caused by sewage gas, bacteria, or mold. If you have a guest bathroom that isn’t used often, the shower drain P-trap can become dry and allow sewer gas to escape. This is easily solved by running the shower for a few minutes each month or so.
Odors can also come from the soap scum that is allowed to build-up in the pipes. The scum and the dark, moist conditions are the perfect feeding ground for odor-causing bacteria and mold. Regular use and monthly cleaning of a shower will keep odors at bay.
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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.
Getting Rid Of The Musty Smell In The Bathroom
Check for mold or mildew in places that water could be. Like the back of the toilet, under the sink, or in the corners of your shower.
Water that isnt properly drained and is left to sit can become stagnant. Standing water such as this provides the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth to begin.
Mildew is easy enough to deal with. There are dozens of different products that you can purchase for removing mildew or mold. These cleaners will specify that they fight against mildew and mold, so finding one shouldnt be too hard.
If you prefer a more natural method, you can also use household products like white vinegar and baking soda to tackle mildew. Proper ventilation is also key and keeping surfaces dry, like drying your shower after each use.
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How To Fix A Smelly Bathroom Sink Due To Bacteria
1. Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain to help loosen up any debris.
2. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar to the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. Flush the drain with hot water after 30 minutes.
The white vinegar alone should clear up the basic drain odor. If this doesnât work, we recommend using a natural enzyme product. This takes it a step further, as the enzymes will âeatâ away at hair clogs and other organic material that might be causing the smells further down in the sink trap.
Pro tip: also pour some in the overflow hole of the sink.
See this post where we review the best enzyme drain cleaners.
This method is great to clear up smelly sinks. Itâs a great DIY alternative to buying sani-clean drain sticks.