Stinky Sink, Be Gone!

September 30, 2021 Published by Leave your thoughts

Sometimes when we walk into the kitchen, we immediately ask, “What’s that smell?” When there’s something cooking, it’s because we’re excited about what the answer might be, but if there’s nothing cooking, it’s more of a nervous, worried question.

If you’ve ever been in the latter situation, you might next be asking, “How do I get rid of a smelly drain?” The good news is most of the time, if a sink smells bad, there are things you can do to handle the problem on your own.

Here are some reasons why your sink may stink, as well as ways to get rid of a smelly drain.

Why does it smell?

There are many reasons why your sink may stink. Most of the time, this involves gunk getting stuck in the pipes, but there are other possible reasons as well. Here’s what may be causing that offensive odor:

  • Clogged pipes: If the pipes are clogged by debris, water can start to pool up in the sink. Slow-draining or stagnant water can start to develop a bad smell, especially if it’s being clogged by something that’s packed with stinky bacteria.
  • Bacteria and gunk: Anything that gets washed down the drain has a chance of getting stuck in the pipes or accumulating over time on the inside walls of the pipes. Food, grease, hair and even soap particles can get stuck or accumulate in your pipes—that can attract bacteria, which feasts on these leftovers and creates a foul odor.
  • Sewer gases: This is a less common origin for sink stench, but it’s worth mentioning. For sinks that aren’t used very often, an empty P trap can allow sewer gases to rise up from the drain. As you can imagine, gases from the sewer don’t really smell good at all. Sewer gases may also be the cause of a rotten egg smell coming from a toilet that hasn’t been used in a long time.

How can you fix stinky drains?

Fortunately, there are a couple household solutions you can try to solve the problem. Here’s how to get rid of smelly drains and how to get rid of an egg smell in the bathroom:

  • Boiling water: Boil a pot or kettle of water, and pour half of it down the drain, carefully and slowly. After a few minutes, run some cold water to solidify the remaining gunk, and pour the rest of the hot water down the drain to wash it all away.
  • Baking soda and vinegar: This isn’t just a cool third-grade science experiment—it’s quite effective at cleaning drains as well. Run the hot water for about 20 to 30 seconds; then turn it off. Dump a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by 2 cups of hot vinegar. It will start to fizz, which means it’s working. Leave it alone for an hour; then rinse it out with hot tap water.

For more information on how to get rid of a smelly drain or how to get rid of a rotten egg smell in the bathroom, contact the experienced and customer service–focused professionals at Orchard Plumbing today.

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