You’ve just spent several hours cleaning every surface in your kitchen and bathroom to a sparkling clean shine. But as you look around at your handiwork, you catch a whiff of something smelly. Did you forget to clean the drains?
Even with all of the water and cleaners that pass through a kitchen or bathroom drain, they can still reek. There are several possible causes of stinky drains:
- A dry P-trap: The P-trap is the curved portion of the pipes under a sink. It is designed to hold water to create a seal between the odors and gasses of sewage lines and the sink drain.
- A clogged or blocked air vent: In bathrooms, the drains are vented to give backflowing gases a release outlet.
- A clogged pipe or garbage disposal: An obstruction traps foul-smelling waste in the drain.
- Odor-causing bacteria: Bacteria can build up in drains and feed on debris if the pipes are not flushed regularly. The bacteria give off hydrogen sulfide gas that smells like rotten eggs.
- Mold: Drains are dark, warm, wet, and filled with food for mold, and some mold colonies emit a foul odor.
- Clogged aerator: At the end of the faucet is a small screen or aerator that catches debris from your water source that can cause odors.
Once you have determined the possible cause of the odor, it’s time to solve the problem and clean the drain. Some odors can be removed with a simple cleaning process; others require a plumber or your plumbing skills to remove an obstruction.
How Often to Clean a Stinky Drain
A stinky drain should be cleaned as quickly as possible. Even drains that don’t smell require regular attention monthly.
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Rubber gloves
- Measuring cup
- Wrench
- Bucket
- Garden hose (optional)
- Microwave or stovetop
- Old toothbrush
- Ladder
- Sponge
- Pot or microwavable bowl
Materials
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
Instructions
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Instructions to Clean a Stinky Drain
Getting rid of the stinky odor is often a process of elimination. Start by flushing the drain with distilled white vinegar and baking soda and see if that removes the odor. If not, progress to the next steps until all of the odor is gone.
1. Flush the Drain
- In a large measuring cup or bowl, combine one cup of distilled white vinegar and one cup of boiling water. Pour one-half cup of baking soda down the drain followed by the vinegar and hot water mixture.
- Cover the sink drain with the drain plug and allow the mixture to work for 10 minutes. There may be some foaming as the baking soda and vinegar react with each other.
- After 10 minutes, flush the drain with an additional two cups of very hot water. This will remove debris and fill the P-trap with clean water to eliminate odors.
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3. Clean the Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal
- The kitchen sink odor may be coming from a garbage disposal unit. Before you begin cleaning, turn off the electrical breaker for disposal to prevent injuries.
- Use a paste of baking soda and a few drops of water on a sponge to clean the rubber baffle of the disposal near the sink drain opening. Be sure to clean the underside of the baffle.
- Follow the steps for flushing a drain with vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. If you have a double sink, cover the sink drain opening in both sinks.
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3. Clean the Faucet or Showerhead Aerator
Unscrew the end of the faucet and use an old toothbrush and a bit of damp baking soda to clean away any debris or mold that may be on the aerator screen. Remove the showerhead and submerge it in a warm, distilled white vinegar bowl. Let it soak for 30 minutes. Use an old toothbrush to remove any visible mold or debris from the nozzles, rinse, and reinstall the showerhead.
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