Ways to Eliminate Drain Odors

Have you ever entered your kitchen only to be greeted by a foul odor? You start investigating—it’s not the garbage can, and the aroma is clearly not the fridge. No, the perpetrator appears to be a smelly kitchen drain. Fortunately, with a bit of detective work and drain-cleaning efforts, you can alleviate that unpleasant smell and say hello to freshness!

Why Do Drains Stink?

Your sink can smell bad for several reasons. Determining the cause is the starting point to freshening up your kitchen and avoiding a recurrence. The most prevalent offenders include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain covered with food particles, grease buildup and other sludge is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that make unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Clogged drain: Stopped up pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, making the smell worse.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap below the sink dries out, sewer gases may come up from the drain, causing a lingering sewer smell. This oftentimes happens in seldom-used plumbing fixtures
• Plumbing errors: From DIY mishaps to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing challenges can allow unwelcome smells to enter your living space.

Tips to Clear a Stinky Drain

Here are four tried-and-true strategies to cure pungent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar to near-boiling and slowly pour it down the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar neutralizes the stench.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Begin with the hot water strategy explained above. If it’s inadequate, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain and follow that with two cups of hot vinegar. Enjoy the fizz and leave it for an hour. Then, clear the drain with more hot water to tackle stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your safety gloves and position a bucket under the P-trap. Unfasten the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if required, and set it aside. Dump the contents into the trash, rinse the pipe and reassemble your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although bleach is a powerful antibacterial agent, bleach is not ideal for cleaning drains. It can damage your pipes and may create toxic gases, so don’t use bleach in this scenario.

Tips for Pleasant-Smelling Drains

It’s easy to keep funky drains at bay with a little maintenance. Here’s what we recommend:

• Operate your garbage disposal and flush it with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to completely flush particles out the pipes.
• Clean the drain weekly with a gallon of near-boiling water to prevent the buildup of odor-causing debris.
• Run water down rarely used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For additional protection, apply a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that slows evaporation.
• Pour a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and reduce any odors.
• Periodically, follow up the baking soda process with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Let it sit for a half-hour, then clean the drain extensively with hot water.
• Use ground-up lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling fragrant.
• Utilize enzyme cleaners to counter the buildup of odor-causing residue without resorting to the use of harsh chemicals.
• Hire a professional to check your plumbing occasionally. This can help catch odor-causing issues before they become a concern.
• Don’t pour grease and other foods in the drain that can easily clog or rot, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Use mesh strainers to catch food particles and other debris before they go down the drain. After that, throw the debris from the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing easily and smelling pleasant.
• Schedule professional drain cleaning to ensure a comprehensive job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and skill to deal with tough clogs and smelly problems. Additionally, they can provide personalized advice specific to your residence’s plumbing system.

Get Expert Drain Cleaning in the U.S. with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If your hard work trying to clean the smelly kitchen drain are not successful, it’s time to call in the professionals. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing delivers fast, enduring plumbing solutions in the U.S., including professional drain cleaning. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means we’re devoted to your complete happiness.

So, the next time your smelly drains make you want to gag, choose the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. Make your appointment by contacting us at 866-397-3787 today!