What causes a kitchen sink drain to smell

There are two main reasons why your kitchen drain may smell: A build-up of food and debris in the drainpipe. Anything you put down your sink other than water can stick to the sides of the pipes or sit in the U-bend. And over time, bacteria will cause it to decay and smell.

How do I get rid of the smell in my kitchen sink drain?

Dump a good handful of baking soda into the drain, let sit (don’t run any water) for 15 minutes, then pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar down. Watch the bubbles, hear the pops and fizz, and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, boiling water and voila! It will be right as rain … at least for about six weeks.

How do I stop my drain pipe from smelling?

Use the Cleaning Power of Baking Soda Simply pour several tablespoons of baking soda down a blocked or smelly drain, then follow it up with several tablespoons of plain white vinegar. Then quickly block the drain tightly and wait a few seconds.

Why does my kitchen drain smell like sewer?

If your kitchen sink drain smells, especially if there is a sewer smell, you may have a dry P-trap. … There needs to be water in the P-trap at all times. There may also be a drain pipe or vent problem. This could involve pipe damage or an obstruction in your vent.

How do you fix a smelly P trap?

To eliminate odors coming from a dry p-trap, pour half a gallon of water into the trap to restore the barrier. It will prevent the odors from seeping through the drain. Another helpful method is to add a cup of white vinegar bleach to get rid of larvae and slow down the evaporation.

Why does my sink drain smell like rotten eggs?

One of the most common reasons for a kitchen sink to have a rotten egg or moldy smell is from grease or fat getting stuck in your drains. … The foaming of the baking soda/vinegar eats away at the junk in the drain and the boiling water helps wash it all away and sanitizes the drain.

Can you put bleach down the sink?

Putting bleach into the sink is dangerous because bleach can mix with residual substances in the pipes. … The worst thing will be if the next person using the sink pours something like acids, alcohol, or ammonia. And bleach reacts aggressively to these substances. So, first: never pour bleach into the sink.

How do I know if my P trap is bad?

One common reason your drain smells bad is a dried p trap. A dried p trap will result in a sewer odor emitting from a sink that maybe hasn’t been used in a while. A p trap is designed to use water to block the sewer gases from leaking up the drain. If a sink’s p trap dies out this can result in a drain that smells bad.

Can I pour bleach down a smelly drain?

To use bleach to kill odor-causing bacteria, first, fill your sink with hot water. Then, add about one cup of regular household bleach to the sink. After you’ve added the bleach, allow the sink to drain. Repeat the process until the drain smells more like bleach than anything else.

Can you put vinegar down the drain?

If you’re unable to reach into the drain to remove the clog by pulling it out, baking soda, vinegar, and hot water may do the trick. Simply pour one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar down the drain. … If the clog doesn’t seem to be improving at all, it’s time to call a drain cleaning service professional.

Article first time published on

Can you pour Clorox down the drain?

Bleach is a powerful, toxic substance that should be used carefully and properly, and pouring it down a drain is not a proper use. Bleach can react with other substances in your pipes, potentially release fumes, and further plug up the system. … Pouring bleach down them will do much more harm than good.

Does vinegar damage drain pipes?

The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.

How do you get rid of sulfur smell in drain?

Pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a potful of hot water. Vinegar has antiseptic, antibacterial and odor-neutralizing properties; baking soda’s alkalinity helps it dissolve clogs.

How do I get the rotten egg smell out of my garbage disposal?

If your sink smells like rotten eggs or spoiled food: Try using bio-enzyme drain cleaner or vinegar and baking soda to clear out the smell. You could also try running ice cubes through the disposal or putting slices of citrus in the disposal to freshen the odor.

How do you get sulfur smell out of water?

Chlorine bleach can effectively remove medium to high levels (over 6 mg/l) of hydrogen sulfide. The chlorine in the bleach chemically reacts with (oxi- dizes) the hydrogen sulfide eliminating the “rotten egg” odor. Chlorine bleach also reacts with iron or manganese, and disinfects water supplies.

How often do P traps dry out?

P-traps can dry out as quickly as a month, sometimes even less than that. This happens most often in winter. To prevent your P-trap from drying out, run the sink or shower for a minute or two once a week to keep water flowing and your P-traps from drying out. Are you having an issue with your P-trap running dry?

Why does my sink smell like dead animal?

A buildup of soap scum, grease, food particles or rotting food can all contribute to bad odor issues in your kitchen sink. … Sometimes sponges can grow bacteria, or the remains of a dead animal could cause nasty odors.

Where is P-trap located?

The P-trap is a crucial element of the home plumbing system. It is the U-shaped section of the pipe located underneath the sink. Its function is to trap and hold enough water, which acts as a barrier to prevent sewer gases and odors from making their way into the bathroom.

How often should I pour vinegar down the drain?

Pour Vinegar Down Your Drain Every Three Months to Keep Clogs Away.

Can baking soda and vinegar harm pipes?

Even newly installed plumbing can pose problems out of the blue. … In reality, even simple DIY methods like the baking soda and vinegar technique that’s often used to clear a drain clog, can be harmful to your plumbing system.

Is it safe to pour boiling water down the drain?

Do NOT pour boiling water down your sink or toilet. While it’s probably okay to dump boiling water in the sink when your pipes are clear, a clog will trap the water in the pipe. This can melt PVC piping and pipe seals, causing serious damage.

Why does my sink smell musty?

If it’s simply a musty smell as you indicate, it could be bacteria growing in your drain. Try cleaning it with this tried-and-true vinegar and baking soda mixture: … Mix one cup of white vinegar into the drain.

How long do I leave baking soda and vinegar in drain?

1. Let hot water run for a minute to warm up the pipes.
2. Drop in 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.
3. Pour in 1 cup of vinegar, cover the drain with a plug and let sit for 10 minutes – you will hear fizzing.
4. Rinse with more hot water.

How often can you put vinegar and baking soda down the drain?

Every few weeks, or whenever the water seems slow to drain, pour 1/2 cup baking soda in the drain, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. Plug the hole, then unplug it after 1 hour. Pour boiling water down the drain after that to help clear greasy substances.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt and pour down the drain giving you trouble. Follow by pouring 1 cup of heated vinegar down the drain (it will foam and bubble). Cover the drain with a plug or duct tape to prevent the mixture from escaping. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Why does my drain smell like eggs?

Most people liken a drain’s odour to the smell of rotten eggs. … This smell often comes from a gas known as hydrogen sulfide, which is formed when bacteria grows in sewage, drains or the ground. If you don’t use the drain or sink often, the hydrogen sulfide could come directly from the sewer itself.