Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to detect a foul stench? You start searching—it’s not the garbage can, and the nasty odor is not the fridge. No, the perpetrator seems to be The good news is kitchen drain. Thankfully, with some investigation and drain-cleaning efforts, you can say goodbye to that undesirable smell and say hello to freshness!
Why Does My Drain Smell Bad??
Your sink can smell bad for many reasons. Identifying the cause is the starting point to freshening up your kitchen and stopping a recurrence. The most prevalent causes include:
- Bacteria: A kitchen drain lined with food particles, grease buildup and other gunk is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that make unpleasant odors as they feed.
- Blocked drain: Stopped up pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, underneath.
- Sewer gases: If the P-trap underneath the sink dries out, sewer gases may come up from the drain, leading to a lingering sewer smell. This oftentimes occurs with household plumbing fixtures that are not used anymore
- Plumbing mistakes: From DIY problems to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing challenges can allow unwelcome smells to penetrate your living space.
Tips to Fix a Stinky Drain
Here are four reliable strategies to eliminate smelly drain odors:
- Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar until it nearly boils and carefully pour it in the drain. The hot water clears out the debris and vinegar neutralizes the stench.
- Baking soda and vinegar: Begin with the hot water technique explained above. If it’s inadequate, pour a cup of baking soda in the drain and chase it with two cups of hot vinegar. Enjoy the fizz and let it sit for an hour. Then, flush the drain with more hot water to get rid of stubborn gunk and bacteria.
- P-trap cleaning: Don your safety gloves and place a bucket underneath the P-trap. Unfasten the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if required, and take the pipe out. Empty the contents into the trash, wash out the pipe and reassemble your sink’s plumbing.
- A note on bleach: Although bleach is an effective antibacterial agent, bleach is not suggested for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and possibly create toxic gases, so don't use bleach in this scenario.
How to Keep Your Drains Smelling Fresh
It’s not hard to keep smelly drains under control with a little elbow grease. Here’s what we encourage:
- Operate your garbage disposal and clear it using cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to completely flush particles down the pipes.
- Clean the drain weekly with a gallon of near-boiling water to protect against the buildup of odor-causing gunk.
- Run water down seldom-used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For additional protection, put a little mineral oil in the drain, because that decreases the rate of evaporation.
- Pour a handful of baking soda in the drain and then pour hot water to absorb and reduce any odors.
- Once in a while, follow up the baking soda method with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Let it sit for half an hour, then Clean the drain completely with hot water.
- Cut up lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling nice and clean.
- Utilize enzyme cleaners to counter the buildup of odor-causing residue without relying on harsh chemicals.
- Hire a pro to check your plumbing occasionally. This can help find odor-causing issues before they become a big problem.
- Avoid pouring grease and other food items in the drain that can easily clog or decay, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
- Try using mesh strainers to catch food particles and other debris before they get caught in the drain. Next, dump the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing properly and smelling fresh.
- Hire professional drain cleaning to ensure a thorough job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and expertise to take care of tough clogs and smelly problems. Additionally, they can give personalized advice specific to your home's plumbing system.
Call for Professional Drain Cleaning in the U.S with Service Experts
If your hard work trying to clean the foul-smelling kitchen drain prove unsuccessful, it’s time to call in the professionals Service Experts provides fast, lasting plumbing solutions in the U.S, including professional drain cleaning. Our Service Experts Guarantee means we’re focused on your complete happiness.
So, the next time your nasty-smelling drains make you want to run out of the room, go with the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts. Schedule your appointment by phoning (866) 963-7996 today!
