Odors can arise from the accumulation of grease and foul food particles in kitchen sink drains. Body dirt, hair, and toothpaste globs can quickly accumulate in bathroom sink drains. Although the majority of us believe that running water will clear all of the debris from the drains, this isn’t always the case, and we wind up with a sink drain that smells.
Thankfully, a few common pantry products can be used to quickly and simply clear the drain, restoring its natural flow and fresh scent. The key is to make sure that drains are frequently cleaned before a clog or other issues occur and a plumber is needed. Here are the instructions for cleaning a sink drain.
Cleaning Tips for Sink Drains
What You’ll Need
Tools and Equipment
- Cups for measuring
- Plug or stopper for the sink
- (Optional) rubber gloves
- microwave or stove?
- Safe-for-microwave bowl or sizable measuring cup
Materials
- baking soda
- White vinegar that has been distilled
Guidelines
- Drain the sink. The sink should always be emptied and cleaned first. What’s sticking to your sink could be the source of the odor! Make sure both sides of your double-bowl kitchen sink are clean and empty.
- Warm up some water. Bring a cup of water to a boil in the microwave or on the stove. One cup of distilled white vinegar should be combined with the boiling water. In a kitchen sink with two bowls, warm up two cups of water and pour in two cups of vinegar.
- Pour the vinegar and baking soda mixture down the drain. Pour the two cups of vinegar solution into the drain gradually after pouring the half cup of baking soda down it. Foaming is going to occur. Pour two cups of the vinegar solution and a half cup of baking soda into each side of a double-bowl sink.
- Hold off and flush. Put the drain cap over the sink drain right away, then give the mixture ten minutes to work. Next, use two cups of very hot water straight from the tap to clear the drain.
Should an odor persist near the kitchen sink drain, it may be from the garbage disposal. Although the baking soda and vinegar approach is effective, odors in a disposal need to be removed with more thorough cleaning.
If the foul-smelling drain persists,
After treating the drain with baking soda and vinegar, if the bad stench persists, it’s time to get out of the toolbox or give a plumber a call. A dry or clogged P-trap—the curved pipe part beneath the sink—could be the source. The purpose of the P-trap is to create a seal between the sink drain and the gasses and smells coming from sewage lines by holding a tiny amount of water.
You can clean the P-trap yourself if you have good tool-handling skills. To collect water and any muck that becomes lodged in the trap, empty the area beneath the sink and set a bucket underneath it. To dump the trap into the bucket, unscrew the nuts securing it with a wrench. After filling it with water in a different sink, replace the P-trap. Re-flush the sink with vinegar, baking soda, and hot water.
Speak with a professional if the smell is still strong. A plumber can identify the source of the foul odor and fix the problem. Possible causes include leaks in the sewage system, clogged air vents, and blockages in the plumbing system.
How to Maintain a Clean Sink Drain
- Certain items are simply not meant to be poured down the sink drain since they can produce clogs and smells. Keep significant volumes of flour, egg shells, coffee grounds, grease, and expandable foods like rice and dried pasta out of the drain.
- Once a week, give your bathroom and kitchen sink drains a thorough rinse with hot water. For a thorough flush to help dissolve oily film and toothpaste clumps and to help clear debris out of the P-trap, pour down the drain at least one quart of extremely hot water.
- To ensure that the food is flushed out of the interior chamber, run water through the garbage disposal for at least 20 seconds when using it.
- Frequently remove and clean the stopper on your bathroom sink and use a hair catcher to avoid clogs that might trap odors.
What materials are needed to clean a sink drain?
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Measuring cups
- Sink plug or stopper
- Microwave-safe bowl or large measuring cup
- (Optional) Rubber gloves
What is the basic process for cleaning a sink drain?
- Empty and clean the sink.
- Boil a cup of water and mix it with a cup of distilled white vinegar.
- Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar solution.
- Cover the drain and let the mixture work for ten minutes.
- Flush the drain with hot tap water.
What if the drain still smells after cleaning?
If the smell persists, it may be due to a dry or clogged P-trap. You can try cleaning the P-trap yourself or call a plumber. If the smell is still strong after cleaning the P-trap, a plumber can help identify and fix the problem.
How can I maintain a clean sink drain?
- Avoid pouring certain items down the drain, such as flour, egg shells, coffee grounds, grease, and expandable foods like rice and dried pasta.Rinse your sink drains with hot water once a week.Run water through the garbage disposal for at least 20 seconds when using it.Regularly remove and clean the bathroom sink stopper and use a hair catcher to prevent clogs.
