How to Clean a Smelly Drain

Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to detect a foul odor? You start looking around—it’s not the garbage can, and the aroma is not the fridge. No, the cause is a smelly kitchen drain. Fortunately, with a little investigating and drain-cleaning efforts, you can eliminate that annoying smell and say hello to freshness!

Why Does My Drain Smell Bad??

Your sink can stink for a few reasons. Identifying the cause is the starting point to freshening up your kitchen and avoiding a recurrence. The most common culprits include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain clogged 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: Obstructed pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, making the smell worse.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap located under the sink dries out, sewer gases may emanate from the drain, leading to a lingering sewer smell. This most often happens in seldom-used plumbing fixtures
• Plumbing mistakes: From DIY accidents to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing challenges can allow unwanted smells to penetrate your living space.

Ways to Clear a Stinky Drain

Here are four surefire methods to cure pungent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar almost to the boiling point and gradually pour it into the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar negates the stench.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Start with the hot water technique explained above. If it’s inadequate, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour two cups of hot vinegar. Watch it fizz and leave it for an hour. Then, rinse 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. Loosen the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if necessary, and remove it. Clean out the contents into the trash, flush any leftovers out of the pipe and refasten your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it’s a powerful antibacterial agent, bleach is not suggested for cleaning drains. It can cause harm to your pipes and potentially create toxic gases, so don’t use bleach in this situation.

Strategies for Fresh and Clean Drains

It’s not hard to keep reeking drains from happening with a little elbow grease. Here’s what we encourage:

• Run your garbage disposal and flush it with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to thoroughly flush particles out the pipes.
• Flush the drain weekly with a gallon of near-boiling water to prevent the buildup of odor-causing debris.
• Run water into infrequently used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For extra protection, put a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that slows evaporation.
• Spread a handful of baking soda in the drain and then pour hot water to absorb and counteract odors.
• Periodically, follow up the baking soda method with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Allow the baking soda to activate for 30 minutes, then clean the drain extensively with hot water.
• Grind lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling nice and clean.
• Utilize enzyme cleaners to prevent the buildup of odor-causing residue without turning to harsh chemicals.
• Hire a pro to inspect your plumbing sporadically. This can help find odor-causing scenarios before they become a big problem.
• Don’t ever put grease and other foods down the drain that can easily clog or decompose, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Use mesh strainers to catch food debris and other debris before they go down the drain. Next, dump the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing easily and smelling fresh.
• Schedule professional drain cleaning to ensure a comprehensive job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and knowledge to deal with tough clogs and smelly problems. In addition, they can provide personalized advice specific to your residence’s plumbing system.

Get Expert Drain Cleaning in Fort Lauderdale with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If your efforts to clean the stinky kitchen drain are not successful, it’s time to call in the pros. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning delivers fast, lasting plumbing solutions in Fort Lauderdale, including professional drain cleaning. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means we’re focused on your complete happiness.

So, the next time your nasty-smelling drains make you want to gag, reach out to the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Schedule your appointment by phoning 954-736-4314 today!