Get Rid of Your Stinky Drain

Have you ever entered your kitchen only to get hit in the face by a foul odor? You start looking around—it’s not the garbage can, and the nasty odor is not the fridge. No, the cause seems to be a stinky kitchen drain. The good news is, with some investigation and drain-cleaning efforts, you can eliminate that annoying stench and say hello to freshness!

Why Do Drains Stink?

Your sink can smell bad for many reasons. Pinpointing the cause is the starting point to freshening up your kitchen and stopping a recurrence. The most frequent causes include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain clogged with food particles, grease buildup and other crud is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that create unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Blocked drain: Obstructed pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, making the smell worse.
• 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 is found in seldom-used plumbing fixtures
• Plumbing flaws: From DIY problems to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing issues can allow unwanted smells to enter your living space.

Ways to Clean a Stinky Drain

Here are four surefire methods to eliminate pungent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar to near-boiling and carefully pour it into the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar negates the odor.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Start with the hot water technique outlined above. If it’s inadequate, put a cup of baking soda down the drain and chase it with two cups of hot vinegar. Enjoy the fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, clear the drain with more hot water to clean out stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your safety gloves and put a bucket below the P-trap. Loosen the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if necessary, and remove it. Dump 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 recommended for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and may create toxic gases, so avoid using bleach in this situation.

How to Keep Your Drains Smelling Fresh

It’s very easy to keep funky drains under control with a little elbow grease. Here’s what we encourage:

• Operate your garbage disposal and flush it with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to thoroughly flush particles through the pipes.
• Rinse the drain once a week with a gallon of near-boiling water to prevent the buildup of odor-causing gunk.
• Run water down infrequently used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For extra protection, pour a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that decreases the rate of evaporation.
• Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and counteract odors.
• Periodically, follow up the baking soda treatment with a cup of white vinegar for a deeper clean. Let it sit for a half-hour, then clean the drain extensively with hot water.
• Grind lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling nice and clean.
• Use enzyme cleaners to prevent the buildup of odor-causing residue without relying on harsh chemicals.
• Hire a professional to examine your plumbing sporadically. This can help find odor-causing issues before they become a big problem.
• Don’t pour grease and other foods into the drain that can easily clog or decay, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Try using mesh strainers to catch food debris and other debris before they get caught in the drain. Then, empty the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing properly and smelling clean.
• Opt for professional drain cleaning to ensure a thorough job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and training to handle tough clogs and smelly problems. In addition, they can provide personalized advice specific to your home’s plumbing system.

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

If your hard work trying to clean the stinky kitchen drain don’t work, it’s time to call in the specialists. 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 focused on your complete happiness.

So, the next time your stinky drains make you want to plug your nose, go with the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. Plan your appointment by calling 866-397-3787 today!