If you’re like most of us, we don’t give our drains much thought until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, a stinky or clogged drain is often the origin of these unpleasant odors in your bathroom and kitchen.
If you want to avoid odors in your showers, sinks, and kitchen drains, they must all be kept cleaned to avoid the smell. While potpourri and scented candles might mask the nasty drain smells, you must address the source of the odors. You can avoid smelly drains by learning how to clean them, which requires regular maintenance.
We Call The Pipe Under Your Sink A P-Trap
There are several reasons why your bathroom sink has a nasty odor. However, cleaning a stinky drain can be a simple task if you have the correct tools and chemicals. It’s necessary to have a P-trap that functions correctly. This will keep your drains smelling as they should. The pipe under your sink bent in the shape of a “P” is known as a P-trap. Its purpose is to form a seal by retaining water, preventing sewage gases from entering the bathroom. However, sewer gasses could leak into the bathroom if the P-trap isn’t working properly, causing your bathroom to stink.
Back flowing gases should also have a vent directing away gases from your sink via the vent. If a blocked air vent is causing the sewer stench in your sink, you may require professional help.
Crud Can Also Build Up In Your Faucets
If the stench is coming from your sink’s incoming water supply, the smell is from your faucet rather than the drain. Remove the aerator cap and inspect the interior for any buildup or crud you can remove from the faucet. The severity of a nasty smelling drain is usually determined by how much it gets used and how often you clean it. There may also be stagnant water in the overflow drain, resulting in an unpleasant odor. To avoid stinky drain odors, clean your bathroom sink regularly by applying an eco-friendly drain cleaner or vinegar and baking soda. You can also discover other home remedies online.
A Live Bacteria Is Growing In Your Bathrooms Stinky Drains
There are various reasons your shower and bathtub drains will stink. For instance, the potency of the smell and what is generating the smell will determine the best approach to eliminating it altogether. For example, the bacteria that causes the odors are feasting on the bathroom products and hair stuck in your pipes. This process produces a toxic hydrogen sulfide gas that gives off the smell of rotten eggs or sewage.
Mold Will Grow In Warm Moist Environments
Mold will flourish in warm, damp environments. If not addressed soon, it will develop on the material that causes a drain clog and will also emit a foul odor. Therefore, keeping your drains clean is critical to minimizing odors and other drain problems, such as mold.
The P-Trap Will Form A Tight Seal
Chances are you may have a dry P-trap if your kitchen or bathroom sink drain smells, especially if it smells like sewage. Under the sink, the P-trap is the curved section of the pipe. Its purpose is to hold water, forming a seal to prevent sewage gases from entering your bathroom or kitchen. Every time the fixture or faucet is used, it will replace the old water with new. Water must be present in the P-trap to make a tight seal.
The P-Trap Will Dry Out When A Drain Is Not Used
If your bathroom or kitchen drains do not frequently get used, they will dry out and release sewer gases. In some cases, the stagnate water left behind in the P-Trap can also be the culprit for the musty smell. Use a good branded drain cleaner to remove and clean the bacteria from your stinky drains. A thick gel solution dissolves minor drain clogs, prevents new ones from forming, and eliminates drain odors.
Deodorize Your Stinky Drains By Using Vinegar And Baking Soda
Flush your drain to ensure your P-trap is full of water, especially if the odor comes from a rarely used sink. When the P-trap is filled with water, it can do its duty, which is to produce an airtight seal that keeps disgusting sewer odors from escaping.
You can also use baking soda and vinegar to deodorize stinky drains. When these components are combined, they can also occasionally help eliminate minor drain obstructions as well.
More Tips For Cleaning Drains
#1: Begin by putting a kettle of hot water down the drain for this procedure.
#2: After that, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain.
#3: Close the stopper or insert the drain plug and wait 10-15 minutes.
#4: Finally, pour an additional pot of boiling water down the drain.
Check out our post, “Do Baking Soda and Vinegar Solutions Clear Clogs?” for more details on this technique.
