Beginner’s Guide: How to Get Rid Of Sink Smell (Updated 2022)

Usually, consumers don’t give much credence to their drains unless something terrible occurs. In a lot of cases, that terrible incident is either a stinky sink drain or a smelly sink drain.

Sinks, bathroom drains, and kitchen drains ought to be washed so they don’t become nasty.

Fragrances or flowers may hide unpleasant odor and drain smells, but you need to address the source to totally eradicate bad smells.

With knowledge of how to get rid of sink smell and with proper maintenance, you can avoid smelly and stinky drains.

Read the rest to understand what might cause various sink drains in your house to smell and how to remove stinky drains and prevent them from stinking.

Reasons for a Bad Odor in the Sink Drain

An accumulation of foodstuffs and debris in the drainage pipe is a common problem.

Anything except water that you drop down your sink might get stuck at the edges of the tubes or accumulate in the U-bend. In addition, germs will eventually cause it to rot and smell.

Food that has been caught in the garbage disposal unit may deteriorate if it is not removed as quickly as possible.

Indeed, the least quantity of food may produce a foul odor that arises from the sink drain.

You’re getting smells flowing up your pipelines from the sewage system.

Small leaks or dehydration, sewage gases will be capable of blowing up your pipeline when there is no moisture in your U-bend.

The answer is to look for leaks or blockages in the U-bend and repair them.

It is possible that you will need to disconnect the U-bend and wipe it in order to rectify the problem.

Hair, soapy residue, oil, and food are some of the most typical clogs that occur in sinks. Mold spores may grow in the presence of these sorts of blockages.

Mold spores may grow in the presence of these sorts of blockages.

In certain rare instances, mold may be the source of drain odor in the kitchen. 

There might also be an issue with the drain pipe or the vent. This might be caused by pipe damage or a blockage in your ventilation system.

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Causes of the Smelly Drain in the Bathroom Sink

There are a variety of reasons why your bathroom sink may be smelling.

Fortunately, if you have the correct equipment, cleaning a stinky drain in a bathroom sink may be a simple task.

It is essential to have a properly functioning P-trap in order to clean a bathroom sink and eradicate odors from bathroom sink drains.

A P-trap is a bent section of pipe that runs beneath your sink. Its purpose is to establish a seal in the bathroom by retaining water, preventing sewage gases from entering the room via the drain.

The P-trap in your bathroom may get clogged, allowing sewage gases to seep into the house and causing your sink to smell.

In addition, your sink should include a vent that directs any backflowing air away from the sink.

If the sewage stench coming from your sink is triggered by a clogged air vent, then you might have to call a professional for help.

If the stench is emerging from the water running from your sink rather than from the drain, it is likely that there is a problem with the faucet that is generating the odor.

Remove the aerator cap and inspect the inner surface for any accumulation or muck that might be cleaned out. The frequency with which you wash your drains has a significant impact on how nasty the stinking drain becomes.

It is also possible that there is standing water in your overflow drain, which might result in a bad smell.

Maintain the cleanliness of your bathroom sink on a regular basis, and use drainage cleaners to prevent any unpleasant drain smells.

Reasons for the Bad Smell in the Dishwasher

If your dishwasher is smelling bad, it might be because you aren’t thoroughly washing your plates before filling them.

Bits of food may accumulate in the filter and gaps of your dishwasher, resulting in an unpleasant smell that can linger for a long time.

It is essential to understand how to clean your dishwasher on a regular basis in order to prevent it from smelling.

One strategy to keep food from gathering is to use the dishwasher in the appropriate manner.

A rule of thumb is to completely remove and rinse dishes, cutlery, bowls, and other things before putting them in the dishwasher to avoid cross contamination.

Based on the problem, you may not need to wash the dinnerware with soap, but you will need to remove the debris and cleanse the dishes thoroughly.

If you don’t do this, big food pieces may get trapped between the grates. This might result in obstructions that restrict the dishwasher from emptying properly or a stinky dishwasher.

When there is food stuck in the drainage pipe of your dishwasher, it should be cleaned out.

Then, using a damp sponge, rinse the area completely clear.

You may also use a commercial drain cleaner to clear out your garbage disposal, if necessary.

It will assist in cleaning the same pipes that the dishwasher utilises and will produce a pleasant, fruity aroma.

Reasons for the Bad Smell in the Shower Drain

• If your showering drain or bathtub drain is smelling, there are a handful of possible causes.
• The best way to clean stinky drains is determined by the degree of the smell and the source of the drain smell.
• You can have bacteria in your pipelines that are generating smells because they are feeding on waste.
• During this action, a foul-smelling hydrogen sulphide gas is released, which has a distinct aroma similar to rotten eggs.
• Additionally, mold can develop in warm, moist environments, and mold development on the waste that is creating a drain blockage might result in a foul odor.
• Therefore, it’s essential to keep your drains clean in order to prevent foul smells and other drain troubles, such as mold.

Things to do when you notice a bad smell in the stinky sink

What to do if your kitchen sink stinks ?

Determine the source of the issue:

• If the water is flowing poorly, the debris and soap scum may obstruct the pipe, generating a stoppage and the kitchen sink odor.
• If the kitchen sink smell is like decaying food: then there is a chance that decomposing organic food, lipids, oils, and grease are adhering to the ends of the pipe.
• If the odor is like rotting eggs, then you should check the U-bend. Because the sewer gases may leak up from the pipe owing to a fault with the U-bend.
• Bathroom sink smells are readily repaired by unclogging obstructions, flushing the pipelines with a fully prepared chemical or home-made treatment, or correcting the U-bend.
• Once you attempt all the ways indicated here but still smell sewage fumes, professional aid may be required.

How to Get Rid Of Sink Smell

The following is a summary of the several ways you may take to get rid of the unpleasant smell coming from your kitchen sink drain.

It is possible for food to smell bad.  

Oil and fat may build up on the inside of your pipelines, catching food debris that should be rinsed away with water.

To clear out all the drains and disposal, use one of the following ways.

1. Baking soda and vinegar

Step 1: Add baking soda and vinegar

Add 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, along with the same quantity of vinegar, and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes before flushing.

Step 2: Boil a Pot of Water

When you’re resting, bring a pot of water to a boil (approximately six cups).

Step 3: Pour the Boiling Water

Put the hot water down the drain to assist with the discharge of any unwanted particles that have accumulated.

2. Citrus, Ice, and Salt Solution

Step 1: Add Ice Cubes and Salt

• Pour a couple of ice cubes and a spoonful of coarse salt into the drain and turn on the garbage disposal for 15 seconds to clean it out.
• The ice and salt will wipe any leftover food off the rotors and edges of the disposal, allowing it to function properly.

Step 2: Grind the Citrus Peels

• After that, put a few citrus peels in the garbage disposal and powder them up to use as an odor remover.
• Ensure that water is flowing through the citrus peels as they are being churned, or extra foodstuff may accumulate in your garbage disposal.
• If the odor remains after your drain has been cleaned, you most likely have a plumbing problem.

3. Hot Water and Dish Soap

Step 1: Fill with Hot Water

• Load the sink partly with lukewarm water and use a stopper to secure it.
• This is the initial step, and it may be enough to get the job done!

Step 2: Add Dish Soap

• Add some dish soap to the mixture.
• To clear the drain, run the disposal and disconnect the sink.
• As opposed to running the faucet, typically, the disposal will really fill up with water when this method is used.

For Sinks Without Garbage Disposal

1. Lemon and Vinegar 

Note: Lemon slices with white vinegar should be frozen before being crushed in the garbage disposal.

Step 1: Slice the Lemon

• Cut a lemon into tiny (1/4) slices and put them in the cup.

Step 2: Add White Vinegar

• Pour refined white vinegar into the pot and leave it in the freezer for a full night.
• Retrieve the crystals from the rack and drop a couple of them into the garbage disposal.
• Start with a mild stream of water and then turn the button!

2. Baking soda, boiling water and essential oils

Step 1: Pour Essential Oil

• When you want to feel something really, very good, then pour a few drips of your favorite essential oil into the drain after you’ve done a baking soda cleanse.

Step 2: Combine Baking Soda With Oil

• In a small mixing bowl, combine roughly a half-cup of baking soda with several drops of essential oils.
•  Allow it to soak for an hour or two, or overnight if you want, before rinsing thoroughly with hot water. “

3. Baking soda, boiling water, salt, and vinegar

It has been suggested by several people that using coarse salt with the baking soda and vinegar combination provides almost enough additional friction to break up the grime.

• 1/2 cup coarse kosher salt
• half a cup baking soda
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar

1. Put them down the drain in the following order.
2. Covering the drain will allow the bubbles to just function in the drain itself. The salt has a caustic element.
3. So, run a pot of boiling water through it to melt any leftover salt. There will be no more severe drain odors here either!

Methods of Cleaning the Sink Smell using Chemicals

The solutions listed below are effective for getting rid of the odor of decaying food.

Drain Cleaning using bio-enzymes

This is a biological cleanser that is both environmentally friendly and non-toxic. It functions by using enzymes that digest the food particles without causing any harm to your pipelines or other plumbing fixtures.

Commercial Drain cleaner

Many hardware shops and supermarkets provide fully prepared drain cleaning solutions, which may be purchased online.

Please look after it.

These compounds have the potential to be toxic. Please read and follow the directions stated on the container, and protect your hands and eyes with rubber gloves and glasses.

What Causes the Smell of Sewage in Your Kitchen Sink?

Sewer Odor

• The piping in your home is supposed to keep dangerous sewer gas out of your home, sweep away sewage, and supply you with pure and drinkable water.
• If you are really experiencing sewer smell in your kitchen, it is likely that something has went wrong with the current system.
• It is not only annoying, but also has the potential to be harmful to one’s health.
• Those who have impaired immune function or who have been exposed to sewer gas smell for an extended length of time can have harmful illness in their breathing organs. 

Leakage

• Removing the connectors on each side of the P-trap is a simple process.
• Disconnect the P-trap by unscrewing the connectors on the P-trap.
• Keep in mind that it might be filled with water! While you’re out there checking the pipe for leaks, make a point of thoroughly cleaning it.
• If you discover a leak, take precise measurements and note them down, then purchase a new trap that is the correct size as the original.
• If you are unable to locate a leak using this procedure, fix the P-trap and go to the next possible source of leakage.

P-trap

• The P-trap is the curving section of the pipe beneath the sink .
• It separates the water lines from the fittings, which prevents the formation of offensive odors.
• The trap beneath a single fitting works by retaining water at the base of the curve, which prevents the smell from escaping.
• As a result, a foul odor will emerge from the sink if the P-trap is not working properly.
• If you’re using the sink on a routine basis, you can eliminate evaporation as a possible source of the odor.

Clogs

• There is a little lid at the bottom point of the curve that lets you look for clogs and remove them if any are discovered throughout the process.
• Remove the clog and stream the water for the next couple of seconds to refill the trap to its ideal level of filling and filtration.

Blocked Ventilation

• The rooftop of every home has  minimum of one primary vent that allows for ventilation.
• Most regional ordinances specify that this fixture has a minimum diameter of 4 inches, and that all fittings be vented at all times.
• In this manner, the gas in the piping may be ventilated, allowing the water to flow easily through the pipeline.
• If the plumbing vent is blocked, it might make it difficult for the water to drain correctly.
• Whereas if the sink continues to run slowly after using the strategies outlined above, it may be necessary to call the plumber for help.

How to Keep Drain Odors at Bay

The process of keeping your sink from becoming stinky is simple.

All you need are a few excellent practices and regular maintenance to keep everything running smoothly.

Take a look at the following:

1. Placing a drain screen above your plughole will help to prevent food chunks from entering your plumbing system.
2. It is best not to throw fat or oil into the drain. As an alternative, use a dish towel to mop up or wipe away any excess oil from your cookware before cleaning it.
3. If there is any remaining water after boiling the kettle, pour it through the plughole to destroy microorganisms.
4. Occasionally, sprinkle baking soda over your drain.
5. Periodic maintenance and inspections should be conducted.
6. Hiring a good plumbing service to inspect your pipelines on a regular basis can help to guarantee that they remain clean.

Video Guide: How to Remove Sink Smell