Get Rid of Your Stinky Drain

Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to get hit in the face by a foul smell? You start looking around—it’s not the garbage can, and the aroma is not the fridge. No, the perpetrator seems to be an icky and pungent kitchen drain. Thankfully, with a bit of detective work and drain-cleaning efforts, you can alleviate that undesirable smell and say hello to freshness!

Why Do Drains Stink?

Your sink can smell bad for a few reasons. Pinpointing the cause is the best way to begin freshening up your kitchen and stopping a recurrence. The most prevalent causes include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain covered with food particles, grease buildup and other crud is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that produce unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Plugged drain: Stopped up pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, making the smell worse.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap below the sink dries out, sewer gases may emanate from the drain, causing a lingering sewer smell. This frequently is found in plumbing that is no longer used
• Plumbing mistakes: From DIY problems to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing issues can allow nasty smells to permeate your living space.

How to Clean a Stinky Drain

Here are four reliable ways to cure pungent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar almost to the boiling point and carefully pour it in the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar negates the scent.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Start with the hot water strategy explained above. If it’s inadequate, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour two cups of hot vinegar. Appreciate the fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, flush the drain with more hot water to get rid of stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your rubber gloves and put a bucket under the P-trap. Unfasten the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if required, and take the pipe out. Clean out the contents into the trash, rinse the pipe and reassemble your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it’s a good antibacterial agent, bleach is not ideal for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and potentially create toxic gases, so don’t use bleach in this situation.

Strategies for Fresh and Clean Drains

It’s easy to keep reeking drains under control with a little routine cleaning. Here’s what we encourage:

• Turn on your garbage disposal and flush it with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to completely flush particles down the pipes.
• Flush the drain once a week with a gallon of near-boiling water to protect against the buildup of odor-causing particles.
• Run water into seldom-used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For extra protection, apply a little mineral oil in the drain, because that slows down evaporation.
• Spread a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and neutralize odors.
• Once in a while, follow up the baking soda treatment with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse the drain extensively with hot water.
• Grind lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling fragrant.
• Use enzyme cleaners to stop the buildup of odor-causing residue without resorting to the use of harsh chemicals.
• Hire a specialist to examine your plumbing sporadically. This can help catch odor-causing situations before they become trouble.
• Don’t pour grease and other foods down the drain that can easily clog or decay, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Use mesh strainers to catch food scraps and other debris before they go down the drain. Then, empty the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing properly and smelling fresh.
• Hire professional drain cleaning to ensure a thorough job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and skill to clear tough clogs and smelly problems. Plus, they can supply you with personalized advice specific to your household’s plumbing system.

Call for Experienced Drain Cleaning in Hillsborough with Fras-Air/General Service Experts

If your hard work trying to clean the stinky kitchen drain prove unsuccessful, it’s time to call in the specialists. Fras-Air/General Service Experts is known for fast, durable plumbing solutions in Hillsborough, 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 Fras-Air/General Service Experts. Make your appointment by calling 908-448-2154 today!