How to Clean a Smelly Drain

Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to be greeted by a foul odor? You start looking around—it’s not the garbage can, and the aroma isn’t coming from the fridge. No, the culprit appears to be a stinky kitchen drain. Fortunately, with a bit of detective work and drain-cleaning efforts, you can eliminate that undesirable odor and say hello to freshness!

What Causes a Stinky Drain?

Your sink can smell bad for a few reasons. Pinpointing the cause is the starting point to 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 sludge is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that create unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Clogged drain: Blocked 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, creating a lingering sewer smell. This frequently occurs with plumbing that is no longer used
• Plumbing flaws: From DIY accidents to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing problems can allow nasty smells to permeate your living space.

Ways to Clear a Stinky Drain

Here are four tried-and-true strategies to banish smelly drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar almost to the boiling point and gradually pour it in the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar neutralizes the odor.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Start with the hot water technique explained above. If it’s not enough, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain and then pour two cups of hot vinegar. Appreciate the fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, rinse the drain with more hot water to clean out stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your protective gloves and place a bucket underneath the P-trap. Unscrew the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if needed, and remove it. Dump the contents into the trash, wash out the pipe and reassemble your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it is a powerful antibacterial agent, bleach is not ideal for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and possibly create toxic gases, so avoid the use of bleach in this scenario.

Strategies for Fresh and Clean Drains

It’s easy to keep funky drains from happening with a little maintenance. Here’s what we encourage:

• Turn on your garbage disposal and clear it using cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to totally flush particles through the pipes.
• Flush the drain every week or so with a gallon of near-boiling water to stop the buildup of odor-causing gunk.
• Run water into infrequently used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For additional protection, put a little mineral oil in the drain, because that reduces evaporation.
• Pour a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and counteract odors.
• Periodically, follow up the baking soda process with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Leave it there for a half-hour, then flush the drain extensively with hot water.
• Cut up 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 check your plumbing sporadically. This can help detect odor-causing situations before they become a concern.
• Avoid pouring grease and other kitchen scraps or substances in the drain that can easily clog or decay, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Install mesh strainers to catch food scraps and other debris before they go down the drain. Next, dump the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing smoothly and smelling fresh.
• Opt for professional drain cleaning to ensure a thorough job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and training to take care of tough clogs and smelly problems. Plus, they can supply you with personalized advice specific to your residence’s plumbing system.

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

If your efforts to clean the foul-smelling kitchen drain don’t work, it’s time to call in the professionals. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning delivers fast, enduring 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 stinky drains make you want to plug your nose, choose the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Plan your appointment by phoning 954-736-4314 today!