The Easiest Way to Get Rid of Bad Smell in the Sink
There are many things that can smell bad in your home, but a smelly sink drain is one of the worst. It lingers in a corner of your consciousness, always there, vaguely disturbing you. How It Happened and How to Fix It There are a few common reasons why your drain can get smelly, but that’s between you and your sink. For now, let’s focus on ways to fix this.
Try hot water first
The first thing you have to try is hot water, very hot water. According to Rakeman Plumbing , this may be enough to get rid of food, hair, or other stink-causing debris. (It’s true that boiling water can really do wonders in a home.) After you’ve poured a few liters in there, wait a few minutes and then add some cold water. Repeat the process two or three times and see if the smell improves.
One thing you probably don’t want to do is try a chemical cleaner designed for smelly drains. They contain caustic substances that can damage pipes and exacerbate sink problems. You should also probably ditch the popular baking soda and vinegar combo—it doesn’t work the way people think .
Clear your sink’s P-trap
Reikman points out that if these methods don’t improve the smell of your sink, the problem could be your P-trap, the round pipe under the sink. To clean it, you simply place a bucket under it, unscrew the two nuts holding it in place with pliers, and clean it with a bottle brush. Rinse off some water after reattaching the P-trap. This obviously requires more work than just pouring boiling water down the drain, but it may be your best bet.
If you have a garbage chute
If you have a garbage chute, be careful that it does not become a source of bad smell. Always run the water when you use it (what do you know) and drop some ice in there from time to time to clean and sharpen the blades. After major recycling projects or when you need a fresh scent, toss in a few citrus peels and grind them up to improve the scent in your sink.