Is your kitchen sink starting to take on a disgusting, musty, or sour smell? And no amount of soap and boiling water can make a hint of difference. When you constantly use the kitchen sink, it is normal for grease, food particles, and other stuff to make their way into the drain and create a foul odor.
Any debris that goes down the sink can stick to the sides of the pipes or remain in the U-bend. As time passes, this debris starts to decay. Eventually causing a gut-wrenching stink. Now what?
If you gave your kitchen a thorough clean, but the smell doesn’t go away, we have a couple of strategies that can help. Here, we collected remedies you can use before you call the plumber. They can help when the kitchen sink smells musty and restore a fresh-smelling sink.
What can I pour down drains to stop smelling?
Scrub the gunk with a combination of white vinegar and baking soda. Pour ½ a cup of baking soda down the plughole. Then add a cup of vinegar. The solution will start to foam up and fizz – this is a normal chemical reaction. Let it sit for a couple of hours, in the meantime, don’t use the sink or water.
Then, fill a kettle with water, bring it to a boil, then pour the water down the plughole. This flushes away any lingering debris, giving your kitchen a fresher smell. This is a simple and efficient solution you can use once a week.
- Note: If your drain is of PVC pipe, instead of CPVC, which has heat resistance, using boiling water can force the material of the pipe to warp and cause leakage. CPVC can handle temperatures up to 200° F (93° C), whereas PVC can’t handle over 140° F (60° C). So, if you have a PVC pipe, pour hot water instead.
Why am I smelling sewer smell from my kitchen sink?
There are a couple of reasons why the kitchen sink smells. There can be grease build-up on the side of the pipes, decaying foods, oils, or fats. The pipe could be clogged, which is why the water is draining slowly. But, if the sink smells like rotten eggs, then there could be an issue with the U-bend, as sewer gases tend to escape up the pipe and make the rest of the sink develop a bad odor. Unclogging the blockages should be a top priority, followed by some at-home cleaning solutions or chemical drain cleaners.
Is it OK to pour bleach down the drain?
No. Don’t use bleach to clean the pipe – it can’t get rid of the bad smell or de-clog the drain. Bleach is a toxic and powerful substance that you should use properly and with care. If you pour it down the sink, it could react with other substances stuck in the pipes. This could plug the pipes even more or end up releasing fumes, which can pose a threat to your health.
4 remedies for kitchen drain odors
If you are eager to try different cleaning methods, the options below can help. Check out the instructions on each remedy to freshen up your kitchen. If none of these products work for you, a plumber can help.
1. Borax and Ice
The borax and ice combination for the kitchen sink smell is best for those that have a garbage disposal in their kitchen. Borax is a practical at-home cleaner with a range of uses, including an abrasive that helps with scrubbing. The ice can get rid of the leftover debris, which could be the cause of the odor.
Make sure the sink is clean beforehand so that the solution can reach the drain. To start, get 1 cup of ice cubes and a couple of tablespoons of borax. Pour the borax first into the sink drain and add the cubes. Turn on the garbage disposal and wait for a few seconds.
As soon as you notice a fresher scent, you are good to turn it off. Finish up with some hot water to give the sink a good rinse. This might be a useful method you can use when the kitchen sink drain smells like rotten eggs.
2. Lemon and Ice
If the odor coming off the sink is mild, you can use lemon as a natural deodorizer. When you include ice, you can let the lemon oils reach deeper into the pipes and minimize the stink. This is another strategy for cleaning sinks with a garbage disposal.
To start, take 1 cup of ice cubes and a big peeled lemon. Cut the peels into quarters and put them into the drain. Add the cubes, and then pour in a handful of rock salt down the disposal. Turn the disposal on and let it run for a couple of seconds.
The kitchen should start to develop a comfortable and pleasant smell. When that freshness builds up, you can go ahead and turn off the disposal. Repeat a couple of times if the drain is too dirty or smelly.
3. Rock Salt, Baking Soda, and White Vinegar
If you want a potent kitchen sink odor eliminator, this solution might do the trick. Salt, by itself, is not enough to clean the plumbing system. But, when you mix it with baking soda and white vinegar, you can get a solid cleaning solution.
For this, you need ½ a cup of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar, and ½ a cup of rock salt. Then pour in some boiling water after letting the solution sit for a while. This can help with the kitchen drain odor.
4. HOCl Fogging
There is no doubt that the methods described above are effective. However, we can hear your voice saying, "I don't have time for that!". So here is our advice to you.
There is a chlorine-based disinfectant called HOCl which can control germs at extremely low concentrations that are safe for the human body. By fogging this disinfectant with a specially designed fogger, the HOCl ingredients can be delivered by dry mist to surfaces throughout the space without any labor. Since removing bothersome odors is almost same with controlling germs, this system can also serve to improve daily cleanliness.
Reference: HOCL (HYPOCHLOROUS ACID WATER): ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
There are several types of specialized foggers available, but the stationary type is the most reasonable to operate. All you have to do is set it and forget it, and before you know it, you will have a clean and hygienic space free from the smell of kitchen drains.
Reference: 4 BENEFITS OF HOCL FOGGING (HYPOCHLOROUS ACID)
Conclusion
If your kitchen sink drain smells bad, there are a couple of solutions you can try. Methods like baking soda and white vinegar, rock salt, lemon and ice, and borax and ice can make for a worthy addition to your home remedies.
References
https://www.prolinerangehoods.com/blog/get-rid-kitchen-sink-smells/
https://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-get-rid-of-that-awful-smell-in-your-kitchen-sink-223627
https://www.actionplumbingandheating.biz/natural-remedies-for-a-smelly-kitchen-sink-drain
https://www.yourrepair.co.uk/blog/get-rid-of-stinky-kitchen-sink-smells
https://www.meyerscompaniesinc.com/blog/2021/march/can-pouring-salt-down-my-drains-clear-plumbing-c/
