A smelly sink is a very common problem. Over time, gunk can build up in your kitchen sink drain. Food particles then get trapped and de-composed, causing an unpleasant odour to rise up through the drain.
Leave it unattended for a few days and your kitchen will start smelling like a sewer. You need to act fast to prevent further bacterial build-up and further clogging.
What causes the food to get trapped and stink?
Most often the reason is grease build up which settles in the drain pipe and then traps hairs and larger food particles. Be careful of what you put down the drain and occasionally run just the hot water tap and a squirt of a drain cleaner to prevent the clogging
Older type cast iron pipes can experience a calcium build-up inside them, especially in hard water areas.That will reduce the drain opening and prevent grease, food particles and other waste from moving down the drain. If you have cast-iron plumbing, or you notice a leak in the U-joint, most likely replacing the sink plumbing with newer, pvc pipes will help to prevent future blockages.
So how do I prevent and get rid of the bad smell?
Hot water flush
Sometimes, a good hot flush is all the sink really needs. Pour a small pot of boiling water down the kitchen drain to flush out any grease and left over food or gunk that may be stuck in the drain.
The hotter the water, the more bacteria it will knock out as it cycles through your kitchen sink drain. This is the easiest step to combating kitchen sink smells, one that we would suggest doing weekly.
You should also always use a Sink Strainer Plug and clean it regularly to prevent food being trapped in the drain and keep your sink smelling clan and fresh.
The time-honored baking soda and vinegar trick.
Dump a good handful of baking soda into the drain, let sit (don’t run any water) for 15 minutes, then pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar down. Watch the bubbles, hear the pops and fizz, and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, boiling water and voila!
Use chemical drain cleaner.
If you have Borax or any other drain un-blocker, use it. Good un-blocker liquid should be able to dissolve hair, grease, food, paper and all organic materials in a few minutes.
Check the label for the instructions on how to use it and always adhere to safety guidelines. Also remember that some drain un-blockers (Sulphuric Acid based) are not suitable to use on chrome, brass, aluminium, zinc and stainless steel.
Call an emergency plumber.
If the above DIY methods don’t work call us. Sometimes there could be something more solid stuck in your drain that requires mechanical intervention. We can unblock your drain quickly and inexpensively and show you what needs to be done to prevent the situation from happening again.