We all know that rancid, eggy drain smell caused by blockages in pipes and drains from food and other matter which lie stagnant and rot, releasing a foul odour. So what can we do to get rid of unwanted drain smells, and how can we prevent them in the first place?
As with anything, prevention is better than cure. So regular maintenance of all your drains (kitchen sink and waste disposal, shower, bath and toilet) will help stop smelly odours and give you one less thing to worry about.
In the kitchen
Scrape leftover food from plates into the bin. Don’t leave it to the sink cover to catch food debris.
Of course, you don’t have to buy expensive products to get rid of smelly drains. Use what is already in the kitchen by taking one cup of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Follow this by boiling the kettle and pouring the hot water down the drain, or use white vinegar to get rid of any build up. Wait ten minutes before pouring another jug of hot water down the drain. This process can be repeated as needed.
Using white vinegar to clean the house in general is not only cheap but environmentally friendly, too. Most people forget to wash their dishwasher, so if there are also musty smells coming from your dishwasher, get investigating! Take a peek inside and remove any visible remnants of last night’s dinner. Then add a jug of white vinegar to an empty load and switch on. It should smell nice and fresh in no time. Again, this can be repeated as necessary.
Sometimes, when using a washing machine for your clothes, foul odours can rise up out of the sink. This happens when the machine pumps dirty water back into the u-bend, causing it to filter out into the sink. In this instance, a water trap needs to be installed, but there is also another handy trick to try:
Simply clean filters on both washing machines and dishwashers then pour in a jug of vinegar and put on a hot wash, or put soda crystals in the drum to leave it clean and shiny.
Never pour oil down the drain, as this can increase the likelihood of clogging. Instead, wait until it has hardened and throw it in the bin.
In the bathroom
It’s not just kitchen drains that can cause problem smells. In the bathroom, showers, baths and toilets can also leave a disturbing smell. Although this could be due to several factors including mould and mildew build-up, poor ventilation, etc., it can also be caused by drains clogged up with biofilm, which includes dead skin cells, shower products and hair. Nice! If this is the case, remove the drain cover and use an old toothbrush to get rid of any build up on the underside and on the top walls of the drain. Each time you shower, it is a good idea to get rid of any hair that is wrapped around the drain head, which hinders water from flowing down the pipe, thus causing more problems. Follow with the baking soda and vinegar routine before allowing drains to breathe by leaving the drain cover off and leaving the bath unplugged, which will help ventilation and prevent mould and bacteria from gathering. Give the pop-up stopper in your sink a thorough clean too, with hot, soapy water.
Toilet time. You might have the cleanest toilet in the world, but somehow, it still stinks. This could be due to any number of reasons, including damaged wax sealant under the toilet, or a crack in the toilet bowl, which can cause the water level to drop, sending putrid smells right into your home. If you suspect this or have tried all the above methods without any success, then let us take care of it for you. Take a look at our drain services, or call our Sydney Emergency Plumbing drain specialists at 1800 862 565 today. We use the latest technologies such as CCTV camera and pipe locating equipment to locate the cause of your blockage. We can then place you on our regular maintenance program that will help keep blocked drains from reoccurring.
