All kitchen and bathroom drains are prone to developing unpleasant smells. These stinky drains are constantly exposed to organic waste and can accumulate build-ups of debris that will eventually emit pungent and foul odors if left unchecked. Aside from never using your sinks, the only way to avoid stinky drains and resolve this issue is by practicing good drain maintenance. For drains with a major buildup, we recommend leaving the job to the professionals by contacting a local plumbing company. They have the tools and experience necessary to unclog the toughest of clogged drains.
Stinky Drains and Low-Cost Strategies To Fix Them
Keep Food Debris Out Of Your Drains
If you have yet to have a garbage disposal installed, make sure to keep food debris out of your drains. Not only will this limit unpleasant odors, but it will also prevent costly and troublesome back-ups and clogs. You can purchase drain covers and strainers at your local hardware or drug store.
Freshen Your Garbage Disposal With Citrus
Although most garbage disposals are incapable of grinding up massive quantities of citrus peels at once, dropping a small lemon wedge or a few orange peels into your disposal shouldn’t cause any major problems. These peels are rich with powerful oils that will be released once they are ground up. Make sure to keep the warm water running while grinding these fruits in order to better disburse the oils and keep your unit running efficiently. In addition to giving your appliance a fresh, citrus smell, this treatment will also break down soap scum and other organic matter that has collected in your unit and your pipes.
Freshen Your Drains With White Vinegar And Baking Soda
Soap scum, hair and other organic debris can collect in drains all throughout the home. White vinegar and baking soda are amazing, all-natural deodorizers. This is especially true when these two are paired together. When combined, white vinegar and baking soda produce an impressive chemical reaction. In fact, this very combination has been used by schoolchildren for decades when creating volcanoes for science projects. Simply place one full cup of dry baking soda down your foul-smelling drain and then pour a full cup of white vinegar on top of this. The mixture will start bubbling and foaming within seconds and it will eliminate build-ups of organic waste as it slowly works its way down the drain. In addition to eliminating unpleasant odors, this combo will also give slow drains the clearance they need to function optimally.
You can even use white vinegar and baking soda to freshen drains on their own. Just make sure to chase your drains with plenty of hot water when doing so. It is also important to note that you don’t have to wait for foul odors to rear their heads before implementing these treatments. Regularly grinding up modest amounts of citrus peels in your garbage disposal or routinely freshening your drains with baking soda and white vinegar will keep unpleasant smells from ever developing in these areas at all.
