How To Clean A Smelly Drain

Firstly – What Causes A Drain To Smell?

Your drains carry a lot of debris and dirt away from the home. Things like food scraps, fats, oils, hair can all get caught in the pipes and over time will create a very smelly drain. Mould, drain flies and old pipes can also cause smelly drains. And if you have a blockage along with your pipe system maybe even a cracked pipe or a logged tree root then, a smell will sooner or later make its way to the drain!

What You Need To Clean A Smelly Drain:

1. Bi-Carb Soda
2. Vinega
3. Boiling Wate
4. Toothbrush
5. Rubber Gloves

How To Safely Clean A Smelly Drain:

1. Put the kettle on! Boil some water.

2. Put on your rubber gloves.

3. Pour a cup of hot water down the drain to loosen any debris.

4. Pour half a cup of bi-carb soda down the drain and leave for a few minutes.

5. Mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of hot water and pour down the drain. This creates a chemical reaction with the bi-carb, and you hear a fizz. Leave drain covered for a few minutes.

6. Pour another cup of hot water down the drain to clean the bi-carb away.

7. You can always use an old toothbrush with some bi-carb to clean around the drain opening and pour the vinegar and water solution on this also. (Please throw away toothbrush after use!)

Why Does This Work?

When mixed, bicarb and vinegar form carbon dioxide and sodium acetate which bubbles and cleans the drain walls as it’s flushed down the drain, taking with it any loose debris.

Bi-carb, vinegar, and water are all eco-friendly and will not harm you or your drains.

How To Prevent A Smelly Drain?

Be mindful of what you are putting down the drain. Food scraps, fats and oil, hair and debris – they all build up in the pipes and can cause smelly (and sometimes, blocked drains).

You can regularly use the method in this article to clean your drains!

How To Keep Your Garbage Disposal From Smelling

Sometimes, it’s the garbage disposal that needs a good cleaning! Here are a few things you can do to keep your sink’s disposal smelling fresh and working well.

Run Ice Cubes Through It Then Run Hot Water Through It

Ice cubes are hard, so they scour the disposal blades while it runs. The cold temperature also helps collect any excess grease in your garbage disposal and carry it away.

SO, turn the disposer and faucet off and push two cups of ice cubes past the rubber flanges into your disposer.

Turn on the cold water tap full blast, then turn on the garbage disposal. Let it run for two minutes.

With the disposer still running, switch the tap to hot water. Let that run for another minute, then turn off both the garbage disposal and the water in that order. If you run hot water through your disposal, you can ensure your drain is free of small clogs, grease and debris.

Help – My Drain Is Still Smelly.

If you’ve tried cleaning your smelly drain (maybe even a few times) and it still smells, it’s time to call a licensed plumber. Your smelly drain could have larger clogs and blockages further down the pipe or debris which is not easily cleared. A licensed plumber (like us) can investigate and identify the reason for your smelly drain and easily fix the problem.

Our team at Proximity Plumbing is here to help – call us today for a $0 quote on 0420 102 394 for a free quote. We are blocked drain experts and guarantee to be on-site within the eastern suburbs in 30 minutes.