How to Deodorize House Drains

Drain odors can be caused by clogs.

House drains breed bacteria and can harbor mold, fungi and mildew. Whether the source of drain odors are from the kitchen, bathrooms or basement, they need to be investigated and eliminated. Not only are drain odors annoying, they're also potentially dangerous. Sewer and mold odors can cause trouble breathing, nasal congestion, burning eyes and coughing. You can deodorize your house drains by using common household products and incorporating some simple and easy strategies.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Household bleach
• Lemon juice
• Baking soda
• Coffee
• Pulp-free orange juice

Instructions

1. Combine 1 cup water with 1 cup white vinegar in a bowl. Slowly pour the mixture down the drain, allowing it to sit for a couple hours, then rinse with hot water for two full minutes. White vinegar neutralizes and deodorizes drain odors, while imparting a fresh, clean scent. The vinegar odor soon dissipates after a few hours.

2. Pour 1/2 cup of household bleach into the drain and allow it to stand for 30 minutes, then rinse with hot water for two minutes. Bleach kills odor-producing bacteria, fungi and mold while disinfecting drains and pipes. Pouring bleach into your garbage disposal also deodorizes the unit while eliminating bacterial and mold formation. Do not use bleach with other chemicals because this can cause a dangerous reaction and release toxic fumes.

3. Squeeze the juice from a lemon into your drain. Lemon juice deodorizes drains and cuts though greasy, odor-causing residue present in your drain and on the sides of your pipes. Allow the lemon juice to sit for a few minutes before rinsing with cold water.

4. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1 cup water and pour down your drain to absorb and neutralize stubborn drain odors. Let the solution sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water for 60 seconds. If house drain odors permeate your rooms, fill small bowls with baking soda and place near drains to further absorb odors.

5. Spill the remainder of your morning coffee into your drains to keep them smelling fresh. Coffee is a natural deodorizer and eliminates strong smells. Do not, however, pour coffee grounds down your drains because it can cause clogs.

Tips & Warnings

• Add 1/2 cup of orange juice to your drains to cut through odor causing grime. Orange juice is a natural odor eliminator and leaves behind a fresh citrus scent. Use only pulp-free orange juice because pulp buildup contributes to clogs.

• If a sewer smell is coming from your drains, call a plumber who will need to determine where the smell is originating from and correct it. If sewer gas smell is allowed to persist, you can get sick from being exposed to it.

References

• Ecology Center: Alternative Cleaning Recipes
• The Vinegar Institue: Uses and Tips