Removing the Sewer Smell From a Sink

Even clean sinks can have foul odors.

Sewage is an unmistakable and noxious odor that causes nausea in strong enough doses. Your plumbing system is designed to trap these odors and prevent them from infiltrating your home. However, a strong scent of sewage often indicates a malfunction of the plumbing system that requires immediate action so the smell doesn't get worse. Removing the sewage smell from a sink requires some basic materials and diligence but the results are worth it once the odor dissipates.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Mild detergent
• Wire coat hanger
• Turkey baster
• Oxygen bleach

Instructions

1. Pour a quart of white vinegar into the overflow drain of the sink, which is the small hole or holes near the top of the sink basin that prevents overflow. This helps fill the trap under the sink that is designed to keep sewer odor out of the drain. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer and helps alleviate the stench.

2. Remove the stopper from the main drain of the sink and wash it in hot water and mild detergent to remove debris. Scrape out any debris from inside the drain with a bent wire coat hanger and discard it.

3. Fill a turkey baster with a solution of oxygen bleach and warm water. Follow instructions on the packaging to determine how much oxygen bleach to use.

4. Squirt the solution down both the main drain of the sink and the overflow drain. Allow the bleach to sit for at least a half hour and then rinse with regular water. Repeat until the sewer smell is gone. The oxygen bleach clears sludge and kills bacteria without the toxicity of chlorine bleach.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear protective gloves when working with oxygen bleach because it is still corrosive.

References

• Mr. Fix-It; Sewer Smell in Home; Tom Feiza
• Ask the Builder; Foul Odor From Shower and Sinks; Tim Carter