How to Get Rid of the Sewer Gas Smell in a Bathroom Sink

Don't mix bleach with other chemicals to rid your sink sewer gas smell.

A sewer gas smell in the bathroom sink makes everything in the room smell bad. The odor can even permeate your bath towels, shower curtains and window treatments. A sewer gas smell coming from your sink might make you sick when you inhale the fumes, so you will need to learn how to get rid of it to avoid health complications. Don't let your nice, clean bathroom become tainted by the horrific sewer gas smell, because in most cases, the fix is simple and not time-consuming. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Household bleach
Clothes hanger
Baking soda
White vinegar

Send to Phone

Brought to you by

Send to Phone

Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.

Send

A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.

Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. Message and data rates may apply.

Instructions

- 1
  
  Plug the drain of your bathroom sink, either with the faucet latch or with a stopper, then fill up the sink with water until it reaches the level of the overflow space. The overflow space is the small hole found on the front surface of the sink.
- 2
  
  Instill 1 cup of household bleach into the standing water and then gradually add more water until it slowly drips into the overflow hole. Monitor the flow of water carefully so it does not overflow onto your floor. The chlorine bleach will sanitize and eliminate the sewer gas odor coming from the sink's overflow and surrounding structures. In addition to its disinfecting properties, bleach also helps dissolves odor-causing clogs.
- 3
  
  Unplug the drain in a way that makes the water go down slowly so that the bleach can also work to disinfect the pipes and sink trap.
- 4
  
  Clean out your drain with a clothes hanger to remove hair clogs, soap scum and other odor-causing residue embedded with the sewer gas smell. Once these solids have been removed from the drain and stopper rod, the smell will weaken.
- 5
  
  Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the drain of your bathroom sink to neutralize the sewer gas smell and freshen the plumbing. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before turning on hot water for one full minute to rinse. The vinegar smell will thin out, leaving your bathroom sink smelling fresh.

Tips & Warnings

Open the window in your bathroom to air out the sewer gas smell and provide ventilation when you're working with bleach.
If the sewer gas smell in your bathroom sink remains, despite your efforts to eliminate it, call a plumber. The problem might be more extensive than you think, and might need to be professionally evaluated.
While deodorizing your sink, if you experience headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting or weakness, get fresh air immediately and call your health care provider.