How to Stop The Sewer Smell Coming From Your Sink

Have you noticed a foul sewer-type smell coming from your bathroom sink? It could be an accumulation of soap and hair below the basin in the overflow and the trap. I've outlined the easiest way to fix the most common smell problem below.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clorox
• Water
• optional: a screwdriver and brush
• optional: vinegar and baking soda

1. 
    
   Sink stopper

   Plug the sink using the stopper.

2. 
    
   Sink filled to overflowing.

   Fill the basin with water to the overflow hole (the little hole at the front of the sink).

3. 
    
   A cup of chlorine should do it.

   Add a good dose of Clorox or store-brand chlorine to the water. I used a cup or so the first time I cleaned it for an extra-deep sterilizing.

4. 
    
   Add more water.

   Add more water until water is slowly but steadily flowing into the overflow. Do not get the water so high that it goes over your sink!

5. 
    
   Waiting for a clean sink.

   Turn off the water and let the Clorox water sit in your sink for a few hours, adding more water occasionally to the sink to let the mixture get into the overflow to disinfect.

6. 
    
   Clean and safe. No foul smells here!

   After you've disinfected the overflow sufficiently, partially release the stopper so that it drains v-e-r-y slowly. This will allow the disinfectant to clean the underside of the stopper, the rod that operates the stopper and the trap under the sink that prevents sewer gases from entering your house. You should have a sparkling clean sink basin and below.

Tips & Warnings

• If this doesn't solve your sewer smell after a few tries, use a screwdriver to disconnect the rod on the stopper, remove the stopper and remove any hair and gunk with a straightened wire hanger.
• Regular use of chlorine and water should keep the buildup to a minimum. If you prefer, you can add baking soda to the drain and pour vinegar on top of it and let the bubbling action do its work for an hour before flushing with hot water.
• Do not add so much water to your full sink that it overflows! You are doing a controlled "flood" of the overflow spout.

[Sweetfilter]

on 11/29/2009 Where theres soap scum inside pipes theres decomposing odors. Enzymes like Bio-R do the job of keeping the pipes clean while stopping odors.

[beautyqueen26]

on 9/18/2009 Five stars! *****

This is such a good idea.

I'm always battling that horrible smell in my kitchen sink. Hubby doesn't scrape out his dish before putting it in the empty sink and then bits of food go down the drain and rot. I've learned over time to keep a bit of water in the stopped up sink, yet some food bits always manage to escape to freedom down the pipe where they proceed to rot and stink up the sink.

I'll be sure to give this idea a try! Keep the good articles coming. Very much enjoyed reading. Thanks again. P.S. I put in a recommendation for you.

[davida8575]

on 9/5/2009 Good article. May be useful someday.

[ingnu]

on 4/10/2009 Very helpful information. Thanks

[jenng]

on 3/4/2009 I always use clorox great article 5*