How to Freshen Stinky Drains
Don't let a stinky drain ruin your next relaxing soak in the bathtub or the aroma of cookies baking in the kitchen. Bathroom, laundry room, basement, kitchen and garage drains naturally accumulate odor-causing bacteria over time. Weekly drain cleanings will keep stinky odors away, sanitize your plumbing and reduce the accumulation of clog-creating debris. After treating the drain with a few common kitchen products and waiting 30 minutes, drain odor will subside. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Measure 1/2 cup baking soda. Pour it into a bowl.
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2
Add 1/4 cup table salt to the baking soda.
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3
Stir the two ingredients with a spoon. Set the bowl aside.
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4
Measure 1 cup of white vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the vinegar in the microwave for two minutes. Set the heated vinegar aside.
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5
Pour the powdery mixture down the stinky drain. Immediately pour the heated vinegar down the drain. The mixture will foam in the drain.
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6
Let the drain soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
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7
Rinse the drain with hot tap water for 15 to 30 seconds.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep drains smelling fresh by cleaning them immediately after disposing of foul smelling liquids such as dirty fish aquarium water or expired milk. Remember to occasionally freshen infrequently used drains in guest bathrooms, barn bathrooms or workshop sinks.
If an odor persists, you may have a clogged drain. If liquid drain opener doesn't remove the odor and clog, call a plumber to evaluate the situation. Stubborn clogs will continue to emit an odor until completely removed from the plumbing attached to the drain. Pour the vinegar directly into the drain. The acidity of vinegar can harm some sink surfaces. Check with your sink manufacturer with any concerns before using any cleaning products on the sink or drain.
References
Resources
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