Natural Ways to Clean a Smelly Drain
Drains channel dirt, food particles and garbage along with your wastewater, so it should come as no surprise that they occasionally emit unpleasant smells. Accumulated particles can become trapped in the pipes below the drain and start to decompose, causing the smell to rise out of the sink or tub. You can solve a smelly drain problem using completely natural solutions. Does this Spark an idea?
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Remove Any Clogs
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Drain odors can indicate a clog. When collected food particles or dirt become lodged within the drain, the residue releases some pretty toxic smells as the particles continue to break down and rot. Remove the drain cover (for a shower drain, you may need a screwdriver) and try to unclog the drain using a plunger. If that doesn't work, try using a hand snake to loosen and flush out the residue.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
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Baking soda and vinegar, two natural compounds common in most homes, remove stubborn clogs and also kill the lingering residue that can cause odors in your sink or shower drain. When you mix the ingredients together, these compounds create a chemical reaction that helps neutralize even difficult fungi like mold and mildew, the culprits behind many drain odors due to the ample presence of moisture and nutrients. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, and then 1/2 cup of vinegar, in this order. Wait about 30 minutes, then pour a full tea kettle of hot water into the drain to flush out the remains.
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Lemon Juice
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The citric acid in lemon juice, a natural deodorizer, can kill stubborn mildew and stinky waste residue in a sink or shower drain. For light odors, pour a cup of lemon juice into the drain; do not rinse. If other deodorizing methods fail to fully neutralize the odor, you can follow up by adding one cup of lemon juice to the drain.
Prevention
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You can prevent odors from accumulating by flushing your pipes about once a week. Place a stopper over the drain and fill up each sink and tub. Then release the stopper and allow the heavy stream of water to drain rapidly through the pipes. The heavy flow of water should wash out any accumulated materials.
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References
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