Are you trying to find the source of that foul smell? The problem could be in your sink drain. Sink drains, particularly in bathrooms, are often overlooked during routine cleaning. However, they require maintenance.
Although it is not an easy task, cleaning the sink drains is vital in home maintenance to prevent clogs and bacterial growth.
The Causes of a Smelly Bath Drain
Bathroom drain odors can indicate a plumbing problem, mold, or clog. It is possible to avoid the hassle and time of dealing with an unpleasant odor coming from your bathroom drain by identifying the source and fixing it.
The P Trap Doesn't Work Properly
The sewage smell emanating from your bathroom sink could be caused by sewage backing up and releasing its foul stench. The sink plumbing is fitted with a curve pipe called a "P Trap" that holds water. This seal traps the sewer gas and prevents it from getting into our homes. Gases can get through the drain if the P Trap doesn't work properly.
Dry P Traps will not be able to create a seal to keep gases out of your home. A P Trap that is filled with stagnant water may become foul and emit the sewer smell. If your pipes are not dry, shine a flashlight down the drain to check if it's full of water. If it is empty, the pipes have dried.
Ventilation problems
The P trap is not the only place that sewer gases can travel. If the drainage vent becomes blocked or clogged, sewer gases can travel to other places, most often through our open sink drains. The problem with the drain vent is difficult to identify for the average homeowner. You will need to hire a professional to correct it.
Drain Clog
When organic materials begin to decompose, a drain that is clogged with food, toilet papers, or other organic materials will eventually produce a rotting smell. Kitchen drains and garbage disposal are the most common problems. However, food is not the only culprit.
Mold and Mildew
The smell of mold is most likely to be present in bathroom sink drains that smell musty and have a brown or black discoloration. Your sink drain is the ideal environment for mold and mildew colonies to thrive. Mold and mildew eventually release spores and emit a musty odor from your drain.
How to clean a smelly bathroom drain
While scented candles and air fresheners may make your bathroom smell nicer, they don't mask the smell of sewage gases. You must stop the smell coming from your bathroom sink.
Flush the Drain
Most often, foul odors are caused by drains and sinks that haven't seen much use in a while. You can smell the foul odor coming from the drain because the pipes are either getting old or have dried out completely. Once you have determined the cause, flush the drain with clean, fresh tap water.
Run the tap at maximum power for 30 seconds to 1 minute. A strong stream of water will replace stagnant, stale water and replenish the P Trap. To clean your drain, you can add soap or detergent.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Is your drain still smelling? Baking soda and white vinegar create a fizzy reaction which dissolves grease, oils, and gunk that block drains. Follow the instructions with warm vinegar and sprinkle baking soda down your drain. Let it sit for 10 minutes before flushing with boiling water.
The combination of acidic properties and heat from vinegar and the carbonation produced by the reaction will cause water to flow more freely. The baking soda and vinegar solution can be used to deodorize pipes and kill any mold or mildew spores.
Tips to keep your bathrooms drains clean
You can now invest in a routine that will keep your drains clean and free from any foul stench. Here are some tips for proper bathroom drain maintenance.
Don't throw food waste down the toilet drain.
It is important to flush sinks that are rarely used with water once per week.
To remove moderate buildup in pipes, use a monthly cleaning product.
To prevent corrosion and rust, do not pour acidic solutions like muriatic acid into pipes.
Along with your regular cleaning, scrub the sink and drain.
