How to Get Rid of Smells in Your Bathroom Drain

Do stubborn clogs and stinky drains ruin your day? Call Babe Plumbing at (507) 418-8387 to schedule a visit with our knowledgeable plumbers.

Strange or unpleasant smells emanating from the kitchen or bathroom are common occurrences. Sometimes, they won’t dissipate on their own, which often leads to embarrassing interactions with guests and unpleasant experiences when you spend time in these spaces.

As providers of expert drain cleaning in Mankato, our team at Babe Plumbing knows how to get rid of smells in your bathroom drain or kitchen sink. Often, the problem has a simple solution. However, some instances require help from a professional plumber.

Explore our recommended methods for combating bad odors coming from your drain pipes. You can resolve many issues with common household ingredients. 

Reasons Why Your Drain Smells

Even if you exercise caution when using your sinks, particles of grease, food, dirt, hair, and other materials still become trapped in your drains. As these materials collect, they decompose in a moist, dark environment. This collection of particles often causes a bad smell to arise from your drains.

Other times, you have a backup that allows sewer gasses to travel throughout your plumbing. This happens when a blockage prevents raw sewage from traveling away from your property. A sewage backup can lead to the sewage pushing back into your home’s plumbing.

You can learn how to get rid of smells in your bathroom drain using the methods below. If these suggestions don’t work, you either have a sewage backup or another serious issue. These problems require assistance from a licensed plumber. 

#1 Drain Snake

A drain snake is a long piece of barbed plastic or flexible metal with a handle at the end. You can purchase drain snakes from most home improvement stores. Their ease of use and inexpensive price make them an excellent defense against clogs and bad odors.

To use a drain snake, slip your fingers through the handle. Then, guide the length of the snake through your drain. The barbs will snag against the clog’s materials.

Gently pull the snake out of the drain and remove the debris from its barbs. You can repeat the process until the snake comes out clean. Follow up by pouring hot water down the drain to wash away any particle remnants. 

#2 Salt and Baking Soda

Baking soda has effective deodorizing properties at a low price. Salt has an abrasive consistency that cleanses. When you combine the two, you have a safe and inexpensive solution you can easily access.

Use this guide for the best results: 

1. Measure one cup of baking soda into a container. Pour the baking soda into the offending drain. 
2. Pour a half cup of salt into the drain. 
3. Let the mixture settle overnight. 
4. In the morning, boil two cups of water and pour them down the drain. 

This process should eliminate and deodorize the clog.   

#3 Vinegar and Baking Soda

You probably remember science projects in school that combined baking soda and vinegar for an explosive but fun chemical reaction. The same principles apply to this solution. Vinegar and baking soda create immense pressure that pushes debris down the drain while eating away at the particles.

First, pour one part of the baking soda down the clogged drain. Chase it with two parts white vinegar. You’ll see the chemical reaction that causes the mixture to foam up.

Allow the solution to sit undisturbed in the drain and pipes for a few hours. Finally, use boiling water to flush the debris and solution down the drain. You can use this method for drain maintenance and clogs. 

#4 Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Lemon juice has a similar reaction to baking soda as vinegar. Lemon juice has acidic, deodorizing properties that interact with baking soda’s basic nature. Many people prefer lemon juice to vinegar since it lacks a pungent smell. 

Dump one part of the baking soda into the drain first. Follow up with two parts of lemon juice. After allowing it to sit for a couple of hours, flush the drain with hot water. 

#5 Boiling Water and Degreasing Soap

While grease clogs happen more frequently in kitchen sinks, they can also form in bathroom drains. Skin cells, natural body oils, and body soaps contain oily substances. As these substances collect, they form a stubborn clog.

Many people struggle to remove grease or oil clogs. Some of the above methods may not completely dissolve them. A mixture of household degreasing soap and hot water often does the trick.

Measure a cup of degreasing soap into the affected drain. Then, boil twice as much water. Once the water reaches a roiling boil, pour it down the drain.

After allowing the solution to sit for an hour, follow up with more hot water. The soap and water will dissolve and wash the grease down the drain, just like when you do the dishes. 

#6 Chemical Cleaning Solutions 

Although chemical cleaners work effectively, you should avoid using them where possible. Only after trying the natural remedies to no avail should you reach for caustic chemical solutions. While chemical solutions efficiently eat at clogging materials, their harsh chemical ingredients can also degrade your plumbing system and harm the environment.

If your store carries eco-friendly alternatives, opt for those instead. These products often contain enzymes that feed on the clog. Always follow the instructions on the labels of any products you use. 

Choose Babe Plumbing to Solve Stubborn Drain Problems

If none of the above suggestions eliminate the smelly drain clog, our reputable plumbers at Babe Plumbing know how to get rid of smells in your bathroom drain. While homeowners can usually resolve clogged drains on their own, certain situations call for an expert to safely and effectively solve the problem.

Call us at (507) 418-8387 for professional plumbing services in Mankato, MN, and surrounding areas. We provide numerous budget-friendly options to help you maintain an inviting and odor-free bathroom and kitchen.

Author Bio:

Jeff Jordan and Anne Jordan

The wizards at Babe Plumbing. With synchronized finesse, they flawlessly orchestrate service excellence, transforming appointment chaos into a harmonious symphony of plumbing solutions, leaving customers impressed and ever-grateful for their unrivaled coordination.