When you’re gathered in your kitchen – whether it’s a regular day or a special holiday – you’re often greeted with delicious smells and happy memories. It’s a place to eat, to talk and to just enjoy life.
But every once in a while, you may notice an unpleasant odor coming from your sink disposal or garbage disposal, right? Yuck. A strong odor is one way to disrupt a happy moment!
So why does this happen in the first place?
There are usually two culprits behind a smelly kitchen sink:
1. Rotting food that’s stuck in the drain or garbage disposal
2. A sewer gas leak that’s coming through the vent or drain trap
That’s the bad news – but here’s the good news: it’s totally fixable! That’s right – you don’t have to live with a stinky kitchen sink forever.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area has put together a quick and handy guide to help you keep your kitchen sink smelling fabulous. If you’re wondering how to fix a smelly kitchen sink, read on to learn more.
How to Clean Smelly Drains with Baking Soda
Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to a pleasant-smelling kitchen sink:
1. Measure out 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar.
2. Pour the baking soda down your kitchen sink drain first.
3. Next, pour the vinegar down the drain – expect to see some bubbling!
4. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes.
5. Run hot water through your sink to clear it out.
Smelly Kitchen Sink Remedy # 2 – Lemon Peels, Ice Cubes & Coarse Salt
1. Throw a few ice cubes down your kitchen’s drain.
2. Take a handful of salt and throw that down the drain, too.
3. Turn on your garbage disposal. The ice will knock food off the grinder, while the salt will scrub around the sides.
4. Finally, throw a few lemon peels down the drain (make sure the garbage disposal is on, too). This will leave a fresh, clean lemon smell.
How to Clean a Smelly Sink Trap: Do-It-Yourself Option # 3
1. Measure out ½ a cup of baking soda and pour down your kitchen sink’s drain.
2. Pour a few drops of tea tree, mint or eucalyptus essential oils down the drain as well.
3. Let the mixture sit for about an hour.
4. Rinse with boiling water to flush out the drain.
Isn’t it nice to know that a foul-smelling odor from your kitchen sink isn’t the end of the world?
It doesn’t mean your sink or disposal is broken, and it doesn’t mean you need an entirely new drain. It just means you need to flex your do-it-yourself muscles a bit!
Hopefully you feel much better about your options when you’re wondering how to fix a smelly kitchen sink!
If you need additional assistance with any plumbing related issues, give us a call at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area. One of our expert plumbers would be happy to take a closer look.
