Why Your Drain Smells And How To Fix It Fast

• If the smells still persist, move on to the drain.
  • It’s tempting to use nuclear drain cleaners to solve your problem quickly, but most plumbers caution against harsh chemical cleaners, which can actually damage pipes and create greater problems in the long run.
  • Check for any food particles or debris stuck in the drain or garbage disposal, and remove them. Be sure to unplug the garbage disposal first so you don’t risk sacrificing a finger to the smelly sink gods.
  • Run or pour extremely hot water—use a tea kettle to get it almost boiling—down the drain slowly to soften the clog.
  • Follow with dish soap to dissolve greasy buildups in the drain.
  • If still clogged, use a kitchen plunger, and repeat above steps.
  • Drain still stinky? Try tossing some citrus peels into and running the garbage disposal to freshen up the funk. Running the garbage disposal with some ice cubes in it will also help to dislodge any chunks of food stuck to the blades.

Fix a smelly bathroom drain

• You guessed it: clean the sink first.
  • Use a sink stopper, and soak the sink with very hot water and grease-busting dish soap—we like Dawn.
  • After soaking, give it a good scrub—not just the sink, but the faucet and surrounding area, as well. Get rid of any visible gunk. Wipe off all that toothpaste spatter, gobs of rogue lotion and flecks of makeup.
• Check for any loose debris in the drain, and remove it.
• Flush drain with near-boiling water + dish soap.
• Use a plunger if needed, and repeat.

Have a smelly drain in an unused room?

• Remember our friend the P trap? In case you barely skimmed the above section (hey, we don’t blame you—this is a lot of information!), we’ll remind you. The P trap is the U-shaped pipe that water passes through underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks and shower drains. Its purpose is to hold a small amount of water as a barrier between you and any sewage gasses that might be trying to back up into your home. Translation: It’s super important in blocking unwanted smells. That tiny bit of water in the trap is all that stands between the interior of your home and that cesspool of runoff pulsing beneath the streets.
• If you’re experiencing invasive odors in an infrequently used bathroom, your issue may be simple: the water in the P trap has evaporated. All you need to do is run water in the sink or shower for a few minutes, and the issue should resolve! That was way easier than you thought it would be, eh? Cue: sigh of relief.

Prevent a stinky drain from returning

Keep your drains clear, open and clean. The best way to avoid future clogs and persistent weird smells is prevention. We recommend adding drain cleaning to your routine weekly or monthly bathroom and/or kitchen cleaning checklist.

• Scrape food off your dishes before using the dishwasher to prevent clogs. And while you’re at it, when’s the last time you cleaned your dishwasher’s filter? (Yes, your dishwasher has a drain, too. Whoa, drain inception!)
• Keep grease, eggshells and stringy vegetables out of your kitchen sink. Even if you’ve got a garbage disposal, these items cause clogs and odorous buildup.
• Do not flush anything (besides the obvious, and toilet paper) down the toilet—not even floss or fingernail clippings.
• Avoid letting hair collect down the drain in the bathtub or the sink. There are lots of great products and drain protectors available specifically for this purpose.
• Run the disposal and the faucet for at least 20 seconds per use.
• Pour a gallon of near-boiling water down all your drains once a week.
• Make sure you have a properly installed P trap and that you occasionally run water in rarely used sinks to keep it full of water.
• Keep things smelling fresh with a Febreze Plug in your bathroom or kitchen, which cleans away odors with just a hint of scent—and no heavy perfumes.