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Sep 7, 2023 · When organic matter, such as food particles or grease, accumulates in your basement drain, it can lead to unpleasant odors. To fix this, start by removing any visible debris from the drain using a pair of gloves and a drain brush. Then, pour a mixture of hot water and vinegar down the drain to help break down any remaining residue.
Apr 5, 2024 · Also known as "dry drains," basement floor drains turn stinky when their traps lose water. So, filling them back up reprimes the seal and settles the issue. To do so, fill a 5-gallon bucket with water.
- Overview
- Neutralizing Odors with Baking Soda
- Clearing Clogs with an Auger
- Cleaning a Sink P-Trap
- Preventing Drain Odors
- Preventing Drain Odors
Catching a whiff of a stinky drain is unpleasant, but most drains can be cleaned without harsh chemicals. Smelly drains are often the result of buildup from hair, soap, grease, food, and other debris. The classic way to handle this problem is with vinegar or lemon juice. For stubborn clogs, use a drain auger to clear most drains or take apart the P...
Pour hot tap water down the drain.
Turn the tap to the hottest water setting possible and let it run for a few minutes. The hot water will loosen soap scum and any other foul-smelling debris in the drain.
If using the tap isn’t an option, heat a pot of water on the stove. Remove the water from heat before it boils.
Add ½ cup (133.6 g) of coarse salt to the drain.
Salt acts as an abrasive on debris clinging to the sides of drains. Even if this debris isn’t the immediate cause of the smell, it eventually attracts smelly bacteria and even forms clogs.
Grains of coarse or kosher salt are much larger than grains of table salt, so they are more effective for clearing a drain.
Wash the drain plug to eliminate hair and other debris.
Drain plugs are often a significant source of debris. Pull the plug out and examine the bottom end. If you see any gunk, rinse it off with water and a paper towel. Sprinkle it with baking soda or an alternative treatment to eliminate any remaining odors.
Clean drain plugs often, at least once a month, to prevent buildup. Buildup like hair and grease not only makes the plug smell, but it may turn into a smelly clog inside the drain pipe.
Spraying white vinegar on the drain plug also helps remove debris. Another option is to heat a pot of vinegar until it bubbles gently, then leave the drain plug in it for a few minutes.
Break up the clog with a drain stick or auger.
Shine a light into the drain to see how far down the clog is. Then, lower a drain-cleaning tool like a drain stick down to the clog. Plastic drain sticks are the cheapest tools available, and all you do is lower the stick down and pull it back up to remove the clog piece by piece. Wash off the tool and use it repeatedly until most of the material causing the clog is gone.
Remove the sink drain trap if your drain is still clogged or smelly.
The part you need to remove is the P-trap, which is an S-shaped component connecting the wall outlet to the sink’s tailpipe. It will have 2 nuts, which look like plastic or metal rings, securing it to these other pipes. Turn them counterclockwise with a wrench to loosen the P-trap. When it’s loose enough, you will be able to wiggle it down and off of the connecting pipes.
The P-trap will likely have water in it, so have a bucket or container nearby!
The P-trap is usually visible underneath sinks. The P-trap will be underneath the floor or inaccessible with other types of drain. Try to treat the drain through another method or call a plumber to fix it.
Wash the P-trap with a nylon bottle brush and a paper towel.
Push the brush through the P-trap to clear out any clogs or grime responsible for the foul smell. To facilitate the cleaning process, wrap a paper towel around the brush. Then, push the paper towel through the P-trap to absorb the grime on its walls.
Sprinkle the drain with baking soda at least once a month.
Baking soda is very effective at absorbing odors. Add about 1 tablespoon (14.40 g) to each drain, particularly those you use often. For well-used drains prone to nasty smells, use baking soda more frequently to avoid problems.
Baking soda neutralizes odors, but it doesn’t break up clogs. Treat clogs as they form to prevent them from becoming an issue.
Use lemon slices and peels to deodorize garbage disposals.
Drop a lemon wedge or a few peels into the disposal. Activate the disposal, letting it grind up the lemon. The citrus scent will neutralize nasty odors from other foods and grime in the pipes. If you don’t have a lemon, this works with other citruses as well.
You can also try using ice to scour the blades and collect grease from your garbage disposal. Add salt or Borax to help deodorize the drain.
This article was co-authored by
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. This article has been viewed 137,594 times.
Apr 29, 2022 · In this video, Kyle explains some of the different causes of smelly drains in your home and even a natural way to eliminate the odor. Follow along using the transcript. Do you have...
- 4 min
- 36.3K
- Thornton & Grooms
Apr 5, 2024 · If the drain on your washing machine is clogged by hair or not hooked up properly, then it causes these basement drain smells to leak back into the house. The most effective solution is to check the pipes and clear out any clogs with bleach.
Sep 25, 2024 · Check for a cleanout plug inside the floor drain to get rid of a sewer smell in bathroom or laundry room. Remove the grate that covers the opening and make sure there’s a plug inside the drain bowl. If the plug is missing, there’s a direct path for sewer gas to bypass the water trap.
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Sep 15, 2023 · How to clean a basement floor drain. If your drain appears or smells like it's clogged, it's time for a good cleaning. Backups usually happen when debris gets carried down the drain with the water that's flowing into it. The best way to clean a clogged drain is to flush it out. Here's how to do it!
