At some point, you may have found yourself hunting down a foul smell in your kitchen. You take out the trash, clean out the fridge and even move it to look for rotting food. Then you get another whiff and realize that horrible smell is coming from your sink.
Depending on whether or not you have a garbage disposal, the solutions you can try will vary. But here are a few things you can try at home to avoid having a smelly kitchen sink.
For a garbage disposal
Garbage disposals are super convenient, but often that convenience comes with a price: smelly odors. If you have a garbage disposal, try putting two cups of ice and a cup of salt into the drain. Turn on the water (cold is preferred) and activate the disposal. This combo not only helps break down things that might be stuck and causing the smell it also helps sharpen the blades of your disposal causing it to work more efficiently. We love this cleaning hack because unlike some cleaning options, if the sink is clogged or the motor stops running, the ice can melt away without contributing to or increasing the clog.
For a regular drain
Vinegar is a great solution for cleaning things around the home, but did you know you could use it to get rid of foul odors? Slowly pour two cups of warm vinegar down the sink and then rinse it out with warm water. This combo does a great job of removing gunk from the sink and pushing it down the drain.
Have a professional drain cleaning
While a stinky sink may be the result of a clogged sink or sitting food, they aren’t the only causes of a sour drain. Many times sewage is the culprit. Backed up pipes or sewer drains can pack a powerful smell. Having a plumber check your drains and perform a professional drain cleaning might be the right solution. Hydro jetting is another great solution for a powerful drain cleaning.
Other Things to Remember
- Scrape plates into the trash can before placing them in the sink. Don’t even give food a chance to clog your drain. There are many things you shouldn’t put down the drain.
- Never pour grease down the drain. Not only can grease clog your drain, it can severely damage your pipes over time and get into the city water system. San Antonio and SAWS have a strong initiative to educate residents on the dangers of pouring grease down the drain.
If you are ready to schedule your professional drain cleaning contact Mr. Plumber today.
