How to Get Rid of a Smelly Drain

One of the simplest ways to tackle a smelly drain is with boiling water. Simply boil hot water on a stove or in an electric kettle and pour the water directly over the drain.

There are a few ways you can use baking soda to clear a drain. One of the best ways is to combine it with vinegar and hot water. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and has abrasive qualities that make it ideal for scrubbing. Vinegar is highly acidic, making it great for general cleaning. The combination of baking soda and vinegar together creates a chemical reaction that's ideal for cleaning a foul-smelling drain. To do so, follow the steps below.

1. Start by pouring boiling water into the drain to break up any hard residue.
2. Then, pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain.
3. Afterwards, pour ½ cup to 1 cup of white cleaning vinegar into the drain.
4. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.
5. Pour the remaining hot water into the drain to clear the baking soda and vinegar mixture from the drain.

If you have a garbage disposal, you may want to try cleaning your drain with ice. When you pour a cup of ice down the drain and turn the disposal on, the shards of ice can break up film and residue on the blades, cleaning them off and eliminating the odor. Follow these simple steps to safely use ice to clean a disposal.

1. Check your drain for any kitchen utensils or other large objects.
2. Fill your sink drain with ice cubes.
3. Turn your sink faucet to cold and let the water run into the drain.
4. Turn on the garbage disposal, making sure your hands are away from the blades.
5. Add more ice to disposal, if necessary, and repeat.

Lemon scent is often used in commercial cleaning products because of its fresh smell. To get the same effect naturally, juice a lemon or use pre-made lemon juice to clean your drain. Paired with baking soda, this can make an excellent deodorizer. Follow these simple steps below.

1. Use a mixture of ½ cup of lemon juice and ½ cup of baking soda.
2. Pour the mixture down the drain.
3. Allow the mixture to sit for an hour, if possible.
4. Pour boiling water down the drain to clear the mixture.

In the kitchen, consider putting food scraps in a trash can or compost bin (if you have one). This will keep debris from backing up in the drain or garbage disposal of the sink, eventually leading to odor. Never pour cooking oil or grease in the kitchen sink, either. It can harden and stick to the pipes of the drain, creating a serious backup.

In the bathroom, avoid excess hair from shaving or hair brushing to enter the shower or sink drain. An excess of toothpaste or soap are other possible hazards that can back up a drain.

A simple way to avoid debris from entering a drain is to use a drain screen, also known as a drain stainer or hair catcher. These accessories are especially useful in the kitchen sink and shower where large quanities of food scraps or hair can easily enter the drain.

Get ahead of foul odors before they develop. Just as you should regularly clean your toilets and bathroom mirrors, drain maintenance should also be consistent. Use one of the natural methods listed above detailing how to clean a bathroom sink drain or kitchen drain. Otherwise, you can consider purchasing a store-bought drain cleaner.