Those weird, unpleasant kitchen smells often build slowly, over time. You're not sure what you're smelling or where it's coming from. You wash down the counters and make sure you have a clean fridge. You check the trash, look in corners and behind appliances for the smelly culprit. Then, it dawns on you. It's coming from the sink.

Reasons for a Smelly Sink Drain

Sink drains can begin to stink for a number of reasons. A smelly drain can be caused by:

  • Blocked Sewer Lines: A blockage deep in the sewer line can cause the smelly fumes from the sewer line to leak into your home.

  • Rotting Food: Food that gets stuck in the garbage disposal unit can rot unless it’s dislodged. Even the smallest amount of food can cause the sink drain to smell.

  • Common Sink Clogs: Sinks commonly get clogged with hair, soap scum, grease, and food. These types of clogs can create mold and mildew.

Routine Deodorizing

Performing periodic cleaning and deodorizing tasks can support a fresh smell throughout your kitchen. The most common and effective method for maintaining a clean sink and drain is tipping a tablespoon of baking soda down your drain once a week. But for a deeper odor-fighting process, try the hot water, baking soda, and vinegar solution:

Boil a pot of hot water. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of vinegar. Pour the boiling water down your drain. Follow it with the baking soda and vinegar solution. Plug the drain to allow this home remedy to work. Once the bubbling has subsided, flush with hot water.

Tackling the Stink DIY Style

When regular maintenance fails (or you've failed to keep up with your deodorizing routine) there are some deep cleaning hacks to make your sink smell better. So, if your sink is emitting unpleasant odors, try one of these popular sink de-funking tricks:

  1. Fill your sink with hot, soapy water. Then flush your garbage disposal with this cleaning solution.
  2. Remove gunk from your garbage disposal blades with ice cubes and salt. Follow up with some lemon peels for freshness.
  3. Grind up lemon and/or orange peels in your disposal, then flush with hot water.

Signs That Your Sink Smell Needs Plumber Intervention

So, you've followed all the tips and hacks. But after trying a range of natural remedies to make your kitchen smell better, the stink lingers. The following issues may mean it's time to call in a plumbing professional.

  • There's a rotten egg smell
  • Your drain smells like a sewer
  • Several drains in the home smell bad
  • The odor is accompanied with water back up

In these cases, rooter service may be the answer. For more severe issues, drain jetting and cleaning can offer a more permanent fix. No matter the cause, Benjamin Franklin can troubleshoot your smelly sink problem and offer a fresh solution. Call us for friendly, effective service.