How to Get Rid of Smelly Drains for Good
A foul smell wafting up from your drains is a common problem, but thankfully, it's often one you can tackle yourself. The goal is to break down the gunk—mostly grease, food bits, and bacteria—that's causing the stink in the first place.
For a quick, go-to fix, carefully pour a full kettle of boiling water straight down the plughole. Follow that up with about half a cup of baking soda and let it sit for a good 15 minutes. Then, pour in a mixture of one cup of white vinegar and one cup of hot water. You’ll hear some satisfying fizzing as it gets to work.
Understanding What Causes Smelly Drains
That distinct 'rotten egg' smell is basically your pipes sending out an SOS. It’s almost always caused by a build-up of organic gunk like leftover food, grease from cooking, and soap scum. This concoction creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which release smelly gases as they break down the waste.
When dealing with sudden unpleasant smells in the home, knowing how to get odor out of carpet fast can offer immediate relief strategies, similar to tackling a drain.
The simple DIY method mentioned above is a great first step because it helps in a couple of ways:
- Boiling water: It does a brilliant job of melting and loosening any grease that has solidified inside your pipes.
- Baking soda & vinegar: This classic combination creates a fizzing reaction that helps dislodge grime while the vinegar neutralises the nasty odours.
This quick fix is often all you need to clear minor smells. If you want to dive deeper, you can learn more about the common causes of blocked drains in our related guide.
Your Go-To DIY Drain Cleaning Methods
Before you reach for harsh chemicals, it’s worth trying a safer, yet surprisingly effective, solution using a few things you probably already have in the kitchen.
Most people have heard of the classic baking soda and vinegar trick. It's a great starting point, but adding a bit of salt into the mix gives it some extra abrasive power. This helps scrub away that stubborn, slimy gunk clinging to the inside of your pipes.
Ready to give it a go? Just mix half a cup of table salt with half a cup of baking soda and pour it straight down the problem drain. Then, follow it up with one cup of white vinegar. You’ll hear it start to fizz and bubble immediately – that’s the chemical reaction getting to work, breaking down the build-up.
Leave the mixture to do its thing for about 30 minutes. Once the time is up, carefully flush everything through with a full kettle of boiling water.
For a more detailed look at tackling blockages, you can check out our expert guide on how to unblock a drain safely and effectively.
Advanced Solutions for Stubborn Odours
When the trusty baking soda and vinegar trick isn't cutting it, it’s time to bring out the bigger guns. Those really stubborn drain smells are often caused by biofilm—a nasty, slimy layer of bacteria that loves to cling to the inside of your pipes.
To tackle this, your best bet is an enzyme-based drain cleaner. Instead of just masking the problem with harsh chemicals, these cleaners use good bacteria to literally eat away at the fats, grease, and other gunk causing the smell, offering a more permanent solution.
Using Physical Tools Safely
Sometimes, the issue is a physical blockage that needs a bit of brute force. This is where a simple plunger or a drain snake comes in handy. A plunger is great for using pressure to shift minor clogs, while a drain snake (or auger) can reach right down into the pipe to either break up the blockage or pull it out completely.
If you’ve tried all that and the smell still lingers, it could be a sign of a deeper issue in your main sewer line. In those situations, looking into preventative measures like a professional backwater valve installation is a smart move.
Simple Habits to Keep Drains Fresh
Honestly, the easiest way to deal with a smelly drain is to stop it from getting whiffy in the first place. A few small changes to your daily routine can make a massive difference.
Mind What Goes Down the Sink
Start by being mindful of what you're washing away, especially in the kitchen.
- Scrape plates clean: Always give plates a good scrape into the bin before you rinse them.
- No fats, oils, or grease: Never pour cooking fats or oils down the sink. They solidify in the cool pipes, creating stubborn blockages.
- Use a simple strainer: Popping a strainer in your plugholes is a cheap and effective way to catch food scraps and hair before they cause trouble.
A Little Weekly Maintenance Goes a Long Way
Proactive care is key to keeping drains flowing freely. Flushing them weekly with a kettle full of hot water helps to melt away any greasy build-up. For a slightly deeper clean, the baking soda and vinegar trick is fantastic as a monthly preventative, resolving many minor odour issues before they get worse.
Considering the professional side of things? You can read the full research about drainage maintenance services to learn more about the industry.
When to Call a Go Assist Professional
While most minor drain odours can be sorted out with a bit of elbow grease, some smells are a clear warning sign of a deeper issue. Knowing when to call for professional help can save you from a bigger, messier problem.
Pay close attention to persistent odours that keep coming back. If you also notice strange gurgling sounds from multiple drains, or the water is draining slowly across your home, it’s a strong indicator of a significant blockage in your main line.
Don't let a lingering smell turn into a major plumbing emergency. A stubborn odour is often your plumbing system's way of telling you that a serious blockage is forming.
For a fast, reliable diagnosis, you can book a drain unblocking service with a certified Go Assist engineer today.
Got More Questions About Nasty Drain Smells?
Still puzzling over that persistent pong? Here are some of the questions we get asked all the time, with straight-to-the-point answers from our experts.
Why Does My Drain Only Smell When It Rains?
An odour that only shows up after a downpour is a classic sign of trouble deeper in your system, usually with the main sewer line. Heavy rainwater can force foul-smelling sewer gases back up your pipes. If you've noticed this pattern, it's a strong signal that you need a professional to take a look.
Is It Okay to Use Bleach to Get Rid of Drain Smells?
Our advice is a firm no. Bleach is a harsh chemical that can damage older pipework and is bad for the environment. More importantly, it won't dissolve the greasy build-up causing the smell, so the problem will just come right back. Stick to safer methods like baking soda and vinegar or an enzyme cleaner for a long-term fix.
My House Is New, So Why Do My Drains Already Smell?
This is often due to a dry P-trap, especially in a rarely used bathroom. The U-shaped pipe under your sink holds water to create a seal against sewer gases. If a sink isn't used for a while, this water can evaporate. The fix? Just run the tap for a minute to refill the trap. If that doesn't sort it, there might be an issue with the plumbing vent system, and that's a job for a pro.
If you've tried the DIY route and that stubborn smell just won't budge, don't ignore it. Let the expert engineers at Go Assist get to the bottom of it. We can diagnose and fix any drainage issue, big or small, quickly and affordably. Book your plumbing repair online today and breathe easy again.
