How to get rid of bad smell from kitchen sink/pipes?

[kittyP]

It's not blocked, draining freely, it just stinks, suddenly after letting a sink full of pretty clean (id only washed a few cups) hot, soapy water drain away today.
I am happy to put sink/plughole unblocker down it but I really just want to stop the smell.
I live in a small flat and my kitchen is part of the living room and it was over powering in the room this afternoon.

I had to go to my parents so I poured some boiling water down, tipped some soda crystals down there and have left it to sit like that for now.
I'm expecting to get back to a stinky flat on Monday though.

I'll get some dettol anti bacterial washing machine cleaner and run that as it empties into the same bit of pips and that might help.

Any ideas?

 

[mauvais]

If possible, disconnect the U bend section under the sink, first placing a bucket under it as it'll be full of water. Clean out any crap from within it.

Put some boiling water through the system and use a plunger (under water, ie. with a full sink) to shift blockages. Also try drain unblocker chemicals.

 

[weepiper]

Bleach. Good glug of bleach down the plughole, leave it to sit for an hour or so, wash it down with a kettle of hot water.

 

[Pickman's model]

Another vote for bleach. If that doesn't work then move.

 

[BillRiver]

White vinegar? Lots of it.

In the very short term it will just replace the current bad smell with a vinegar smell, but with windows open that will dissipate quite quickly and should help.

 

[Supine]

Bleach. Good glug of bleach down the plughole, leave it to sit for an hour or so, wash it down with a kettle of hot water.

this

 

[passenger]

Borax its cheap as chips worked for me.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Mr Muscle power granules to get rid of whatever is causing the smell and then use summat like Zoflora to rinse it every week and choose a fragrance you like from their range...is my suggestion.

 

[moose]

Another vote for Zoflora, but only after you've shifted the initial smell with bleach, or you'll have awful smell with floral overtones.

 

[kittyP]

White vinegar? Lots of it.

In the very short term it will just replace the current bad smell with a vinegar smell, but with windows open that will dissipate quite quickly and should help.

Yeah I need to pick up some more white vinegar.
They don't bloody sell it in Sainsbury's though annoyingly.

 

[BillRiver]

White vinegar is the answer to almost every household problem, ime.

Plus it's way less harmful to the environment than many other options, bearing in mind that whatever we pour down our sinks will end up in our waterways.

 

[kittyP]

Thank you suburban urbz

When I get home ill rinse out the soda crystals well with boiling water.
Then Bleach to leave over night.

Then if still smelly ill get some Mr muscle products.

Will definitely pick up some Zoflora to use on the regular whatever.

Oh and run the dettol washing machine cleaner.

Fingers crossed any combination of the above does the trick

 

[kittyP]

White vinegar is the answer to almost every household problem, ime.

Plus it's way less harmful to the environment than many other options, bearing in mind that whatever we pour down our sinks will end up in our waterways.

I know I do try and be as good as I can bear but when you can't afford to do any plumbing work yourself and you live in a shitty damp smelly flat that the landlord just botches repairs on, sometimes I just want things clean and snelling nice

 

[BillRiver]

I know I do try and be as good as I can bear but when you can't afford to do any plumbing work yourself and you live in a shitty damp smelly flat that the landlord just botches repairs on, sometimes I just want things clean and snelling nice

Fair enough, I'm not here to judge (and have been in that situation myself - solidarity!).

 

[Throbbing Angel]

I know I do try and be as good as I can bear but when you can't afford to do any plumbing work yourself and you live in a shitty damp smelly flat that the landlord just botches repairs on, sometimes I just want things clean and snelling nice

Seems reasonable to me

 

[weepiper]

Thank you suburban urbz

When I get home ill rinse out the soda crystals well with boiling water.
Then Bleach to leave over night.

Then if still smelly ill get some Mr muscle products.

Will definitely pick up some Zoflora to use on the regular whatever.

Oh and run the dettol washing machine cleaner.

Fingers crossed any combination of the above does the trick

Make sure you rinse really well with plain water between using bleach and anything else. Bleach combined with some chemicals makes chlorine gas.

 

[kittyP]

Make sure you rinse really well with plain water between using bleach and anything else. Bleach combined with some chemicals makes chlorine gas.

Yes good point and I'll be sure to have all windows open fully too

 

[gentlegreen]

Make sure you rinse really well with plain water between using bleach and anything else. Bleach combined with some chemicals makes chlorine gas.

indeed - esp acid - e.g. vinegar or harpic.
I worked in a lab where a senior chemist used to pep up Vim with hydrochloric acid when cleaning the sink

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Make sure you rinse really well with plain water between using bleach and anything else. Bleach combined with some chemicals makes chlorine gas.

Yes, made that mistake before. It's instantly clear that you've produced chlorine - awful stuff.

 

[bellaozzydog]

I used to use mister muscle but I changed that for an overnight enzymatic liquid bought from local hardware shop

absolute game changer, just have to stop drunk housemates rinsing it away when they stagger in on a night

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I used to use mister muscle but I changed that for an overnight enzymatic liquid bought from local hardware shop

What's the name of it?

 

[bellaozzydog]

What's the name of it?

I can’t remember it was in a fairly nondescript bottle . Best bet would be Google overnight enzyme drain unblocker

 

[telbert]

One shot drain cleaner. About 7 quid a pop from your local hardwares shop. Read the instructions properly before you use it.

 

[bellaozzydog]

Found it

HG 481100106 Kitchen Drain 1L-Effective and Natural Sink Unblocker-for Persistent Blockages, Multi : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Shop HG 481100106 Kitchen Drain 1L-Effective and Natural Sink Unblocker-for Persistent Blockages, Multi. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

If its coming back up I'm guessing there is something disgusting in the u bend.
If it was past the u bend it shouldn't smell.

In that case I'd almost want to take off the ubend and boil it in cleaner until its sparkly clean again.

This also has the benefit of not shoving tones of noxious chemicals into the water system.

 

[danski]

If its coming back up I'm guessing there is something disgusting in the u bend

Or possibly in the overflow.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Found it

HG 481100106 Kitchen Drain 1L-Effective and Natural Sink Unblocker-for Persistent Blockages, Multi : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Shop HG 481100106 Kitchen Drain 1L-Effective and Natural Sink Unblocker-for Persistent Blockages, Multi. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

www.amazon.co.uk

Ta. I use HG mould spray - brilliant stuff - so this is likely to be great too.

 

[danski]

Yeah, had good experiences with HG stuff

 

[cybershot]

HG stuff is good. Also bio carb of soda left for a while and then dosed with white vinegar is also an excellent combo for most household cleaning chores.

you’ll also get a nice satisfying sound when the vinegar hits the bio carb

 

[WouldBe]

If its coming back up I'm guessing there is something disgusting in the u bend.
If it was past the u bend it shouldn't smell.

In that case I'd almost want to take off the ubend and boil it in cleaner until its sparkly clean again.

This also has the benefit of not shoving tones of noxious chemicals into the water system.

Petrol and a match may work.