How to get rid of bad smell from kitchen sink/pipes?
- Thread starter kittyP
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Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
Even a free flowing sink can have smelly crap in the u-bend. I have this very problem right now, although it is not as smelly as yours, I don't think.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
One easy thing to try is to put the plug in, and fill up with water until the water level reaches the overflow. If it doesn't then start following freely through the overflow hole, you know the overflow is blocked and that's likely your problem. Unblocking it might be as easy as sticking a bit of coat hanger wire into it to see if there's anything that can be dislodged that way. Then let water run through it for a bit.
smmudge
i know the smudge is true
I had exactly this problem a few months ago, and basically asked the the same question! Not blocked, draining fine, just smelly.
Maybe the soda crystals, bleach, boiling water, mr muscle etc will work for you. It didn't for me.
In the end I undid all the pipes myself underneath the sink. The first joint was a little stiff but when I got the knack it was easy. Then it was easy to see what was causing the stink (build up of gunk along one of the pipes) and remove it with an old tooth brush and wet wipes. I think it would have needed a LOT of stuff poured down to shift it, whereas taking it apart got it out and fixed in about half an hour.
I'm not great with home DIY stuff and you may think you need a plumber to take pipes apart but I learnt that it's actually pretty straightforward and will be the quickest way to sort out the smell.
Maybe the soda crystals, bleach, boiling water, mr muscle etc will work for you. It didn't for me.
In the end I undid all the pipes myself underneath the sink. The first joint was a little stiff but when I got the knack it was easy. Then it was easy to see what was causing the stink (build up of gunk along one of the pipes) and remove it with an old tooth brush and wet wipes. I think it would have needed a LOT of stuff poured down to shift it, whereas taking it apart got it out and fixed in about half an hour.
I'm not great with home DIY stuff and you may think you need a plumber to take pipes apart but I learnt that it's actually pretty straightforward and will be the quickest way to sort out the smell.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
in fact they are generally designed to be easily taken apart without tools and without special skills!
kittyP
Pluviophile
Well, when I got home I poured 5 kettles full of boiling water down the plughole to wash the soda crystals away that I had left in there since Friday.
That seemed to have helped quite a lot.
I now have the washing machine running on 90* with Dettol washing machine cleaner in it, and any left over smell seems to be gradually dissipating.
I picked up some Zoflora on the way home and my dad has been instructed to pick up a big thing of spirit vinegar from wherever he goes tomorrow and I have a box of bicarb somewhere.
Thank you for your input
That seemed to have helped quite a lot.
I now have the washing machine running on 90* with Dettol washing machine cleaner in it, and any left over smell seems to be gradually dissipating.
I picked up some Zoflora on the way home and my dad has been instructed to pick up a big thing of spirit vinegar from wherever he goes tomorrow and I have a box of bicarb somewhere.
Thank you for your input
David Clapson
Well-Known Member
I spent the weekend on a comparable problem. You might have Object(s) stuck in there. This kind of thing might help. I bought a 10 metre one for £20. Being narrow and bendy it can get round corners. Maybe even a U bend.
But dismantling the pipes would be best. You'll never be sure what's in there unless you do. And you can use a scrubbing brush to every bit of cack out.
Could you post a photo of your under-sink pipes and describe the pipes they lead to? What floor are you on?
But dismantling the pipes would be best. You'll never be sure what's in there unless you do. And you can use a scrubbing brush to every bit of cack out.
Could you post a photo of your under-sink pipes and describe the pipes they lead to? What floor are you on?
teuchter
je suis teuchter
If it's a kind of hose that comes from the washing machine, that then empties into the pipework, there should be a u-bend there too. The purpose of a u bend is to stop bad smells coming from the general pipework into the room. The water that sits in the bottom of the u bend creates the separation
teuchter
je suis teuchter
Yup, I've done that!
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
I spent the weekend on a comparable problem. You might have Object(s) stuck in there. This kind of thing might help. I bought a 10 metre one for £20. Being narrow and bendy it can get round corners. Maybe even a U bend.
But dismantling the pipes would be best. You'll never be sure what's in there unless you do. And you can use a scrubbing brush to every bit of cack out.
Could you post a photo of your under-sink pipes and describe the pipes they lead to? What floor are you on?
got one of those which you can connect to a power drill - wonderful thing!
Used it on Mrs Fish’s drain, which seemed to be slowing up and spilling out by her back door.
Between that and a more substantial set of rods, I cleared every bit of drain I could get into, we found the problem - one of her kids had been flushing wet wipes got a lovely surge when the blockage cleared..!
Her back step and part of the garden looked and smelt like it had been visited copiously by the shit custard fairy. Her girl disowned us when she walked into the garden with her pals!
kittyP
Pluviophile
Every time I’ve taken a U bend apart I’ve failed to put it back together again without achieving a torrent of water coming from the joins
Thank you for recognising that there are risks involved in doing this.
I asked my dad about how easy it would be and being someone who is usually very encouraging of me to do things for myself, he went "hmmmmmm weeeeelllll" and then "make sure you photograph stages of deconstruction to aide reconstruction" and also "if the pipe work is really old^ then it might break on deconstruction or just not fit back together as it should".
* It is.
Shippou-Sensei
4:1:2.5
Every time I’ve taken a U bend apart I’ve failed to put it back together again without achieving a torrent of water coming from the joins
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