For bathroom drains, hair and scum from personal products most often form the clogs. No need to worry, though. Leave the ingredients alone for about one hour. 19 Vintage Christmas Decor Ideas That Are Giving Us Major Holiday Nostalgia, 23 of Our Test Kitchen's Best Cookie Recipes of All Time, Conquer Holiday Cooking with This Meat Roasting Guide, The CDC Just Updated Its Thanksgiving Safety Guidelines—Here's What You Need To Know, 5 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter, 21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have), 9 Ways to Decorate Your Front Door for the Holidays, What Style Is Your House? Do not combine two different types of chemical drain cleaners or it can create toxic fumes. Cleaning drain pipes can be difficult because you can't reach inside of the pipe to clean it manually. These tips will help you make time for self-care for a mental health boost every day. … To keep your sink smelling fresh and running clear, pour in equal parts of vinegar and baking soda on a regular basis. All the times and temperatures you need to know to roast turkey, chicken, beef, and pork for your feast. References. My first line of defense for unclogging a stopped-up drain is to check the "p-trap"—the elbow-shaped pipe under the sink. This article has been viewed 89,883 times. It's not a fun job, but someone has to do it. To clean a drain pipe, start by bringing about 8 cups of water to a boil. You know, the black plumbing pipes that stick up out of your roof. See which names were most popular this year! Clear a clogged drain pipe with a homemade, all-natural solution, instead of potentially harmful chemicals. A clogged drain can be frustrating, even if it's a partial clog in which water does go down the drain but at a snail's pace. And nobody wants a smelly drain, especially in small spaces like bathrooms and powder rooms. Hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive and non-corrosive option that can be poured directly in the bathroom sink drain. Measure two liters (8 cups) of … This will start to kill the mold and dry up the slime. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Whenever your sink begins draining slowly or develops an odor, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the pipe and then add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar. Ways to Clean Smelly Drains. Well, here are the reasons: Baking soda removes harsh chemicals that leave odors and residue on sinks. Throw a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow it with hot water. BH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. Staying atop of your wellbeing is a must, especially during uncertain, stressful times. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Be sure to follow the product's instructions on how much to use! Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. This should only happens in sinks that receive infrequent use. You can use soap and water, vinegar and baking soda, or traditional store-bought drain cleaners to clean your drain pipes. Next, add 3 tablespoons of dish detergent to the boiling water and pour it slowly down the drain to flush out any debris clogging up the pipe. This winter front door display is layered with holiday cheer. If you don't have a snake, try this instead: Bend a wire clothes hanger so it's straight, then gently work it down the drain and try to dislodge whatever is clogging the drain. That allows you to bypass the trap and feed the cable directly down the pipe. When a sink isn’t draining properly, and the waste line isn’t clogged, you may need to take a look upward to find the culprit — up toward the vent system. Try this alternative using baking soda and boiling water: For an easy, natural way to clean your drain pipes, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Cover the opening as the vinegar and baking soda creates a foam; this will direct the foam down to the clogged area. Kadi Dulude is the owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City based cleaning company. Uncover the drain and slowly pour the hot water down. All Rights Reserved. Here are 3 quick steps to cleaning your drains: Step 1: Get a half a cup some baking soda and slowly pour down the offending drain and let it sit overnight. Hundreds of natural cleaning blog posts, books, and magazine columns recommend cleaning slow kitchen drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down the drain followed with one cup vinegar. Another way of removing clogs is by cleaning the pipe itself. Your bathroom might look clean, but that stinky smell coming from your sink drain says otherwise. When you feel resistance, it means that you've reached the clog. Kadi Dulude is the owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City based cleaning company. Flush the drain with hot water. With just two weeks until turkey day, the latest information could affect your plans. For tips on what to do if the clog persists, read on! However, there are a number of ways that you can flush your drain to remove blockages or bad odors. Plumbing errors: Missing traps or vents, leaks, and rotting drain tubes can all cause odors to seep from a bathroom or kitchen sink. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 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