How To Clean a Smelly Kitchen Sink Drain

If you have a foul odor coming up from your kitchen sink, then you might need to clean the pipes. Today we’ll start by going over a few things you can check first. Then we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to get your kitchen sink drains clean.

First Things To Try

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Before anything else, make sure your dishes are clean. If the smell is still there afterward, add a little baking soda to the drain and wash it down with vinegar. Then after a minute send down a pot of boiling water. If that doesn’t work, you can try cleaning your garbage disposal next. Once you’ve tried all that and your sink still smells bad, now it’s time to clean the drain.

Step 1: Take A Picture

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Each sink might be a little different. Getting a picture of where everything goes can save you a lot of headaches when you try to put them back together.

Step 2: Take Apart the Pipes

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You’ll want to have a bucket or container underneath the sink to catch water pouring out of the p trap. The fittings should be hand-tight, but a set of pliers can break the nuts loose if needed.

Step 3: Clean the Pipes

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You can start by pushing a paper towel through like a pipe cleaner. That should get most of the gunk out. Then you can use hot soapy water or your preferred cleaner to scrub out the pipes.

Step 4: Put it All Back Together

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Use the picture you took earlier to get the pipes fitted back where they were. Double-check that the washers are facing the right way.

Step 5: Lock the Pipes Back in Place

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Once everything is where it goes, lock down the fitting nuts. Hand-tight is plenty for this.

Step 6: Test the Drain For Leaks

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Dry off the pipes and the space under the sink. Then fill the basins with water and let it drain. There shouldn’t be any drips or puddles. If there are, double-check and re-tighten all the fittings.

If you’ve followed these steps and your sink is still giving off that smell, it might be time to call a professional. If that’s the case, Any Hour Services is happy to help. You can give us a call to set up an appointment or book one online.