Clean the drain thoroughly to get rid of this nasty smell. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, wait for 20 minutes and, then, add a cup of hydrogen peroxide. Alternatively, add distilled white vinegar into the baking soda in the drain, pause until frothing stops and, then, pour in hot water.
You can also deodorize drains and help smelly drains with a combination of baking soda and vinegar. These ingredients, when used together, can also sometimes help to clear drain clogs.
1. Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution. One of the most popular and effective home remedies for smelly drains involves the use of baking soda and vinegar. This dynamic duo not only eliminates unpleasant odors but also helps in clearing minor clogs.
You can plug the sink, fill it with hot water, add bleach, and then let it go down the drain. The bleach will kill the bacteria. Boiling water alone poured down a drain can also help in eliminating odors caused by bacteria. A third option is to mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda.
Let the tap run for a few seconds and then turn it off. Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, and follow it up with two cups of hot vinegar (near boiling point). Allow the mixture to fizz and leave for an hour. Pour hot tap water down the drain and see if the clog clears.
Try using vinegar and baking soda. Pour one cup of baking soda then one cup of vinegar down an outside drain then wait 20 – 30 minutes before pouring a large amount of boiling water down the drain. External drains can get blocked with mud which can be removed manually.
Baking soda is abrasive, which, when used in large quantities, will cause the drain more damage. Additionally, the acidic nature of vinegar can eat away rubber and metal, damaging the plumbing. As these products break down the pipe and connectors in the plumbing in your home, it will cause more clogs over time.
Drain Line Material
Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan. If your drain line is PVC, stick to white distilled vinegar for clearing clogs and debris, particularly during winter.
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.
Tiny food particles and other organic matter can also accumulate in your drain system and form a clog. These blockages slow or stop water flow in the drain, which causes bad smells. Accumulation of soap, grease, hair products, toothpaste and other substances inside the plumbing promotes the growth of bacteria.
PVC drain pipes are more susceptible to damage from boiling water compared to other plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, and of course metallic pipe materials.
You may be surprised to learn that pouring soda down the drain does work for some clogs. To be specific, you need a dark-colored cola (such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi). This type of carbonated beverage usually contains a good amount of phosphoric acid, which given enough time, can eat away at some types of clogs.
Apply any household spray cleaner on the PVC pipe and allow it to soak. Next, use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub away dirt particles from hard-to-reach areas inside the PVC pipe. Wipe down the PVC pipe with a lint-free cloth. Repeat the process as necessary.
Allowing the baking soda and vinegar mixture to sit in the drain for an extended period, such as overnight, can improve its effectiveness. The prolonged contact with the clog helps break down the build-up more thoroughly, making it easier to flush away with hot water the following morning.
Effects on Metal and PVC Pipes
While harmless for most metal and PVC pipes, prolonged exposure to the acidic nature of vinegar might corrode certain metals, like copper. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can withstand these substances without damage.
Baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-tested mixture for unclogging drains. Since you probably have these ingredients lying around, this is also one of the most cost-effective drain cleaners you can make at home. Pour one cup of baking soda down the affected drain, immediately followed by one cup of white vinegar.
If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.
Heat 2 or 4 liters of water on your stove or in a kettle to just short of boiling. Add about 1/2 cup of salt. Try pouring this down the drain, then wait 15 minutes before seeing if it will clear more easily. If you need a stronger cleaning, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup of vinegar.