How to freshen a shower drain?

Author: Lorenz Streich  |  Last update: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Baking Soda and Vinegar: After pouring hot water, pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes. The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar helps to break down grime and eliminate odors.

How do you get the smell out of a shower drain?

First, pour one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Cover the drain and allow the mixture to fizzle inside of the pipes for a few minutes. Once the fizzle starts to subside, rinse the drain with hot water.

How to make shower drain shiny again?

What Is The Best Thing To Use To Clean A Shower Drain? The best way to clean a shower drain is by using a mix of baking soda and vinegar. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar, let it sit for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water.

What is a natural deodorizer for shower drain?

A concoction of white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water will help to eliminate odours from smelly shower drains effectively, as well as removing a buildup of grease, bacteria, and any other biological material residue (as long as the blockage is not severe).

How do you deodorize a smelly drain?

Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain, followed by hot water, to neutralize odors. Use a plunger to clear any blockages in the drain, ensuring proper water flow. If the smell persists, try placing a drain cover or stopper over the drain when not in use to prevent odors from rising.

How to clean a smelly drain in shower or sink

Why does my shower drain smell but not blocked?

In conclusion, sewage gasses, biofilm accumulation, bacterial development, and P-trap drying up can all be responsible for the foul odour emanating from a shower drain that appears to be unclogged.

Does pouring vinegar down the drain make it smell better?

Vinegar is a common household product that can be used to kill germs, mold, and bacteria. The unique properties found in this common item can also help rid your sink of unpleasant odors. Simply pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and wait for 30 minutes.

What is the best product to clean smelly shower drains?

Pour 1 cup baking soda (a measuring cup can help) down the drain, followed by 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Be prepared for some bubbling and fizzing. Let the mixture work for at least 10 minutes, then flush with more hot water.

What is the best bathroom odor eliminator?

11 Best Odor Eliminators of 2024, Tested and Reviewed by Cleaning Experts
  • Best Overall. Clorox Disinfecting Mist. Read more.
  • Best Value. Febreze Odor-Fighting Air Freshener. Read more.
  • Best for Bathroom Odors. Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray. Read more.

How to fix smelly shower drain reddit?

Shake generous amounts of baking soda around and down the drain. Shake sideways to get onto the pipe walls. Next pour vinegar in and around the drain. Vinegar and bleach mixture creates toxic fumes so make sure you flushed the bleach out prior.

What is the best liquid to clean shower drains?

In our tests, we've been consistently impressed by the clearing power of Drano's gel formulation, which is safe for all plumbing and septic systems. "It's a caustic cleaner, meaning it contains bleach and other corrosive ingredients that are especially tough on grease and soap scum," explains DiClerico.

How to remove sewer smell from bathroom with baking soda?

You can also add a mixture of baking soda and vinegar along with hot water to help get rid of the odor. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain followed by one cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 10 to 15 mins and flush with hot water.

What home remedy can I use to clean my shower drain?

Salt + Borax + Vinegar
  1. Pour 1/4 cup salt, followed 1/4 cup Borax down drain.
  2. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar down.
  3. Finish with a pot of boiling water.
  4. Let sit for one hour or until it clears.
  5. Run hot tap water to rinse any remaining solution down.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

Why does my shower drain smell like rotten eggs after I shower?

The bacteria feed on soap scum, dirt, oil, hair, and skin that is washed into the drain. When the waste is broken down, it releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which seeps out of the drain and into the air of the bathroom, creating a rotten egg smell. To fix this issue, you need to unclog and clean the drain.

Why does my bathroom smell like urine even after cleaning?

Your bathroom may smell like urine from several potential culprits. It could be a lack of ventilation in your bathroom, which causes stagnant odors, or a hidden leak in your toilet. Maybe the grout surrounding the toilet is simply dirty—there are ways to get rid of the smell once you identify the issue.

How to remove bad smell from bathroom drain?

A baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water combo can add extra power for breaking up the buildup in your drain's pipes. Periodically adding baking soda down your drain can keep the sink fresh and odor-free. Changing the filters eliminates the bad smells from a contaminated water softener.

What is the absolute best odor eliminator?

Out of all the odor eliminators we tested, the Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag was our favorite. This product neutralizes bad scents up to 90 square feet away.

How can I make my bathroom smell good all the time?

10 ways to make your bathroom smell nice
  1. Make use of lemons. ...
  2. Open windows, doors and vents. ...
  3. Clean under and around the toilet. ...
  4. Eliminate musty smells. ...
  5. Toilet drops or spray. ...
  6. Diffusers, candles or air fresheners. ...
  7. Upgrade the litter box. ...
  8. Bicarbonate of soda.

How to stop shower drain from smelling?

To get rid of the odour – and the build-up – you can mix 1 part bleach with 1 part water and pour it down the drain. Alternatively, you can pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white wine vinegar. Cover the drain as the mixture fizzes, then flush with hot water.

How do you deodorize a drain?

Tip one cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by two cups of hot vinegar. Let it fizz, then flush the drain with hot tap water after one hour. The fizzing reaction of the vinegar and baking soda together may kill odor-causing bacteria and help clean any gunk stuck in your drain.

What is the best product to get rid of smelly drains?

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.

Can you leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight?

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.

How long does it take for vinegar to remove odors?

A bowl of vinegar can start absorbing odors almost immediately and is typically adequate for up to 24 hours. When left out in a room, the acetic acid in vinegar neutralizes alkaline odors, such as those from smoke, cooking, or pet accidents, by binding with the odor molecules and neutralizing them.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

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.

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