What is the best thing to stop drains smelling?

Author: Curtis Mueller  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution Steps: Pour a cup of baking soda down the smelly drain. Follow it up with a cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz and work its magic for about 30 minutes.

How do you get bad smells out of drains?

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.

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

Baking Soda and Vinegar: - Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into the drain. - Follow this with 1 cup of white vinegar. You'll see it fizz and bubble; this reaction helps break down grime and odors. - Let the mixture sit for about 15-30 minutes. Rinse with Hot Water:

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

Baking soda powder will turn into a cement like mass and completely clog everything it settles in.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Baking Soda + Vinegar
  • Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down drain.
  • Plug drain and let sit for one hour.
  • Then, pour a pot of boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.

Throw it in the sink and the drain will never clog again! 💥(Amazing)🤯

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.

What is a natural cleaner for smelly drains?

Vinegar contains acid which neutralizes odor, cuts through grease, and helps disinfect. By heating up (but not boiling) four cups of vinegar, pouring half down the drain, running the water for a minute, and then pouring the remaining vinegar down the drain, you can help eliminate smells and smaller clogs.

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

Vinegar and baking soda are harmful to your drain, both individually and when combined. 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.

Does bleach help a stinky drain?

To use bleach to kill odor-causing bacteria, first, fill your sink with hot water. Then, add about one cup of regular household bleach to the sink. After you've added the bleach, allow the sink to drain. Repeat the process until the drain smells more like bleach than anything else.

Can hydrogen peroxide go down the drain?

Yes, if the concentration is less than 8%. Submit a Text a Pickup. Hydrogen Peroxide at a concentration of less than 8% can be disposed of in the sanitary sewer drain. Dilution of waste for disposal is illegal.

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.

Is green gobbler safe on pipes?

This is a big deal when you live in a home with a septic system. We were always hesitant to use certain products in the past and Green Gobbler's products truly give us peace of mind. The Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolverdoes not contain bleach or sodium hydroxide, and it's safe for PVC and copper pipes.

How to keep shower drain from smelling?

Scrub your shower drain cover with a sponge scourer or soft-bristle brush every time you use it to keep soap scum from forming. Every week or so pour hot water down your shower drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Slowly add a cup of white vinegar and cover with a folded rag for 10 minutes.

What to put down a sink to stop smell?

First, pour half a cup of baking soda straight down the plughole. Then, follow that up with a cup of vinegar. These two should react to form a foamy solution. You can leave this solution to work for at least two hours before pouring some boiling water down the drain to clear it away.

Can I leave Mr. Muscle drain Gel overnight?

Using innovative drain unblocking technology, Mr Muscle's new biodegradable formula delivers the power to unclog bathroom drains in just 5 hours. Use it at night, let it work its magic and wake up to freely flowing drains.

How to clean a p-trap without removing it?

Pour some baking soda down your drain and then pour boiling water down after. Sometimes this will clear the clog. Use a plunger on your sink drain to try to force the clog out of the trap.

How do I get my drain to stop smelling?

To do so, pour a little dry baking soda into the affected drain. Then, slowly add vinegar until all the baking soda reacts. Keep running small amounts of vinegar into the drain until you don't hear any bubbling and your drains smell fresh and clean.

Is bleach or vinegar better for drains?

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.

Can you pour boiling water down the drain?

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.

Is boiling water bad for pipes?

Chemical cleaners can eat away at your pipes, and boiling water can melt important components. Over time, this damage can lead to leaks and expensive plumbing repairs.

Does vinegar damage 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.

What is the safest drain cleaner?

If the blockage remains, these efforts can still make the cleaner's job easier.
  • Option #1: Baking Soda and Cider Vinegar. ...
  • Option #2: Baking Soda and Lemon Juice. ...
  • Option #3: Alka-Seltzer® ...
  • Option #4: Boiling Water. ...
  • Option #5: Salt, Borax, and Vinegar. ...
  • Option #6: Enzymatic Drain Cleaners.

Why does my drain still smell after baking soda and vinegar?

Cleaning a stinky drain with vinegar and baking soda can remove odors naturally without causing damage to your plumbing. If you spent several hours cleaning the kitchen and bathroom but still notice a smell, something in your pipes could be the cause. Getting rid of the stinky odor is often a process of elimination.

How do you make homemade drain freshener?

Salt, Borax, and Vinegar

Start with 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of Borax, and then a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Add a pot of boiling water and let it sit for at least an hour or until it clears. Finally, rinse with hot tap water to clear all ingredients down the drain.

How do you clean a drain that smells like rotten eggs?

Pour the dry baking soda down the drain and then chase it with the vinegar. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, you can use apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar instead. Not only does this mixture freshen up foul, egg-smelling drains, but it's also an excellent form of odor prevention.

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