Will bleach clean a stinky drain?

Author: Nick Crist  |  Last update: Monday, January 26, 2026

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.

Does bleach get rid of smelly drains?

Yes, bleach can be used to clean drains, but it should be done with caution. Here are some important points to consider: Effectiveness: Bleach can help disinfect and eliminate odors in drains. It may kill some bacteria and mold that can cause unpleasant smells.

How do you get rid of a bad smell in a 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.

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.

What dissolves hair in a drain?

If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. To try this safe and easy method at home – first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.

How to clean a smelly drain in shower or sink

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

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.

What pulls hair out of drain?

For best results, start by squirting a little dish soap into your drain, followed by a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Wait five minutes or so, for the chemical reaction of the vinegar and baking soda to take effect, then chase that with a cup or more of boiling water.

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.

Will bleach damage PVC pipe?

4 – Bleach can damage pipes.

Bleach reacts with metal and is very corrosive, with rust or oxidation caused by the trading of electrons between the metal and bleach molecules. Copper pipes can also be damaged making them more prone to plumbing leaks. With PVC pipes, bleach dissolves the sealant used around the pipes.

Is hydrogen peroxide good for drains?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use for unclogging a 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.

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.

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.

What takes the smell out of drains?

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.

Does bleach neutralize odor?

Bleach is great at disinfecting, but not so great on eliminating odors. You'll be left with a clean, but still smelly problem. Urine already has a high ammonia content, so adding more ammonia is only going to exacerbate your problem. And whatever you do, NEVER combine bleach and ammonia.

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.

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.

Is it better to put vinegar or bleach in an AC drain line?

All right, so in summary, don't use bleach; use vinegar. That helps with any mildew growth—keeps you running clean. It's not going to actually clean your A/C drain, but it can prevent some backups.

Is baking soda and vinegar safe for PVC pipes?

While vinegar and baking soda are touted as natural cleaning agents, excessive or frequent use may pose risks to pipes. To avoid potential damage, reach out to a drain cleaning company for drain cleaning instead.

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 to make a drain snake?

To make a drain snake, all you need is a wire coat hanger that you can unwind and straighten. Bend the end of the wire into a hook shape and insert it into the drain. Move it around until you feel resistance and then pull out any hair or debris that may be blocking the drain.

Can you use Dawn and baking soda for drains?

Tbs of Dawn dish soap - 1/2 cup of baking soda- 1 cup of vinegar. Try it out! You might be startled by how much gunk will come out!#

What eats hair out of a drain?

Another option for dissolving hair in a drain is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This mixture will create a chemical reaction that will break down the hair. Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar and pour it down the drain to use this method.

How to clean a stinky 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.

Why did snaking my drain make it worse?

Drain Snaking Can Impact the Clog If Done Incorrectly

Drain snaking requires proper knowledge and skills to do it right the first time. When done incorrectly, the materials of which the clog consists can wrap around the snake and become lodged in the pipe.

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