Home bathroom and sanitaryDrain the shower or sink in the kitchen stinks - what to do?

Drain the shower or sink in the kitchen stinks - what to do?

  • Use chemicals
  • Alternative means
    • salt
    • soda
    • Baking soda and vinegar
    • drain pump
    • plastic bottle
    • Pümpel
    • Hot water with soap
    • Clean the siphon
    • denture cleaners
  • Preventive measures

You have noticed lately that the drain in the kitchen or bathroom stinks ">

Odors form in drainpipes for a variety of reasons, such as a layer of dirt that builds up over time. The contained substances begin to ferment and rot, causing it to stink. The odors rise up and escape the pipe. They spread throughout the room and soon in the whole apartment. By timely action and regular cleaning of the drain, you prevent the formation of gases. There are various options available, from simple home remedies to chemicals or mechanical cleaning of the pipe.

Use chemicals

In the specialized trade different chemical means are offered for the cleaning of the outflow. These are effective on the one hand, but also aggressive to the material and must therefore be used with care. Pay close attention to the instructions and take safety measures, such as an open window for any vapors.

General instructions for chemicals:

In principle, the funds are given in the specified amount in the drain pipe and can act there. Often it is rinsed immediately with water and the effect begins relatively quickly.

Alternative means

salt

A simple home remedy is the use of salt. Alternatively, you can also use a highly concentrated saline solution.

Method:

  1. Take two tablespoons of salt and fill it into the drain.
  2. Let the salt work for about 30 to 60 minutes.
  3. Rinse with cold water. The drain should now smell better.

Simple salt is usually sufficient for the sink in the bathroom or shower. In the kitchen, on the other hand, it can often lead to more persistent odors, so that more aggressive means are necessary.

soda

If you wash pans or plates in the sink, then these residues are from fat. It develops particularly quickly unpleasant odors, which can not be removed without tools. Add to this the fact that the grease forms deposits that can clog the pipe. The runoff deteriorates and the odor nuisance increases even further. So put two spoonfuls of soda in the drainpipe to counteract the stubborn blockages. Work as a precaution and clean the pipe regularly. It is important that you allow the soda to work a little and then rinse with warm water.

Baking soda and vinegar

If vinegar and baking powder meet, then a chemical reaction occurs, which can be used for cleaning the pipe. If you have cleared the drainpipe, then you have also eliminated the source of the odor. Pay attention to this method for some safety precautions. You can also use this procedure if the deposits have already affected the water drainage. A quick reaction in this case often prevents the use of a craft and thus high costs.

Materials:

Depending on severity:

  • 0.5 liters to 1 liter of vinegar
  • 0.5 to 1 packet of baking soda

Method:

  1. In the shower, you can often easily open the access to the drainpipe. If this is the case, then enlarge the opening as much as possible. Otherwise skip this point.
  1. Remove visible and easily accessible contaminants such as soap residue.
  1. Put the baking powder in the drainpipe.
  1. Pour the vinegar into the tube. There is now a bubbling and gargling, as the two agents react with each other. This is a good sign. If the noise settles too fast, you can tip some warm water so that the mixture spreads optimally in the pipe and reaches the right places.
baking powder
  1. Leave the mixture to work for about 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Reaction with vinegar

Precautions:

  • Do not cover the opening of the drainpipe, as gas is generated and the gases have to escape.
  • Avoid contact with the mixture and do not breathe in the vapors if possible.
  • Open the window in the kitchen or in the bathroom.

Use vinegar or dishwashing liquid
The mixture of baking soda and vinegar is very effective and ensures the dissolution of deposits. However, if these are still soft, then it is often sufficient to use vinegar alone. Alternatively, dishwashing detergent is also suitable. Both utensils are quick to hand and the use is relatively straightforward. Therefore, this method is especially well suited if the odor development is easy and has just begun. Put about 0.2 liter of vinegar or detergent into the sink, sink or shower. Wait a moment and rinse with a little warm water. The exposure time should now be at least 1 hour, but the funds can also remain overnight in the tube. After this time rinse thoroughly so that no residue remains. Now the smell should have subsided and the water drainage should have improved.

drain pump

You will find various utensils in the trade with which you can improve the water drainage. One possibility is the drainage pump. These draw up with water and put them on the access to the drainpipe. Now pump the water into the pipe. As a result of the resulting pressure, deposits can be released, the water drainage improves and the drain no longer stinks.

plastic bottle

In the sink, shower or sink you can often fight deposits with a plastic bottle. If the odors from foodstuffs, hair or other objects that have become stuck and become rotten start to form, then they can be removed by building up pressure. Empty a 0.5 liter bottle or a 1 liter bottle for this purpose.

Tip: The plastic should be pressed together well. Due to the wall thickness, there are differences between individual bottles.

Method:

  1. Step: Check that the opening of the plastic bottle covers the access to the drainpipe. If the mouth of the bottle is too small, cut off a part of the neck of the bottle so that a cover is made.
  2. Step: If the sink or sink has an overflow, close it with a damp cloth. This is important so that enough pressure can build up.
  3. Step: Fill the bottle with water.
  4. Step: Press the plastic bottle onto the drain and squeeze it vigorously to force the water into the tube. Now let go and repeat the process several times. The building pressure and vacuum brings movement into the system and deposits can be solved.

Pümpel

If the drainpipe not only stinks, but also leads to poorer drainage, then a pool is helpful. This removes tight foreign objects. If these are stuck in the pipe, then it often comes to an odor caused by rotting and cooking.

Tip: Pümpels are suitable in different sizes and should be selected for the sink in the kitchen or the shower and the sink in the bathroom in a small version.

  1. Step: Remove any existing sieve and visible remains of soap.
  2. Step: Close the overflow with a damp cloth.
  3. Step: Put about a cup of warm water in the access to the drainpipe.
  4. Step: Place the pool on the drainage hole so that it is well closed. Now fill with water until the red head of the suction cup is covered.
  5. Step: Jerk the pond down and up without releasing it from the drainpipe. It creates pressure and back pressure, so that the deposits can be solved. Repeat the up and down movements several times in succession.

Hot water with soap

With a slight odor, warm water can help with soap. To do this, heat around one liter of water on the stove and add a little soap to the liquid. Tilt the water slowly into the drain.

Tip: Especially with ceramics, make sure that the water is not too hot, so that no damage occurs. As a rule of thumb, the water should be about the temperature of a tea.

Clean the siphon

The siphon accumulates residues that create unpleasant odors. Therefore, it may be necessary to clean the siphon. You have to remove it for this and clean it with a cloth or a wire brush.

Required items:

  • Wire brush or rag
  • special pliers
  • bucket
  • if necessary replacement seals

Method:

  1. Put the bucket under the siphon. This is necessary because water has accumulated in the siphon. Through the bucket you catch the water.
  2. Unscrew the siphon with the pliers. He is attached to one near the wall and the other to the pool. Pay attention to the seals. Remove them and keep them for later.
Unscrew the siphon

Tip: Often, the seals are already damaged or suffer damage when unscrewing. Take the opportunity and exchange them for replacement seals. These are already available at a low cost in the hardware store.

  1. Clean the siphon under running water with the wire brush or cloth.
  2. Screw the siphon back on. Replace the new or old seals.

denture cleaners

Denture cleaners are available in the form of tablets. They dissolve stubborn deposits in the pipe and thus remove the cause of the odors. Their advantage is that they are easy to use and very effective. You will need around 3 to 5 tablets and a small rod.

Method:

  1. Remove any sieve from the drain and visible residue from soap, hair or food scraps.
  2. Pour the tablets into the drain and, if necessary, crumble them with the stick. If the tablets are too hard for this, then you can use a little water for softening. Rinse now with a small dash of warm water, so that the tablets get into the drain.
  3. Let the denture cleaner work for around 1 hour. It comes here to a slight frothing and bubbling, which is normal. Rinse well afterwards.

Tip: Make sure that there are no residues of the denture cleaner in the sink, shower or sink, as this is harmful to your health. Also do not touch the dissolved tablets or touch the dry tablets with wet hands.

Preventive measures

Often in the shower hair and in the sink food scraps are responsible for the smell. To prevent the debris from entering the drain and stinking, use sieve inserts . These are sieves, which are available for the drains. They are easy to insert, remove and clean.

Tips for quick readers:

  • Use chemicals
  • warm water with soap
  • Fill the drainpipe with vinegar and baking soda
  • Pümpel use in incipient blockages
  • Use plastic bottle as an alternative to Pümpel
  • Use soap, dish soap or vinegar
  • Allow the denture cleaner to take effect
  • Unscrew and clean the siphon
  • Use salt for cleaning
  • Preventive use of sieves
Instructions: Remove verdigris - gentle and lasting
Simple Christmas crafts for kids with instructions