Sometimes if your drains are not used for a while or perhaps, your garbage disposal, then you may start to smell a horrible odor. This is especially true in homes that stay empty for a while. This is common and does not always mean a bigger problem.
There are some steps that you can take to help remove the odor from your drains without much effort!
1. If you have a garbage disposal, start by running water along with it to try and rid some of the smell debris or water buildup left inside your disposal. Things like milk can cause a bad odor after some time. Make sure you always run the water for a few moments after you have turned off your garbage disposal. For more maintenance tips on your garbage disposal check out our “Quick fixes for Your Garbage Disposal”
2. If you have a lemon, squeeze half of one down the drain and cut up the remainder into smaller pieces and place inside the disposal.
3. Now, turn on the disposal again and let the grinder do its magic.
4. If you do not own a disposal let the lemon juice sit in the sink overnight without running the water. Do not put the rind down the sink unless you own a disposal as this will cause a clog.
5. You can also try ½ cup of vinegar and let it sit for a couple of minutes. After, run very hot water down the drain for about two minutes. After that, add some baking soda and leave it sit for at least an hour or more.
6. Run hot water.
This is usually all it takes to get the smells out of your drains. If you are still struggling, perhaps purchase a commercial drain cleaner. Bleach is another alterative to the vinegar but it is much stronger and should be used in a well ventilated area. This is sure to do the trick! Your kitchen will be smelling great again in no time.