Do you smell something funky when you turn on the faucet in your bathroom sink? If so, don’t worry you’re not alone. Many people experience a weird smell from their bathroom sink, and it can be really frustrating. In this article, we will explore the causes of this smell and how to get rid of it for good.
What Causes The Smell In Your Bathroom Sink?
There are a few different reasons why your bathroom sink might smell like rotten eggs. These include:
- Bacteria build-up: One common culprit is a build-up of bacteria in the sink drain. When things collect at the bottom of the sink drain or when water sits in the sink for a long time, it can get warm and sweaty, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. This is also true for bathroom sink overflow holes that hasn’t been cleaned for a long time. This part of the bathroom sink is often overlooked when cleaning the sink making it a perfect residence for bacteria and gunk build up. This bacteria can cause a sulfuric smell that smells like rotten eggs
- Clogged sink drain: Another common cause is a clog in the sink drain. An accumulation of hair and soap residue hung over a month or two can rot into a putrid, bacterially rich sludge that clogs your pipes. This can trap odors and cause them to linger.
- Backed-up sewer line: Another possible culprit is a backed-up sewer line. If wastewater starts to back up into your bathroom sink, it will definitely smell bad. This happens when the main sewer line which is designed to carry all of the wastewater from your house gets blocked causing a backup into your bathroom sink.
- Dry p-trap: The p-trap is a curved pipe that is installed beneath the sink. It looks like a “P” shape when viewed from above, hence its name. The main function of the p-trap is to trap water and debris so that it does not enter into the drainage system. If this water and debris were allowed to enter into the drainage system, it could cause blockages or even damage pipes over time. The p-trap also contains water that prevents foul odors from escaping up through your bathroom sink drain and into your living space with regular use. If the bathroom sink sits unused for a long time, water in the p-trap dries up allowing foul smells into your bathroom.
If your sink smells like rotten eggs, it’s likely that one of these issues is the source of the problem.
5 Best Ways To Clean Your Bathroom Sink And Remove Any Lingering Smells
There are a few ways to clean your bathroom sink and remove any lingering smells. These include:
- using boiling water
- using plunger and boiling water
- using vinegar and baking soda mixture
- using hydrogen peroxide
- using specialized solutions
All of these methods are relatively easy and can be done with ingredients that you probably already have in your home. Let’s get into the details.
How To Remove Bathroom Sink Smell With Boiling Water
Boiling water is a chemical-free way to kill all the bacteria in your bathroom sink drain and get rid of any lingering smells. All you need to do is pour some boiling water down the drain and let it sit for a little bit. The steam will dissolve any organic material that might be causing the stink, including grease and soap scum.
Caution: Boiling water can be very hot and dangerous to handle, so take extreme caution when using it.
How To Remove Bathroom Sink Smell With Plunger And Boiling Water
If boiling water doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, you can try using a plunger and boiling water.
Step 1
Pour some boiling water down the drain
Step 2
Quickly place the plunger over the top of the sink and plunge up and down several times until suction is created. Hold this position for about 30 seconds, and then release. If there is any debris blocking your pipes, the plunger will push it loose and send it flowing down the drain.
Take extreme caution when using this method so you do not accidentally scald yourself with hot spilled liquid.
Step 3
Pour more boiling water down the sink drain to remove any remaining build-up.
Step 4
Remove the plunger and check to see if the smell is gone
Steps To Get Rid Of Smelly Bathroom Sink With Baking Soda And Vinegar
As established previously, bacteria build-up can give your sink that rotten egg smell. This bacteria can be eliminated by using a simple mixture of vinegar and baking soda. The combination of the two ingredients makes for a powerful cleaner.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive that will help to scrub away any dirt or grime, while vinegar helps to kill the bacteria and is also very effective at removing the smell from your bathroom sink. You should try this method if you’re looking for an easy way to clean without having to use any harsh chemicals.
Things Needed:
- Protective gloves
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup of baking soda
- Hot water
To clean your bathroom sink with vinegar and baking soda, follow the following steps:
Step 1
Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda into the sink drain
Step 2
Mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 cup of vinegar and pour the solution into the sink and let it sit for about 15 minutes. The baking soda and vinegar combination will cause a foamy bubbling reaction which helps in loosening the drain clog.
Step 3
Finally, pour hot boiling water down the drain again to flush out any remaining gunk build-up inside the sink drain that may be causing the foul smell.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide To Get Rid Of Washroom Sink Odour.
Another cheap and easy way to clear up bathroom sink smells is to use hydrogen peroxide. Just pour some into the drain, let it sit for a few minutes, then flush with hot water. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant that will kill any bacteria causing the smell and help clear out any gunk build-up in the sink drain.
Using Commercial Products To Resolve Smelly Washroom Sink
There are many off-the-shelf commercial products available that can help get rid of sink odor. These products work by using enzymes to digest the organic matter, breaking down the build-up of organic matter that is often the cause of bad smells. In addition, they also help to prevent the accumulation of future build-up, making it easier for you to maintain a smelly-free washroom sink.
The most common causes of a bad smell from your sink are usually surface-level problems. However, if you notice that none of the methods discussed above eliminates it after multiple tries then there might be deeper issues at hand and professional help is needed.
How To Prevent Your Bathroom Sink From Smelling In Future
Luckily, there are some things that can be done on a daily and regular basis to prevent your sink from smelling like rotten eggs. These include:
- Be careful as to what you put in your sink drain. Try to avoid anything that might cause a build-up, such as hair and grease.
- Clean your sink regularly with hot water and soap. This will remove any build-up of dirt or grease that may lead to bad smells.
- Repeat any of the above-mentioned methods on ways to clean our bathroom every week or two to help keep bacteria levels low and prevent bad smells from developing.
Final Words
When it comes to the smelly bathroom sink, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on cleaning products. The basic ingredients that you probably already have in your home can do wonders for getting rid of bad odors. So don’t fret if this problem is plaguing your household and try out. But remember to seek professional advice if the problem persists after trying out different methods mentioned above.