Imagine the embarrassment when someone visits you for the first time and asks to use your washroom and you remember you have this smell in there that you cannot seem to get rid of. You will then begin to wish they had not needed to use the bathroom.
Apart from smells from the shower area and water closet, bathroom sinks can also smell like urine. It is a very common incidence. Getting rid of this urine-like smell can be tasking but it helps to know the root cause of the problem.
Let’s assume that no one is actually urinating in the bathroom sink, clogged pipes, gunk build-up, smell from soakaway, and cracked plumbing pipes can make your bathroom sink smell like urine.
You have a choice of solving this problem on your own using some DIY projects or paying a professional to do the dirty work, literally.
Reasons Why Your Bathroom Sink Is Smelling Like Urine
First of all, the smell that is like urine is some type of gas. Wet and dark areas are fertile grounds for bacteria. One such area is the bathroom, and by extension, the bathroom sink. When bacteria thrive in the bathroom sink and are left to grow, it produces this gas that smells exactly like someone peed into the sink and didn’t wash it.
Though this stench could be coming from the basin itself, it could also be from the plumbing leading to the sink. Here are some common causes of urine-like smell in your bathroom sink.
1. Smell From The Soak Away
A soakaway is a dug-up and concreted pit meant to collect used-up water from drains. As such, one reason your bathroom sink smells like urine may be the stench from the soakaway. A plumber explained to me that a bit of water needs to be trapped in the sewage pipe so it prevents air from coming from the soakaway into the sink.
If for some reason that water is not trapped in there or dries up, it allows the smell from the soakaway to travel up into the sink, thus, producing that smell like urine.
2. Dirt And Clogged Pipes
Another reason why your bathroom sink smells like urine may be because of the build-up of dirt. Most of us are in the habit of shaving or washing our hair in the bathroom sink. Aside from that, some people also push things down the sink that should have never gone down the drain.
If these items and strands of hair do not get completely washed out of the drain they get stuck in the pipes causing bacteria to form and grow over time. The occurrence of this begins to produce a stench, which is perceived as the smell of urine.
3. Gunk build-up
A nasty build-up of gunk in the drain pipe can also be a major cause of the urine-like smell. There can also be a build-up in the sink’s overflow channel. Gunk build-up is a result of bacteria living on decomposing hair, toothpaste, soap scum, old skin cells, and other debris in the drain.
Once present, it will definitely cause the bathroom sink to smell like urine.
4. Cracked Pipes
Following closely, for being another reason why your bathroom sink smells like urine, is cracked pipes. If the pipes leading to your bathroom sink have cracks somewhere on them, they will begin to leak water.
Now, the water from this leak accumulates over time and allows bacteria to form. When these bacteria grow and multiply, they cause a urine-like smell to come out of the sink.
5. Some Air Fresheners
I am sure you are surprised that what is supposed to leave a refreshing smell in your bathroom can be the reason why this pungent smell is in your bathroom sink. I will tell you how. One time, I bought an air freshener in tablet form. The packaging said to just drop it into your sink and as you keep using your sink, it continues to refresh your space until it sublimes.
Fast forward, I used it for a week and realized that despite the tablet being in my bathroom sink, my bathroom had that smell of urine. I deep-cleaned my entire bathroom! The minute I took that tablet out of my bathroom sink, it carried the smell along. I was stunned and peeved at the same time for wasting my money.
Solution To Get Rid Of The Urine Smell In The Bathroom Sink
How about saying goodbye to that smell from your bathroom sink? As mentioned earlier, you can call in a professional or try to fix it on your own. Before you employ the services of a plumber, however, try these remedies on your own.
1. Clean Your Sink After Use
Cleaning your sink after each use may help take the urine odor away. First of all, do not shave directly into the sink. You can lay a piece of fabric in the basin to collect all the shaven hair and discard it properly when you are done.
If you must wash your hair in the bathroom sink, it will be best to have a dedicated drain stopper or use a hair trap cover. This helps to keep all the shampoo, soap, and other dirt from clogging up your sink. That way, it will be easier to clean up afterward and the hairs will not go down the drain to potentially clog it and begin to produce a foul stench.
2. Unclog Your Drain
There are several ways to unclog a drain. One will be to disassemble the pipes beneath the sink and clean them. You can do this yourself with the right tools or get a plumber. You can use a drain snake to get out the clogs.
Another solution is to use hot water and a plunger. Boil some water and pour it down the sink. You can use the plunger to loosen the clog in the pipes. Afterward, use cold water to flush the sink.
3. Use Odor Neutralizers
Use odor neutralizers like baking soda, lemon, or vinegar to get rid of the smell in your bathroom sink. Baking soda and lemon work best. Simply pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into your sink, followed by some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes and then rinse it all away.
You can also use vinegar as an odor neutralizer too. Just pour a few tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into your sink and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use hot water to rinse it out of your sink.
4. Fix A No-Return Valve
If the smell is coming from the soakaway, you will need a plumber to fix the problem. The solution will be to buy a no-return valve to install in the sewage pipe to allow water to drain out of the sink. This valve will also prevent air or the smell from the soakaway from reaching the sink and causing an odor like urine.
5. Fix Cracks In The Pipes
If the smell is coming from a cracked pipe, you will need to repair or replace it. You will need a professional plumber for this job as it involves dismantling the pipes beneath your bathroom sink and checking the overall integrity of the drain pipes.
6. Be Selective With Air Fresheners
Because I experienced this, I will advise you not to buy just any air freshener on the market. Go for trusted brands. If you want to completely avoid these artificial deodorizers, you can simply ensure that your bathroom sink is frequently cleaned and your bathroom is well aerated.
Conclusion
Getting rid of the urine smell in your bathroom sink is not an impossible task. You can try some of the solutions listed above and find one that works for you depending on the cause of the smell. If nothing else works, it will be best to call in a professional plumber to help restore the functionality of your drain and get rid of the stench. In addition, always make sure to keep your sink clean and aerate your bathroom often.