How to Clean a Smelly Drain
                     HOW TO 
CLEAN A 
SMELLY 
DRAIN
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Much to the chagrin of most homeowners in the GTA, smelly 
drains are hardly uncommon. That’s a fact in every city…but given 
the age and condition of most plumbing, we may well experience 
it more than just about anywhere else.
That being said, if you’ve been wondering how to get rid of 
smelly drains, there’s no need to fret. There’s a variety of 
methods that can help to alleviate your problem fairly quickly. 
When used in combination with each other, they are almost 
always effective. Before long your smelly drains should be back to 
their normal, non-odorous selves.
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COMMON CAUSES OF A SMELLY 
SINK DRAIN
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PIPE MATERIALS
What some people don’t realize is 
that the materials a pipe is made of 
can actually cause a smelly drain. The 
form of the pipe itself may degrade 
(think rust) or absorb other materials 
from the surrounding area. This can 
lead to a rather unpleasant smell.
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VENT ISSUES
Most house plumbing systems include 
vents that are meant to prevent foul 
sewer gases from seeping into the 
home. Unfortunately, these vents are 
not fool-proof—they can sometimes 
become fouled up, either by a 
blockage or perhaps another 
malfunction. When that happens, foul 
odours may emerge and cause a fairly 
smelly drain.
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TRAPPED FOOD AND 
GUNK
This is the big one. Whether it’s simply 
old food, bits of soap, or other pieces 
of debris, it’s not all too hard to end 
up with a serious blockage in your 
pipes. And unfortunately, even in 
cases where a serious build-up isn’t 
there, the mere presence of all that 
matter can attract bacteria that cause 
unpleasant smells.
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HOW TO CLEAN SMELLY DRAINS
The first thing to remember when cleaning out a smelly sink is that chemical drain 
cleaners ought to be a last resort. They can be tremendously effective…as well as 
tremendously damaging to your pipes. No need to go from a smelly kitchen sink 
straight to ruined pipes, and an even bigger headache. Here are a few other steps 
to try:
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BOILING WATER
It almost seems too simple, but 
sometimes a pot of boiling water may 
be all your drain needs to get back up 
and running. If that doesn’t 
immediately work, you might try 
following it up with a pot of ice-cold 
water, which can help to solidify 
materials still sitting in the pipe. Then 
try boiling water again.
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BAKING SODA AND 
VINEGAR
Where hot water fails, baking soda 
and vinegar can be your saviours. A 
good combination is one cup of baking 
soda down the drain, followed 
immediately by two cups of hot 
vinegar. The mix will bubble and fizz—
don’t worry, that means it’s working. 
Wait about an hour, then flush the 
whole thing with hot water from your 
tap.
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CLEAN THE P-TRAP
If boiling water, baking soda, and 
vinegar aren’t doing the trick, you may 
have to take things further. If you are 
handy, you might try cleaning out the 
P-trap, which is the s-shaped piece 
that connects your tailpipe to the wall 
outlet.
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Of course, this step is only for those with experience. The last 
thing you want to do when trying to avoid a frustrating smelly sink 
drain is to cause yourself a plumbing problem, and an even bigger 
headache. If you aren’t comfortable with this step yourself, you 
might consider reaching out to professionals.
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Preventing 
Smelly Drains in 
the Future
There’s no need to be constantly 
wondering how to fix a smelly drain, 
or how to get rid of smelly drains. 
As with most aspects of life, the 
best cure is a little prevention. Try 
including a little baking soda, 
vinegar, and boiling water 
treatment for your drains as part of 
your home maintenance routine. 
This can help keep your pipes free 
of debris, without causing damage 
in the long-term.
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THANK YOU!
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