Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Drain & sewer smells

The kitchen sink smells

Easy · About 15 minutes

Where I am
A musty whiff comes up every time you run water.
Where I want to be
A sink that smells of nothing.
What's in the way
Food film is growing on the drain walls and the strainer.

Try this first, free: Run hot water and dish soap down the drain for a minute. Often that is all it needs.

The fix

  1. Take out the drain strainer and scrub it with soapy water.
  2. Pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of hot water.
  3. Wait a few minutes, then rinse with hot water.
  4. Keep a mesh strainer in the drain from now on.

What this won't fully fix: This clears the film in the first few inches of the drain. A smell from deeper in the pipes needs the landlord.

Safety first: Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia. The fumes are dangerous. If the smell stays, tell the landlord.

What to get

Mesh sink strainer on Amazon Bottle brush on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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