Walking into a bathroom can be quite unpleasant when a terrible odor is lingering in the air.
Most property owners assume this smell is coming from the toilet but that’s not always the case. The smell can come from other fixtures in the bathroom including the sink.
If a bathroom sink smells when the water runs, you will have to figure out what the root cause is.
A bathroom sink can smell when the water runs if a foreign product has been rinsed down the drain (i.e. grease, food products, chemicals). These products might go into the drain, but can get trapped inside the pipe or spread along the walls of the pipes. It’s essential to use a comprehensive drain cleaner to get rid of the stench.
If you are someone that flushes everything down the bathroom sink, it’s highly recommended to avoid doing so.
This is not only dangerous but it can also lead to an unwanted smell spreading throughout the bathroom and surrounding rooms.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what you need to do if the bathroom sink smells when the water runs.
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Steps On How To Fix Stinky Bathroom Sink
1. Run Hot Water For 10-15 Seconds
The first step is to cleanse the sink and drain.
A smelly bathroom sink is unappealing and it’s important to run hot water to get rid of any debris that’s settled inside. This means letting the hot water run for at least 10-15 seconds.
By letting it run for a few seconds, it will be enough to prep the drain for your next step.
It’s important to note, if a bathroom sink smells, it is important to work on the sink itself. This means rinsing the sides of the sink and making sure it is as clean as it can be.
The reason is to make sure you are working from a strong starting point.
2. Pour Baking Soda + Vinegar Into Drain
If a bathroom sink smells like mildew, it becomes important to use this formulation.
Pour two cups of baking soda and one cup of vinegar into the drain. You will want to do this carefully and make sure the ratio is picture-perfect.
Do not change the ratio when doing this.
It’s also important to make sure you are pouring it directly into the drain and not onto the sides. This can leave quite a mess behind inside the bathroom sink, which is harder to clean.
Be patient and make sure to pour the two ingredients into the drain.
3. Wait an Hour
Now it is time to complete the waiting game.
When a bathroom sink smells bad, you are going to want to use baking soda and vinegar. While this is true, you have to make sure to wait at least an hour or so.
This will let the formulation settle and end up the way you want it to.
A person that does not do this is going to see below-par results. You have to allow the baking soda and vinegar to do their job.
In the meantime, you can look to clean other parts of the bathroom and let the formulation sit inside the drain.
4. Flush The Drain With Hot Water
The final step is to flush the drain with hot water.
This will ensure the formulation that has coated the inside of the drain is cleaned out. You will want to be methodical while doing this and make sure the water is piping hot.
Hot water tends to help loosen the debris that is stuck on the side of the drain. This is how you are going to get rid of the bathroom sink smell in your house.
If you feel the smell is fading but still there, it’s highly recommended to flush the drain with more hot water.
You can also repeat the process and attempt to clean the rest of the debris inside the bathroom sink.
Final Thoughts
This is how to fix a bathroom sink that smells when the water runs.
If you want to fix a bathroom sink that smells when the water runs, it’s important to note this smell comes from the debris inside the drain. This can include foods or chemicals lodged inside the drain causing the smell to come out when the water runs. The best solution is to rinse the drain and use baking soda plus vinegar.
This will make sure the drain doesn’t smell moving forward.
In a lot of cases, you will want to do this at least every 3-4 months as a way to keep the drain clean.
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