A bad-smelling sink can make an otherwise clean kitchen feel off. The good news is that most sink odors come from simple buildup, not serious plumbing problems. These five methods address the most common causes and cover nearly every situation.
1. Flush the drain with very hot water
Grease and food residue often cling to pipes just out of sight. Running very hot water down the drain for a few minutes helps dissolve buildup before it starts to smell.
Do this once or twice a week, or anytime the sink starts to feel sluggish or sour. It’s the easiest preventative habit and often enough on its own for mild odors.
2. Use baking soda and vinegar for odor-causing buildup
This combination works because baking soda absorbs odors while vinegar breaks down grime inside the pipes.
Pour about half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let it sit for ten minutes, then flush with hot water. Repeat if the smell has been lingering for a while.
3. Clean the drain stopper thoroughly
Drain stoppers are one of the most common sources of sink odor and one of the most overlooked.
Remove the stopper and scrub it with warm water and dish soap. Use an old toothbrush to reach crevices where food and bacteria collect. If the smell is coming from trapped debris, you’ll notice an immediate improvement.
4. Freshen and clean with lemon
Lemon helps neutralize odors while leaving a clean, fresh scent behind.
If you have a garbage disposal, drop in lemon wedges and run it with water. If not, mix lemon juice with hot water and pour it down the drain. The natural oils help clean residue while deodorizing the pipes.
5. Kill stubborn bacteria with a diluted bleach rinse
If odors persist after cleaning, bacteria may be the cause.
Mix one tablespoon of bleach with one quart of water and slowly pour it down the drain. Let it sit for five minutes, then flush with hot water. Use this sparingly, as frequent bleach use can be hard on plumbing.
When these don’t work
If smells keep returning, the issue may be a dry P-trap, blocked vent, or hidden plumbing problem. At that point, cleaning won’t solve it, and a plumber should take a look.
Most sink odors aren’t permanent. With regular maintenance and a few simple habits, you can keep your sink smelling clean without much effort.
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