General Chat

Can anyone advise me the best way to rid a really awful smell that comes up through the drain in my kitchen sink? I suspect that some food has gone down the plug hole and got stuck in the pipes and got stuck. It;s probably rotten and nothing I put down the sink will get rid of the smell. I have used bleach, cif and various other things.

I know I should really call a plumber who would turn the water off and then take the pipes in the cupboard under the sink apart and probably find the culprit!
However I simply cant afford to call a plumber out but neither am I knowledgeable enough to take the pipes apart etc. Besides which I can't bend down that far anyway
Can anyone suggest anything that might break up whatever is trapped in the pipes please?

Thanks

Florence in the hebrides

Washing Soda in boiling water poured down and left for a while works for me Florence. :-)

how much would you put in a pan? A good handful? or would you put it in the washing up bowl?

Hello vinegar & Soda mix together in a bucket 2 kettles boiling water good cup of vinegar. 4 tables spoons soda mix together pour into sink leave plug in then let it down good luck Barbara Flush out with boiling water

I usually use a large mixing bowl (plastic don't use metal) a large handful and about a couple of pints of water, I sometimes add a good splash white vinegar too

I also use washing soda. But be mindful that this could be he drains blocking. It would be worth getting someone to lift the cover for you and check

Thankyou for all your suggestions. I will get some washing soda tomorrow. If it diosnt work, then yes I shall have to get a plumber!

Thanks again

Florence in the hebrides

I just put washing soda directly into the plug hole then pour on a small amount of boiling water so that the mix just sits in the U bend of the pipe for a while.

Washing soda overnight in the pipe would be especially helpful, I would think.

Are other pipes / drains in the house working OK?
I was wondering if a high volume of rain has affected flow.

No the toilet and bath are fine Gwyn . Its just an awful smell coming through the plug hole in the sink. Daughter just tel so she is bringing the soda crystals later. I shall do what has been suggested and let you know tomorrow if it worked. If it doesnt, then I shall have to call a plumber. Was just trying to save a bit of money first and see if I could get rid of the problem.

Florence in the hebrides

Does your washing machine drain into the same pipes? If so could it be that causing the smell?

Good luck

No Ann washing machine pipe is near the front of house, otherside to sink.

My Mother in law had the same problem so hubby and I went to sort it out, it turned out to be where she only use the washing machine to spin dry everything and it was a build up of fabric conditioner which had gone off so we had to replace the pipes.

I had a similar problem with the washing machine and it too was the fabric softener not fully mixing and building up mould

Washing machine cleaners , bleach ,vinegar, several hot washes just reduced the problem

Lots of wipes around the seals etc got more gunk off even though it didn’t look there was any there
Several 90 degree washes with nothing in the machine and finally it did go ,and I have stopped using fabric softener

Have a water softener anyway as we are a hard water area

Washing isn’t as soft but dries ok

Only towels dry hard outside so they get tumble dried as I hate scratchy towels

I would use caustic rather then washing soda (they're not the same) but be VERY careful with it and wear plastic gloves.

Sounds like you need to use a plunger on it - always works for us ie run some water in sink then plunge it. Plunger diameter must be greater than sink hole. Usually cost 2 or 3 quid. Dont understand your reasoning when you say water needs to be turned off unless you've a unique type of system as normally waste pipes and water supply completely separate systems

bear in mind that if the sink has an overflow pipe the problem might be in that! not the u bend....

Have you undone the trap in the U bend and checked that as that catches a lot of bits and needs cleaning out regularly.

My sister uses white vinegar as a fabric conditioner - she now swears by it!

I haven't tied it yet.

Pat, that's where I think the problem is but I cant manage to do that myself. I have now made a solution of washing soda and hot water and poured down the sink. I wonder hoe long it takes to be effective?

Ron when I said turn off the water, I thought you had to do that before taking the pipes under the sink apart...but then again I'm no plumber and probably you dont. if the soda thing doesnt work, then yes I shall need a plumber to have a look.

Florence in the hebrides