General Chat

I dissolve " Simply" in hot water first, in a empty Simply container....
have two or three already prepared to go....stopped using conditioner years ago be cause it clogs up the vent tubes

I stopped using the pods in the washing machine and dishwasher

Googling found they didn’t dissolve completely and mould built up on the residue

Remember the long saga ridding the washer dryer of the awful smell

Good news, Florence!

I hope you don't have you don't have a return of 'The Pong '

Lizxx

Well peeps, sadly the smell returned. However daughter wen to a shop in town and bought what Maureen suggested Drain Buster or something similar. Poured the whole bottle down yesterday, left for 1/2 an hour then poured boiling water. it said then every week repeat once with 1/2 a bottle.

Got up this morning and amazingly the smell has definately gone, so no more nasty niffs.

Heres hoping whatever the problem was this stuff has got rid of it.

Florence in the hebrides

Why not put some more soda into the plughole with a little boiling water so it sits overnight, Florence?

Lizxx

Well folks, the smell has almost disappeared after a few hours. I may do the soda again tomorrow just to make sure but its far better than it was this morning.

Thankyou for all your suggestions

Florence in the hebrides

I always use BUSTER sink unblocker pour down sink and leave for 1/2 hour then pour some boiling water down, about a kettle full if you have a sink plunger this helps or if not put in the plug and fill sink with water this should run freely and hopefully no smell. You can get Buster in Wilko or Aldi dont buy the cheaper brands they dont work.

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

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

I haven't tied it yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Good luck

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

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

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.