DIY expert shares the 5 hacks to remove that ‘rotten egg smell’ from your sink & how to unblock your sink in minutes
THERE’S nothing worse than a smelly sink that makes your whole kitchen stink, but thankfully for you, you’ve come to the right place if yours needs some TLC.
According to a DIY expert at Drench, a smelly sink is usually caused by bacteria build up from grease, fat and food which have been flushed down the drain in kitchens, as these will then get stuck in the pipes causing the “rotten egg smell.”
Tom Drake shared his five quick and easy tips, to get rid of the nasty smell from your sink, including his free tip that works within minutes, with barely any faff involved.
Boiling water
The first method that Tom recommends is using boiling water.
To banish any grim smells, simply boil the kettle and then pour some boiling hot water down the drain.
Wait for five minutes and then pour an equal amount of cold water down.
Tom said: “This should force any remaining grease to congeal and hopefully clear the blockage and the smell.”
Plunger
Next, Tom advised people to use a plunger to clear a “smelly drain.”
The pro recommended: “Simply place the plunger cup over the basin drain and pump vigorously up and down for at least a minute to remove any small blockages.
“Finally, repeat the boiling water flush to remove any remaining congealed build up.”
White vinegar
If you don’t have a plunger, Tom also recommended using a small amount of white vinegar.
This will stop any blockages getting too severe and causing more permanent or expensive issues.
He instructed: “Pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain, let it stand for 30 minutes, then rinse with hot water.”
Caustic soda
As well as this, Tom also recommended using caustic soda, (sodium hydroxide).
Tom explained that this is “very effective” for unblocking sinks and plug holes.
He said: “This substance has fantastic degreasing properties meaning it can break down grease and fat, which are the most common cause of a blocked drain.”
For this method, Tom recomends creating a 10 percent solution of caustic soda, by simply dissolving 100g of the crystals into one litre of water.
The expert said: “Simply pour the 10 percent solution down the drain and let it get to work. It is recommended to leave caustic soda to work its magic for around half an hour to break down any deposits in the sink.
“When five minutes has passed, slowly run some water into the sink, increasing the water pressure.”
Check the U-bend
The final method that Tom urges people to do is to check for any blockages in the U-Bend of the sink.
U-bend traps are found underneath the plug hole of bathroom basins and baths and are usually filled with water to prevent drain odours from escaping.
Tom said: “The easiest way to clear an obstructed U-Bend is to remove any blockages from it. This can be done by carefully removing the u-bend pipe using a wrench and emptying the containing water.
“With the aid of a wire brush and a flush of warm water any remaining residue can be easily swept away.”