Drains in homes often get overlooked and we understand it is not the first thing you think about, however, upkeep and cleaning of drains are important to your health and home. Having an unruly smell that travels throughout your home is not pleasant for anyone and of course drains are located across the whole house, not just in the kitchen. The bathroom sinks, bathtubs, or showers all can suffer from an unpleasant drain smell.
What causes a smelly drain?
The simple answer and the most frequent problem are solid items make their way down the drains and cause a blockage, which over time causes the smell to build and make its way through your home. Hair, food, grease, and any non-soluble items that make their way down the drain may be causing an unpleasant smell. There are some common household items that can help alleviate these bad smells and leave your home smelling fresh.
Below are some top tips to keep your drains clean and smelling fresh.
1. Hot water
The easiest and most convenient way is to pour hot water down your drains. This is a cost-effective way to remove hardened dirt that could be causing smells to come from your drains. Do not waste your boiled water when you make a cup of tea or cook pasta, simply pop the excess down the drain rather than leaving it to go cold, make use of it! Plus, water is not toxic, so it is a fantastic way to help keep them clean and not damage your pipes.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the safest ways to clean drains that have been clogged by hair or other substances. Allowing it to rest down the drain, it will absorb the smell and dissipate it instead of letting it escape into your home. It helps break down dirt so that it can be easily removed from the drain without causing harm to your pipes. If you are going on holiday, it would be a clever idea to sprinkle some baking soda down the drain before you go!
3. White vinegar
White vinegar is another safe and natural way to clean your drains. It has antibacterial properties that can eliminate germs and bacteria in the pipes. And, as a bonus, it is a multi-purpose cleaner and can be used in many different areas of your home.
4. Lemon juice
The citric acid in lemon juice acts as an abrasive cleaner that can help reduce the amount of grime built up on the sides of your pipes. All you have to do is pour half a cup of lemon juice down the drain every week or so to help keep it clean and get rid of odours, leaving your home smelling fresh!
There are four easy and cost-effective methods that will help you tackle an unpleasant smell coming from any one of your drains. These can be great for a quick and inexpensive fix. However, should your smell persist, or they are a regular occurrence we would recommend having a drain specialist run drain smell diagnostics. Your drainage smells might not always be a simple fix as those above, but if you are concerned about any drainage problems, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01386 882324.
