How do I get rid of a musty smell in my kitchen sink drains?

Question

My husband used some power plunger thing and blew out the pipes in our kitchen, now there is a musty smell sometimes from the drains. Is there something still in the drains? Any ideas on how to get rid of the smell?

Thank you all! What a helpful section. I think I'll hang out here instead of Religion and Spirituality. They get really intense!

Answer 1

I would be curious to know why he "blew the pipes out". if there was a clog, there still my be some debris of sorts in the trap of the sink drain pipe. Removing that, cleaning it out and re-installing it so it is clear and free-flowing might help.

If there were guck from other areas of the pipe, you might need to put in some baking soda on a regualr basis for a few days. Try three times a day for three days.

If you can get a bottle brush down the drain hole, try cleaning that as thoroughly as you can.

if you remove the trap to check it for cleanliness, you can scrub the sink/drain pipe at that time.

Those three things should eliminate any strange smells.

-Oh, and one other thing. Make sure with a visual check under the sink that nothing got "blown out" of the pipes into the cabinet.

Mike

Answer 2

As everyone say here... get rid of the moisture. Mold needs two things to grow: moisture levels at or above 60% and organic matter it feeds on. You use the basement as a bedroom, therefore you can't eliminate all the organic matter. Your only option is to keep moisture levels down by running a dehumidifier. Other than that, no matter how much you clean, (and how toxic are the substances used to do it) the mold will just keep coming back. I would also recommend you get rid of the carpet, as even the driest basement has moisture from the ground consistently seeping through the concrete. The carpet soaks it and favors mold growth as well. It is also a good idea to check the insulation behind the drywall. If it is fiberglass and it is moist, it will also grow mold and lose all of its R-value. In other words, get rid of the moisture and don't have anything that can soak up moisture against concrete floor or walls. I am sorry to inform but there is no cheap fix for the problem. What is already contaminated by mold, has to come off. Besides the smell, even the non toxic forms of mold are know to cause breathing problems and trigger allergy symptoms. Not a good thing to have around.

Answer 3

Boat Sink Drain

Answer 4

First load up the ice and grind it up in the disposal, this will remove, scrape the surfaces of particles that grow and smell. Then use any of the bleach/ the backing soda etc....... of your choosing. If you are expecting guests and are preparing food etc. ,there will be odors, load it up with ice and it will keep the bacteria from growing and smelling. Ensure there is an 'S' trap in place. The S trap holds water and that is the seal between the sewer and your sink drains. After drain work there is always residual smells, this is normal.

Answer 5

If you have a disposable, eat an orange, but save the peals and put them down the sink. It gives a nice smell. And it won't ruin your disposable. Use a lot of peals for a more intense smell.

Answer 6

Try Vinegar it cleans everything. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for an hour or so before you rinse it down with water. It works on all the stinky drains on my boat.

Answer 7

Lemon juice down the drain. And if you have a disposal, grind a lemon in it. You may need to use ice cubes afterward in the disposal...it helps sharpen the blades.

Answer 8

Vinegar and baking soda helps to kill any mildew smells coming from your sink. Although vinegar doesn't smell very good, it does go away after a few minutes.
I clean my floors with vinegar. It works great!

Answer 9

If you have a garbage disposal in the sink grind up some orange or lemon peels. If no disposal go for the bleech or the like.

Answer 10

Coca cola works really well. Tip a bottle down and leave for a couple of hours. It also unblocks drains too.