what can I put down my shower drain to stop the bad smell?

Question

a bad smell comes out of the drain everytime you get in the shower and turn the water on

Answer 1

Don't use straight baking soda it's a trick from the manufacturer. When you run the water is will of course wash out the drain pipe. Try to clear the drain out with solution of vinegar AND baking soda or use a snake. What you smell is probably caked on the inside of the drain pips.

Answer 2

Good day Cyberdeb.We have this problem at work too.Our trap has seperated slightly,allowing the water in the trap to leak out.The trap is there for a reason,it stops the methane gas from backing up hill into the drain pipe line and into your house.This could be the problem that you are experiencing.There is another possibility though,in that ,you might have a build up of scum on the shower side of your trap.which would be preferable because you can deal with this problem easily and inexpensively.Most shower stalls have easy access drains.By simply taking a screwdriver, you can turn the drain catcher to the left and it will pop right out and you can look down the hole for any hairballs and scum build up,and begin to clean the offending mess.Plus while your at it, you can also send a snake down the hole to clean up the line while the access is there.Now here is the interesting part.There is a substance called enzymes that my company uses that generates the breaking down of the scum buildup in the trap and right up to the highest point of the water level in the trap.The substance is non toxic and surprisingly has a very nice almost flower like aroma and is in no way harmfull to breath in.Pour in a couple of ounces after you have completed your" hairball removal operation",and let it sit for as long as you like.It will begin to break down any scum buildup in the trap and will also work on the pipes further down if it is let to sit in between showers.We put 2 to 3 ounces in every sink and drain pipe in the plant once a month simply for preventative maintenances purposes.

Answer 3

I'll bet you have hair caught in your drain and/or p-trap. That's what the smell may be. You need to remove it or find a product that will dissolve it. Also, there should be a vent on the drainage system that may for whatever reason be plugged. Check that also. Or, the plumbing may be wrong and there never was a p-trap installed. But I doubt it. Good luck with it.

Answer 4

I've used Oxy-Clean. I just poured a scoop of the crystals right down the drain. It foamed up and out of the drain, dragging the gunk that had been clinging to the walls with it.

Perhaps the foaming drain cleaners would work in this same manner? Drano offers a foaming variety.

Answer 5

What I do is take a Tbls of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Then put some vinegar down the drain.

The chemical reaction will clear any clogs and make it smell a lot better!

Bob

Answer 6

It's probably a big plug of moldy, mildewy hair and sloughed-off skin! Find out how to take apart the tub drain (go to a site like DIY.com for pictures), if you don't already know. Pull out the drain mechanism and try not to gag as you also haul out what looks like a dead, rotting mongoose! Then clean it out w/lysol, bleach or baking soda (that absorbs odor).

If THAT doesn't work, your drain might not be properly vented, or worse, hooked up improperly to the main sewer drain (so gases come back up). Have a plumber check this out.

Answer 7

The water in the drain-trap evaporates, and allows methane to fill the space. When you turn on the water, you stir up the methane, and smell it. Take more frequent showers to ensure the drain-trap doesn't evaporate, or pour some water down there every few days.

It is possible that you have NO drain trap, and you will get methane in your shower no matter what you do.

Answer 8

Do you have a leak on your seize? the main consumer-friendly reason for this smell is an empty seize mixed with undesirable venting. Have a chum who lives interior of sight come with the help of two situations/week to run water interior the sink for some seconds.

Answer 9

Are you on sewer or septic? How old is your plumbing? and can you get the drain cover off?
If you have hair, ect plugging/ stinking and you can't get the cover off, try running a wire/old wire hanger to pull out the hair.
If you got sewer gas coming up...oops!

Answer 10

Sounds like a missing p-trap. Or, one that is incorrectly done.
Call a plumber.