Every now and then, you will run into some unacceptable smells coming from your drains. These odors can linger and leak out of the original room, stinking up other rooms in the process. Eliminating these smells can be a somewhat easy process, and you can prevent those smells from happening again in the near future.
What Causes the Odor?
When you shower, body oils, dead skin, and daily grime is washed off of you and goes down the drain. If it becomes trapped in the bends of the pipes, bacteria and fungus can start to grow causing a very onion-like smell that can become worse as you continue to take showers or use the drain.
The more build up of clogged material you have in the drain, the worse the smell will be. If left untreated over a long period of time, it can potentially start to corrode your pipes and cause a lot of issues when it comes to sanitization and overall cleanliness.
Hair is one of the most common culprits of clogged drains, and once hair gets caught other debris will pile up on top of it. Over time it can completely clog your drain leading to other issues such as stagnant water, mold growth, soap scum stains, and other issues that may lead to needing a professional plumber to remedy.
Remove the Odor
Once you have located the source of the odor, there are various ways you can attempt to remove it. The first and most obvious option would be to remove the clog. You can do this with a manual soft plastic strip that goes into the drain, hooks hair, and pulls it out.
If this doesn’t work, you can use commercial clog removers, or give homemade mixes a try. A vinegar and boiling water mixture can help neutralize the odor while also loosening up limescale and calcium buildup on the pipes.
Commercial clog removers can be found in most department stores and home improvement stores. They are much more powerful than homemade remedies and can be used to take care of extremely difficult clogs and very strong odors.
Preventing Future Odors
After using your choice of method to remove the clog and clear up the drain, there are some ways you can prevent the issue from recurring. White vinegar is one of the best and most affordable preventative options to use on a regular basis.
Once per week, pour two cups of white vinegar into the drain and let it sit for up to 30 minutes. After the time is up, pour boiling hot water down the drain to rinse away any buildup that may be forming on the pipe walls.
Vinegar is high in acidity and will kill fungus, many types of bacteria, and can neutralize odors in short order. If you’re struggling with a recurring onion odor coming from your drain, using vinegar can be a quick and effective way to prevent it from happening again.
