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Bad odors in the pipes are associated with poor hygiene. Conversely, a house that smells good is a well-maintained house. Even if everything is clean, bad smells send negative messages to the brain and they are unpleasant to bear. Is it necessary to dismantle the pipes to remove them? Here are the answers to your questions, tips and tricks to get rid of bad smells.
Causes of bad odors in drains
Bad odors are caused by a accumulation of waste in the pipelines. Their nature varies according to the part of the house concerned: hair, pieces of soap, grease, food crumbs, etc. Several natural solutions are to be tried before considering the dismantling of the pipes.
coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a deodorant efficient. In the fridge, it does wonders for eliminating stagnant fish or shellfish odors. It can be tested in a smelly drain.
Mix coffee grounds with boiling water to form a liquid paste, and pour 20 cl into the drain. Repeat the operation once a day for several days.
This trick is more to be used in regular maintenance than in intensive treatment of bad odors. If the result is not there, it is because waste is still stagnating in the pipe. You can then try other tricks to get rid of bad smells.
Expired plain yogurt
Leave a yoghurt to ferment for 5 days outside the fridge and empty it into the problem pipe. Run a little bit of water in it so that the yogurt flows to the smelly plug. Leave on for a night or a day. The active principle of this solution lies in the action of lactic acid bacteria which will gradually destroy the constituent elements of the smelly cork.
Sodium bicarbonate + white vinegar
Pour a tablespoon of baking soda down the drain and add a glass of white vinegar, preferably hot. Leave on for about 30 minutes. This mixture generates an effervescent chemical reaction. The gas released is carbon dioxide: it is therefore harmless to the lungs. After 30 minutes, you rinse with boiling water.
If the result is not there, you can replace the baking soda with concentrated soda crystals (anhydrous sodium carbonate). It is a stronger base and the result can possibly be better.
elbow grease
The use of the suction cup remains very effective in dislodging a stubborn clog of waste.
And if, again, you fail and the bad smells persist, then do not hesitate to dismantle the siphon (elbow part of the pipe under the sink or washbasin), above a basin. You will then probably have access to the dirt that generates the unpleasant odors. Clean upstream and downstream and screw correctly to avoid leaks.
Tips and best practices!
Rather than improvising as a plumber, it is better to avoid promoting the emanation of bad odors. It’s easy by following a few simple principles:
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- Pick up as much hair as you have fallen in the shower and put it in the trash.
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- After a meal, put any leftovers in the compost or in the trash to prevent food residue from ending up in the sink pipes.
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- If you have to throw away an egg white, do it in the trash. If you do it in the sink, run cold water over it for a long time to dilute it and eliminate it. Contact with hot water will solidify it and clog the sink.
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- Never pour oil or grease down the drains. Immiscible in water, they settle on the walls of pipes and freeze. In addition, they affect the proper functioning of treatment plants because they form a greasy film which limits the work of the bacteria in charge of water treatment.