Help!! Stinky Kitchen Sink

docsgirl · ‎03-09-2010

I'm embarrassed to ask this question but I'm desperate. I purchased a 23 year old condo and the sink double sink is the original. I keep it clean and run the garbage disposal daily. I keep pieces of citrus inside the drain but both sides give off a horrible odor. I have one of those long skinny brushes that are made specifically for cleaning drains. I push the brush inside and scrub but nothing comes out. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I might remedy this yukky problem? Thank you very much in advance.

docsgirl

MsLomo · ‎03-09-2010

Yes, that happened to me, too. My plumber told me to clean the garbage disposal about every 3 - 4 weeks, like this: Fill one of those large plastic red cups with ice 3 times and use something long-handled, such as a spatula handle, to push the third cup of ice down in the disposal (while the disposal is "off"). After the 3 cups of ice are in the disposal, turn on the cold water and turn on the disposal. It will be noisy, and it may seem as if the water in the sink is not going to drain, but all of the "gunk" backed up in the disposal will suddenly unclog with a whoosh. Run cold water in both sinks for a minute or two after turning off the disposal. That should take care of it.

If the odor persists, you could have a leak or break in the pipe underneath so that the waste from the disposal is dumping underneath the floor. This happened to me. In that case, call a plumber ,who will repair the leak or break and put down some lime to get rid of the smell.

Hope that helps!

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

Old school is the way to go.....

"Use Baking Soda & Vinegar. For a really good clean to remove really putrid stenches, pour some of that baking soda into the disposal (about a half cup) and follow it with vinegar."

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

pattypeep · ‎06-06-2011

All good suggestions. I pour clorox down my drains once a month or so aside from regular cleaning.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea-Robert A. Heinlein

AKgirl2 · ‎05-24-2016

@docsgirl wrote:
I'm embarrassed to ask this question but I'm desperate. I purchased a 23 year old condo and the sink double sink is the original. I keep it clean and run the garbage disposal daily. I keep pieces of citrus inside the drain but both sides give off a horrible odor. I have one of those long skinny brushes that are made specifically for cleaning drains. I push the brush inside and scrub but nothing comes out. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I might remedy this yukky problem? Thank you very much in advance.
docsgirl

The baking soda and vinegar works well. I also throw a few thinly sliced pieces of lemon, lime of grapefruit into disposal every few days...it cleans the blades and naturally freshens things up. Ice cubes with water running and disposal on til grinding stops works well to clean blades and mouth of disposal as well.

Havarti · ‎03-08-2014

All of these are really good tips! Also, beside to clean the underside of the liitle black flaps on your garbage disposal. The gunk that can build up under there can create a smell, yet you never see under there to know it is ucky. Hope these tips help you. If not, I buy a garbage disposal cleaner & brush from Fuller (I always got it here at QVC but don't know if they still carry it).

Snarky responders need not reply. Move along and share your views elsewhere.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

I had the same thing when I moved in this house - I tried everything inc. the crushed ice thing....smell was driving me crazy!

I had plumber come in and the waste line was "lined" with un-disposed waste. I had another put in (badger model bought at Lowes $149) he installed all new waste lines in my kitchen, including dishwasher lines (I never knew the dishwasher water disposed thru that line to).

Anyway, I am here 4 years and no smell yet!!😸You may have to replace the disposal - eventhough it runs it may be "old & tired" and not performing the way it should.

aubnwa01 · ‎03-09-2010

I now have a large single drain sink, but when i bought my house 10 years ago, it had a double sink & the drains smelled really awful. Not sure what the previous owner had done ,but it reeked.

I scrubbed out the inside with the disposal & the underside of the gasket, but the other drain still smelt. I bought some disposal cleaner that you pour in running hot water with the disposer running & it would foam up into both sink drains & then I'd turn off the water & disposer & walk away & leave it overnight. I also used a grease cutting dish soap like Dawn with hot water & would use that to clean the sink & it would cut whatever gunk was down there.

It eventually stopped the smell & then, I got the large single drain sink, so that eliminated the 2nd drain. I can remove the disposal gasket & wash it in the dishwasher, plus i still use a lot of Dawn, so it cuts the grease & tends to keep the drains cleaner, so no stench anymore. I keep a small 16 oz. spray bottle by the sink with a diluted solution of blue Dawn & water & use it to clean the sink & rinse dishes before i put them in the DW, so that's helped, too.

docsgirl · ‎03-09-2010

Thank you all for taking time to reply with such great ideas. I'll be trying them until I find the one that works. It just might be, as one poster suggested, that it's so old and needs to be replaced. We'll see what happens. I'll post back with results. Once again, thanks so much.

docsgirl

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

@Mz iMac wrote:
Old school is the way to go.....

"Use Baking Soda & Vinegar. For a really good clean to remove really putrid stenches, pour some of that baking soda into the disposal (about a half cup) and follow it with vinegar."

Totally agree!