Why Your Kitchen Sink Smells Even After Cleaning? Causes & Solutions

Why Your Kitchen Sink Smells Even After Cleaning? Causes & Solutions

Although cleaning a kitchen sink regularly, washing the surface, drains area and removing visible dirt, the undesirable odor may still happen and get you annoyed to check for the source continuously. The reason for this issue is that the smell is generated from internal kitchen pipes, garbage or grease, or the plumbing system. Understanding the possible causes for your smelly kitchen sink is the key to thoroughly resolving the issue.

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Reasons for Smelly Kitchen Sink After Cleaning

The cleaning of the kitchen sink only clears the visible trash, but not those wastes generated inside the drain. Hence, the following issues may happen: • Food waste inside drain pipes • Grease buildup in drainpipes • Dirty sink trap • Internal pipes bacteria • Blockage or slow kitchen drain • Dry trap • Improper venting Therefore, if the smell continues after the cleaning of your kitchen sink, there must be some imbalances in your home’s plumbing system.

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1. Food Particles Stuck Inside the Drain Cause Smell

Some food particles may adhere to the drain while cleaning or washing cooking utensils. When these wastes are accumulated in the internal drain pipes, foul odors will be generated. Other indications may include foul smell in the kitchen water, slow water flowing from the kitchen faucet, dirty wastewater, and frequent blockage. Hence, it is important to regularly clean the drain cover and avoid food waste sticking to it.

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2. Grease and Oil Build Up in the Drain Pipes

Disposing cooking oil, grease, and fat into the kitchen sink is one of the major reasons why the drains will smell. These wastes will combine with other particles and adhere to the inner walls of the drain pipes, therefore, generating foul odors. Moreover, the accumulation of these unwanted substances can block the water flow and lead to frequent plumbing issues. Therefore, avoid disposing cooking oil, fat, and grease into the kitchen sink.

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3. Dirty Sink Trap Causes Drain Odor

The sink trap is the curved part located under your kitchen sink needed to store water and avoid unpleasant sewer odors from coming back. However, food waste, grease, soap deposits, and dirt can also be trapped, therefore, contributing to bad odors. Cleaning the trap area will help to get rid of bad smells.

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4. Bacteria Growing in the Drain

Bacteria can accumulate and grow rapidly in damp and dark drain pipes, creating unpleasant smells. In addition, these microorganisms can consume the waste matter in the drain, hence, producing foul odors. Although the kitchen sink area and its surrounding place may look clean and tidy, the drain pipe waste matters are still potential sources of bad smells. It is important to perform regular maintenance in order to keep the kitchen sink area clean and free from harmful bacteria growth.

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5. Blocked or Slow Kitchen Drain Contributes to Bad Odor

Having a slow kitchen drain indicates that your home’s plumbing system may have some severe issues. The signs may include slow water flowing from the kitchen faucet, gurgle sounds coming from the drain, water backup occurrences, and foul odors. Partial blockage in the drain can contribute to the accumulation of wastewater and garbage, hence, creating unpleasant smells. For severe blockage problems, contacting a professional plumber is always the best solution.

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6. Kitchen Sink Trap Gets Dry

When the kitchen sink is not used for a long time, the trap may run dry. The lack of water in the trap area will allow sewer gases to enter into the house, therefore, generating unpleasant smells. This situation generally occurs in an empty house, guest kitchen, or seldom-used sinks. Making sure that water constantly runs from the kitchen sink is an effective way to prevent dry traps.

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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Kitchen Sink Odor

The following solutions are practical and affordable ways to get rid of your kitchen sink odor. However, make sure that harsh and toxic drain cleaners are not regularly used since they can damage the internal plastic parts of your sink: • Flush the drain with hot water • Clean the drain cover regularly • Avoid allowing food waste to stick to the drain area • Do not dispose oil and grease into the kitchen sink • Apply baking soda and vinegar periodically • Clean the kitchen sink trap when necessary

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When to Call a Professional Plumber?

Calling a professional plumber is highly recommended if the foul smell cannot be resolved even after cleaning the kitchen sink and drain area. Hiring a professional is a good option if there are slow drains, numerous drain odor problems, cases of wastewater backups, strange gurgling from the drains, or if you have suspicions about the drain's conditions. A licensed plumber will be able to inspect and resolve the major cause of the foul smell. Gigwell offers reliable plumbing services in Morbi, such as drain cleaning, kitchen plumbing, pipe repair, water leak repair, and others for residential and commercial buildings.

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How to Prevent Kitchen Sink Odor Issues

The following practical solutions can prevent further odor developments: • Avoid throwing food wastes into the kitchen drain • Do not dispose oil and grease into the kitchen sink • Regularly clean drain strainers • Make sure that the running of water is not hindered • Periodically clean the kitchen drainage system • Tackle slow kitchen drain problems as soon as possible The proper maintenance of a kitchen sink drain will prevent costly plumbing repairs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why after cleaning my kitchen sink, it still smells? What causes kitchen drain smell? Can Grease Cause Kitchen Sink Smell? How can I get rid of my kitchen drain smell?

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Conclusion

The foul smell of a kitchen sink after cleaning indicates a major plumbing issue in your house. It is essential to properly and completely clean all of the drain parts, in order to prevent odor developments. Moreover, avoiding throwing food wastes and grease into the kitchen sink drain will also prevent unpleasant smells. Hence, a well-maintained and clean kitchen sink drainage system will guarantee a healthy and pleasant kitchen environment.