Drain odor: The 4 best household remedies for unpleasant odors

When the drain in the kitchen or bathroom emits an unpleasant odor, many people immediately reach for the chemicals. But that doesn't have to be the case, as household remedies are also effective against bad odors. We present four methods.

Leftover food, grease, hair or product residues from shampoo, shower gel and the like are usually the cause of this nasty stink. This is because they build up in the drain pipe and slowly rot away. Our four tips provide a remedy.

Baking soda and vinegar to combat bad odors

Baking sod a and vinegar are a real dream team against smelly drains. Simply add three tablespoons of baking soda and then half a cup of vinegar to the drain. Then immediately place a cloth over the drain. Baking soda and vinegar react chemically with each other, which you can hear from the bubbling noises coming from the drain pipe. Wait 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture has foamed up. Then rinse the drain with hot water - done!

Cola as a household remedy

Cola has also proven its worth in the fight against foul odors. Pour a liter of it down the drain and leave it to work overnight. Coke contains phosphoric acid. This etches away the deposits in the drainpipe. The next morning, rinse once with hot water.

Salt neutralizes the stench

Salt has a neutralizing effecton the nasty smell from the pipe. Simply pour two tablespoons of salt directly into the drain and leave to "work" for two hours. Then rinse thoroughly with cold water.

Soda against foul odors from the drain

Another household remedy has proven its worth in the fight against stubborn odors from the drain: Soda ash. As with salt, simply add two tablespoons to the drain, leave the product to work for half an hour and then rinse with cold water from the tap.

Causes of the foul smell

A bad-smelling drain can be caused by water standing in the siphon, the U-shaped pipe under the sink, for a long time. If the water supply is used irregularly, no new water is supplied, which is why the old water can develop odors. In the shower, it is often hair that gets caught and, in combination with soap residue, can cause an unpleasant smell.

Tip: To prevent bad odors from developing in the first place, it is best to always use drain strainers. These catch crumbs, fluff and hair before they enter the drain.