How to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh with Regular Drain Cleanings

You clean your kitchen and bathroom, empty the trash, and it is still there – that smell!  Where is it coming from?  Your pipes!  If you have a mysterious smell that won’t go away, even with cleaning, it could be because your drain smells bad and that smell is spreading throughout the room or your entire home!  But, fortunately, all is not lost.  There are a few easy and effective ways to keep your drain clean and odor free.  Below are some tips for keeping your home smelling its best with regular drain cleanings.

Baking Soda, Vinegar & Hot Water

Baking soda is a powerful and common household ingredient that can be used throughout the home, including down the drain!  Baking soda has natural deodorizing abilities.  Begin by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain.  Allow the mixture to sit and bubble (a natural reaction between baking soda and vinegar) for approximately 10 minutes.  Once the 10 minutes have passed, grab a pot of boiling hot water and carefully pour it down the drain.  This will help flush out the baking soda and vinegar mixture as well as other dirt, oil, and debris.

Ice & Salt

The garbage disposal in your sink is a common source of odor in your home.  Food can get stuck in the blades and begin to smell over time.  Fill the drain with 2 cups of ice and 1 cup of salt.  Then, turn on the disposal and run the cold water until the ice is gone.  The salt will slow down the ice’s natural melting and provide additional grit to help clean out the garbage disposal.

Citrus Rinds

Citrus has a great smell and it can also be a good tool for getting rid of drain odor.  Whether you choose lemon, orange, or grapefruit (or a combination), peel and drop the rinds into the drain.  Then, run the garbage disposal with running water and allow the natural scent of citrus to help clean and deodorize your drain.