July 13th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

At some point or another, you’ve probably had to deal with the issue of smelly drains around your home, whether it’s an outdoor drain or the kitchen sink – unfortunately, odour builds up and it can be tricky to get rid of and while cleaning drains can be an unpleasant task it is something that you should take time to do, after all, cleaning and maintaining your drains will help to prevent blockages, damage to pipes and of course odour.

What's in my drain that needs to be cleaned out?

We use our drains every day – multiple times a day for all kinds of things, from washing laundry to cleaning ourselves, preparing food and then washing dishes and each time we do these things small particles from hair, soap scum and food particles go down the drain along with the water. However, they don’t always make their way completely through the drain. This can then lead to a build-up which can lead to a whole array of issues from blockages to bad smells.

We know it can be easy to forget to clean areas that aren’t always visible but just because they cannot be seen doesn’t mean the mess isn’t still there. This is why it is so important to take time clean our pipes and drains. So how do you tell if your drains need a deep clean and how do you go about doing it? Well, there are tell-tale signs that your drains may need some care and we will take a look at them throughout this blog and look at the best way to clean them.

Bad odours lingering around sinks

If you have noticed that there seems to be a bad smell that lingers around kitchen or bathroom sinks, and no matter how often you clean them the smell only seems to go away for a little while before coming back. Well, this is likely due to a build-up of bacteria in your drain pipes. You may not necessarily think of this immediately because there isn’t a blockage however, small particles can still gather in your pipes and these will build up bacteria or begin to rot but may not be large enough to cause any blockage.

You can remove these by using a drain cleaner or using bleach – you should allow it to sit in the pipes for around 30 minutes before then flushing away with hot water. This should help to break down bacteria or grime that may have gathered on the pipes and remove the odour.

Alternatively, if you notice an odour despite no blockage and regular cleaning then this may mean that the u-bend or p-trap has ‘run dry’. This area of your pipes is designed to hold a small amount of water which acts as a barrier preventing foul-smelling sewer gases from entering our homes. If this water runs dry then it cannot perform its job correctly which can lead to odours. This can sometimes be easily fixed by running your tap or pouring around 3 litres of water down the sink. This is more common in sinks that are not frequently used or have been left standing for a while. If this fails to work then a replacement may be required and it’s time to get a professional opinion involved.

Slow or Clogged Drain

Perhaps the most obvious sign that your drains need some care is slow-draining water or completely clogged pipes. As mentioned there are lots of things that are washed away in our drains, from food, liquids, soap, hair and dirty water from washing machines or dishwashers. So, it’s not uncommon that sometimes these things will get stuck, this can then cause a build-up which will slow the draining of water and eventually fully clog the pipes so water will not drain at all.

There are a few ways that you can resolve a clogged drain – for kitchen sinks where things such as grease, oil and food are the most likely culprits causing the blockage then using a product designed specifically for unblocking drains will more often than not resolve the issues, this may take multiple treatments for severely clogged drains.

For bathroom sinks where hair and other debris are more likely to be clogging your sink then sometimes a cleaner may not be quite enough to remove the problem, which is when you may need to get your hands dirty. The most effective way to do this is to use a plunger – you should first start by half-filling your sink before then using the plunger. Plungers work by creating a vacuum seal this paired with the pressing which will move the water back and forth with more pressure will eventually release the clog. If this method does not work then the clog may be stuck in the u-bend which may mean you have to unscrew this particular pipe to remove what is causing the blockage, you should then thoroughly clean it before screwing it back into place.

How often should I deep clean my drains to prevent problems?

The answer to this question depends on a few factors. How often you need to clean your drains depends on how much use they get, as well as the type of drain. For example, if you have a bathtub or shower drain that sees regular use (or if it's just in an area where there are lots of people), then you should deep clean the pipes once a month - this can be done by using bleach and hot water, baking soda and vinegar or by purchasing a drain cleaner. For these drains, it is also highly recommended to get a drain catcher that even sits atop the plug or inside and this will catch any hair preventing it from going down the drain and clogging the pipes.

Kitchen sinks that are regularly used should also be deep cleaned in the same way and also done at least once a month. To better prevent clogs and odours from kitchen sinks it is recommended to thoroughly wipe and clean away grease and oil using kitchen rolls and disposing of it down in the dustbin, this will prevent grease from hardening and sticking to the sides of pips causing blockages. The less food that is disposed of down the sink also means that you are less likely to find any foul lingering odours too!

Hopefully, you can now see the effects of not cleaning or caring for the drain correctly, while we understand it can be tempting to simply run some hot water down the sink every now and then or just assume drains will be cleaned because they have soapy water running from them. This is not the case, you need to take some time to deep clean your drains to ensure you maintain their proper function and prevent them from becoming clogged or smelly.