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How To Prevent Foul Drain Odors

Homeowners rarely give much thought to their Dayton home’s drains unless there is an issue. In most cases, that issue is either a clog or a nasty odor emanating from the drain. And while most clogs need the attention of a licensed plumber to ensure that there is no potential for a flood of dirty water, the foul odor is something that can be resolved with a few DIY fixes.

A Stinky Kitchen Sink

Most homes have a garbage disposal in the kitchen sink that sees a lot of food waste and debris. Unfortunately, many homeowners use this garbage disposal as if it were a much more capable machine than it actually is. The intent is to grind up tiny bits of food waste that are rinsed off of dishes. The device was never designed for grinding up huge chunks of food and veggie peels. The result is a grinder packed with old and possibly rotting hunks of food and an awful odor.

Removing that caked-on food without damaging the disposal can be challenging. First, pour a few cups of ice cubes into the disposal and run it for a minute or two to scrub the food from the grinder. Then flush with hot water to wash as much of the food debris away as possible. Follow that scrubbing with a cup of baking soda poured into the disposal, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the bubbles clean and loosen the remaining food particles for about 15 minutes before flushing with a few minutes of hot water. The vinegar will also help neutralize the odor of the spoiling food particles.

An Ounce Of Prevention

Once you have the food waste and odor removed from your garbage disposal and kitchen sink drain, it is best to focus on preventing the issue from ever occurring again. Limiting the items that find their way into the disposal is the secret to an odor-free kitchen sink.

  • Place a mesh screen over the sink drain to catch as much food waste and debris as possible 
  • Scrape dishes into the trashcan before rinsing
  • Pour used cooking oil and grease into a can or jar to be placed in the trashcan


Keeping food and grease out of the disposal will prevent the nasty odor for the most part. In addition, using the baking soda and vinegar mixture each month will freshen and remove any residue before it becomes offensive.

Sink And Tub Drains

The other drains in your home are not as prone to odors but can become offensive over time due to soap scum and the residue from oily bath products. You can avoid these odors by using the baking soda and vinegar cleaning process once each month to eliminate the residue and freshen the drains. A cup of peroxide poured down the drain will also eliminate any bacteria in the drain creating a foul odor.

For odors or drain issues that persist, call (937) 749-7097 to schedule an appointment with the licensed plumbers at Buckeye Plumbing & Property Solutions.