I may be handy, but it takes me 5 times longer to do anything. (Husband travels extensively, so taking 5x longer is better than it not getting done at all!)

I notice a very strong sewage odor coming from my upstairs bathroom sink. (Not something you want to encounter when brushing your teeth first thing in the morning.) After the water runs for a bit, the odor isn't as strong. There are 2 sinks and a shower in this bathroom, but the problem is only with 1 sink.

Not sure if any of this matters: Home is 14 years old, on slab with septic tank. I remove makeup in this sink nightly and have long hair. Thus, about once a year when I notice the water is draining slowly, I remove the U-shaped pipe under my sink and clean the sludge out. I did this last week and it was already clean.

The septic tank was checked about 2 years ago (plumber suspected it may be full because of a major overflow in downstairs bathroom). Level in septic tank was low and we have no other plumbing-related problems, so that can't be the culprit.

I know the difference between a dead mouse and sewage. It's definitely sewage. I'll try 1/4 gal. bleach, then follow with boiling water the next day. Any other ideas? Anxious to hear suggestions.

Until then,
Brushing teeth at kitchen sink...
Handy Housewife

I may be handy, but it takes me 5 times longer to do anything. (Husband travels extensively, so taking 5x longer is better than it not getting done at all!)

I notice a very strong sewage odor coming from my upstairs bathroom sink. (Not something you want to encounter when brushing your teeth first thing in the morning.) After the water runs for a bit, the odor isn't as strong. There are 2 sinks and a shower in this bathroom, but the problem is only with 1 sink.

Not sure if any of this matters: Home is 14 years old, on slab with septic tank. I remove makeup in this sink nightly and have long hair. Thus, about once a year when I notice the water is draining slowly, I remove the U-shaped pipe under my sink and clean the sludge out. I did this last week and it was already clean.

The septic tank was checked about 2 years ago (plumber suspected it may be full because of a major overflow in downstairs bathroom). Level in septic tank was low and we have no other plumbing-related problems, so that can't be the culprit.

I know the difference between a dead mouse and sewage. It's definately sewage. I'll try 1/4 gal. bleach, then follow with boiling water the next day. Any other ideas? Anxious to hear suggestions.

Until then,
Brushing teeth at kitchen sink.....
Handy Housewife


Good morning Handy,

What you smell is rotting hair and grease. Before you do the bleach thingie I want you to pull the stopper out and look down the drain.. Aabout 6" down you'll see a little rod sticking out. Fish out any hair that may be built up on the rod with a bent clothes hanger.. if the stopper's tied down click on back and I'll give you instructions on how to free it up. Tonight before you go to bed pour 1/2 gallon of bleach down the -------- drain and let it set overnight. Next morning flush it down with a few large pans of boiling water. The bleach will start to dissolve and soften the hair and make it slippery and the boiling water will melt the grease and flush the mess out into the main. Now see if that smelly drain doesn't smell sweeter? Cheers, Tom

Tom -

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I'm familiar with that rod connected to the stopper. I replaced the ring around the drainhole and stopper a few years back. I was gone for 2 hours yesterday and returned to find I had NO WATER. Apparently, a pipe near the meter sprung a little leak and was spewing water into the street. Neighbor called the water co. and they turned it off until we could get it repaired. Totally unrelated, but quite coincidental.

Plumber is coming today to repair the leak and I'll do the bleach/boiling water thing tonight in my bathroom sink.
Thanks again for your reply.

Handy Housewife in ATL