[poppajohn]

Hi, when we run water from the faucet into the sink there is a bad smell coming from the sink only when we turn on the faucet. This is the only sink with the problem and the water pipes are copper. Seems to respond for a short time to bleach poured into the drain but comes right back. The drain actually drains just fine.

[Stratmando]

I would fill a glass of water go away from sink area and smell?
If the trap leaks water out, it will allow air or vapors to pass. Trap seems OK?

[ballengerb1]

Most sinks stink from rotting hair and body oil but Strat makes a good point, check the water. I think the traps are fine because the issue only appears when water is running. An open trap will smell 24/7. If the water is OK then try this. Mix 1/2 cup table satl with 1/2 cup baking soda, stir and dump down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar, step back. Allow to soak overnight and the flush with sveral large buckets of very hot water. Your drain will smell just perfect.

[speedball1]

Bob touched on the water then went back to the drain. Let me address the water with a little more detail. You complain,

when we run water from the faucet into the sink there is a bad smell coming from the sink only when we turn on the faucet.

Is the smell worse with hot or cold water? Smell the water out of the tap. If it smells bad then get back to me with the brand name of the faucet and whether it's one handled or two knobs. Also remove the aerater and soak it in bleach. If the water doesn't smell follow Bobs direction to Mix 1/2 cup table satl with 1/2 cup baking soda, stir and dump down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar, step back. Allow to soak overnight and the flush with sveral large buckets of very hot water.
Good luck, Tom

[Stratmando]

Ball, and Speed, what is the best product to remove/disolve hair? Thanks.

[speedball1]

Ball, and Speed, what is the best product to remove/disolve hair? Thanks.

Most bad smells in tubs, lavatories and showers are caused by rotting hair matted with grease from the soap and from rotting food in kitchen disposals Try this for the smell. Tonight before bedtine Take a 1/2 gallon of bleach and pour it down the drain and let set over night. Next morning ,(and this is important) flush out the drain with two large pans of boiling water to loosen the grease and flush the mess out. The bleach will make the hair slippery and began to dissolve it and the hot water will melt the grease and flush the mess away.
Also, pull the lavatory stopper and look down the drain. About 4 inches down you'll see a small rod sticking out. Fish out any hair that's caught there and do the same thing to the lavatory if you detect any odor. This should make your drains smell better. With all chemicals used in drain cleaning proper ventalation should be observed. Good luck, Tom

[poppajohn]

Hi, Guys; Ball, Speed, Strat and Tom; Thanks a bunch for the advice looks like some really good answers I'm going with the salt, soda and vinegar tonight followed by the hot water treatment in the morning and if my wife still complains then it's the bleach and take apart the trap solutions still to go. Thanks again! Poppajohn

[ballengerb1]

Strat, I don't know if our recipes are the best but they work well and are usually already found in the house. Tom swears by bleach and I have no doubt he is correct. I really like "Mix 1/2 cup table satl with 1/2 cup baking soda, stir and dump down the drain followed by a cup of vinegar, step back. Allow to soak overnight and the flush with sveral large buckets of very hot water. Your drain will smell just perfect.
" Used it for years but Tomis right about trying to dig the biggest clumb out first if you can.

[albinfla]

Hey Guys,
I've used bleach for years. It totally dissolves the hair, and attacks food, but doesn't do anything for the grease. You have to wipe chrome immediately when putting bleach down, otherwise it will eat it up since it is a caustic.

I imagine the salt, baking soda, followed by vinegar would be a lot less smelly. Is it a very violent reaction mixing a caustic, with a mild acid?
Thanks,
Al

[Milo Dolezal]

Afaroo: you can actually buy a book that tells you how to make every detergent or household cleaner from ordinary organic household supplies...

[ballengerb1]

Albin, it is not a huge reaction, rather fun for most folks. I always get my grand kids around the sink when I do it because they love to watch it start foaming a fizzing.

[albinfla]

Ballengerb1, I'll definitely give it a try.

DON'T TRY THIS ONE... I'm sure it won't give the reaction that I had one time. I was dipping a brass commercial softener valve to clean it. I always have 3 dip tanks... one water, one muriatic acid, and one sodium hydroxide. I dip them first in acid, then rinse, and dip in water, then caustic, then rinse, then water dip, then ammonia rinse, then water rinse. It is very effective at cleaning components.

One time I was on the phone, and pulled it out of the acid and laid it down. Then being sidetracked by the phone, dropped it in the caustic instead of the water. Man that was fun. I won't accidentally do that again. Don't try this at home boys and girls! Seriously, I'm lucky the spray off the reaction didn't get me. That could have been very painful.
Al