Did you know that your Springfield MO plumbers are on standby to assist you with all of your plumbing needs? That includes drain cleaning and garbage disposal repair! If your kitchen or bathroom sink is constantly smelly, make sure you know all of these quick tips for eliminating odors. For these cleaning tricks, you will only need common household ingredients that you probably already have in you home. Here are four different ways to get rid of your sink stink, once and for all:
Baking Soda and Vinegar
As many of us will remember from third grade science class, combining baking soda with vinegar will create a fizzy reaction. Once combined, this fizzy mixture works to freshen sink drains and dissolve clogs that are not too severe. In order to see this method in action, follow these quick and easy steps.
Step 1:
Sprinkle one cup of baking soda directly into the drain of the sink that smells bad.
Step 2:
Pour one cup of vinegar over the baking soda within the sink drain.
Step 3:
Let this science experiment sit for at least 15 minutes, allowing it to fizzle and eat away at the stench.
Step 4:
Flush the sink drain with hot water and enjoy the delightfully fresh scent!
Borax and Ice
Another simple way to cut that smell right at the source within your drain is to combine borax and ice. Note: Only use this method if you have a functioning garbage disposal.
Step 1:
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of borax directly into the drain of the sink.
Step 2:
Immediately add 1-2 cups of ice to the drain.
Step 3:
Turn on your garbage disposal, crushing the ice and mixing it with the borax as it breaks. Run the disposal for 10 seconds.
Salt and Ice
Maybe you do not have borax or vinegar laying around, and that is just fine! We Springfield MO Plumbers are including this sink stink fix for anyone who has frozen water and salt (hopefully this is most of us!) Note: Only use this method if you have a functioning garbage disposal.
Step 1:
Sprinkle 1 cup of salt into your sink drain.
Step 2:
Add 1-2 cups of ice to the drain, on top of the salt.
Step 3:
Turn on your garbage disposal, crushing the ice and mixing it with the salt as it breaks. Run the disposal for 10 seconds.
Lemons and Ice
This last method will not only eliminate sink smells, but it will also add a fresh summertime scent to the air. Note: Only use this method if you have a functioning garbage disposal.
Step 1:
Peel the rind off of 2 lemons and cut each of them in half.
Step 2:
Place the peeled, halved lemons into your smelly drain.
Step 3:
Add 1-2 cups of ice to the drain, on top of the lemons.
Step 4:
Turn on your garbage disposal, crushing the ice and mixing it with the salt as it breaks. Run the disposal for 10 seconds.
Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal
Do you believe your garbage disposal is the root of your sink’s odor? We Springfield MO Plumbers have some tips for you that will help to not only clean your disposal and make it fresh again, but also assist in avoiding future clogs. Food build-up can be detrimental to this helpful little machine. Keep it running as good as new with these tips:
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of ice
- 1 peeled lemon (halved)
- 1 cup of liquid dish soap
- Tongs
Eliminate Unpleasant Odors:
- Place the lemon halves into the garbage disposal area, using the tongs for safety.
- Pour in the ice cubes next.
- Turn on your garbage disposal, crushing the ice and combining it with the lemons.
- While the disposal is running, pour in the liquid dish soap.
- Run cold water into the drain for 30 seconds to combine all of our sink-cleaning ingredients.
- Turn off your disposal and then the faucet.
- Breathe in that fresh scent.
If you are still experiencing problems with your garbage disposal after properly cleaning it, don’t worry! Your Springfield MO plumbers at Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service are experts when it comes to garbage disposals. They specialize in this particular machine, installing and repairing more garbage disposals than any other drain cleaning company. Do not hesitate to reach out to us for your free estimate.
Caring for Your Garbage Disposal
The best way to take care of your garbage disposal and keep it around for future help tackling sink messes, make sure you understand what it can and cannot handle. Hard, fibrous foods dull the blades and make it work less and less efficiently over time, eventually causing it to stop working completely. Foods to avoid are seeds, popcorn kernels, peach pits, apple seeds, bones, onion skins, egg shells, celery stalks, corn husks, and all similar textured foods. Even small pieces of these types of foods can cause the blades to jam by becoming wedged underneath. Should you wish to receive a professional’s help, your Springfield MO plumbers at Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service will be ready to take your call and offer you a free estimate on all of your drain cleaning and garbage disposal needs.
How to Avoid Grease Clogs:
- Always let melted cooking fat cool and throw it away in the trash can. If it becomes a solid on top of your counter, it will do the same within your drains. This creates clogs that are impossible to clear and will always require a professional to unclog.
- Even small quantities of oil are detrimental to drains over time. Before rinsing a pot or pan with cooking oil inside, soak up the leftover liquid with a paper towel and discard it into the trash.
- If you are a recycler at heart, you may reuse cooled fat for future cooking, or mix the cooled fat with birdseed and place it outside for your woodland guests.
Is it time to call your Springfield MO Plumbers?
With all of these natural and effective ways to rid your drains of odors, you no longer have to resort to harsh chemicals to give you the same, fresh result. If your garbage disposal could not support some of these methods, it might be time to get it looked at! Call your Springfield MO plumbers at Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service to come out and offer you a free estimate on your garbage disposal repair or replacement. If your sink still emits odors after attempting one or more of these sink-freshening methods, it might be time to call your Springfield MO plumbers. Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service is the industry leader, with only the most trained and professional Springfield MO plumbers. With years of service and expert technicians, we are your one-stop-shop for all of your plumbing and drain cleaning needs. As your Springfield MO plumbers, we strive to restore your home to its former glory, even after a pipe burst, a clogged pipe, or a water heater failure.