For the past few weeks we've been trying to solve a little mystery around here. The Mystery of the Smelly Kitchen Sink.
It made it's grand entrance just before Christmas. Lovely!
With no obvious signs presenting themselves, we tried a search which led us to a You Tube video of a lady cleaning the gunk from her drains using baking soda and vinegar. With plenty of both ingredients on hand, it seemed a good place to start.
Following along I poured both ingredients down the drains and went to bed with high hopes of a fresher smelling kitchen in the morning.
After the final step of pouring boiling water down the drains in the morning, we thought just maybe the air was clear.
As the days went by the stench returned.
So, tonight I've taken every single thing out from under the sink sniffing as I go. Nothing offensive there.
Next up will be scrubbing the living daylights out of everything under there.
Another search suggested dumping lots of ice and water down the garbage disposal and running it. Did that.
They also suggested tightening various connections on all of those pipes. They all seem tight to me.
But that smell is still lingering and making me crazy!!
As I sit here at the kitchen desk trying to quietly read blogs it is wafting around me. So, you'll have to excuse me while I go do battle with the whole mess.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
The next bit of advice I read online dealt with unscrewing pipes and cleaning out gunk. Ugh!! Sounds like a job better suited for Brett.
Just keeping it real here tonight ;D.
There is probably something in the garbage disposal. I will cut up a lemon in pieces and run the garbage disposal. You might have to call a plumber - could a mouse or rat have died somewhere in the wall under the sink?
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Mary
Mouse was my first though also. Two days before Christmas I was gutting the laundry room, pulling out the dryer and the vent, even trying to run my hands in the wall as
ReplyDeletefar as I could trying to find if a critter had crawled in there and died. Never did find it, but after two weesk the smell is now gone.
Good luck!
Yes, I agree with Tracey. You could have a dead and decaying critter in your wall. I am not sure how you would deal with that except time and lots of nice good smelling candles burning while you wait. I know this is frustrating. Hope you solve your "smelley" issue soon.
ReplyDeleteOh hope that it is not something in the wall. If the odor is coming directly up from the drain, that's where the problem lies. We have a problem bathroom sink so I use good old Draino once a month. It's the only thing that gets to the problem...vinegar and baking soda aren't quite industrial enough I guess. Hope that you can get the problem resolved.
ReplyDeleteIt might be the connection between the dishwasher/disposal/sink. You might need a plumber.
ReplyDeleteI have had this exact problem with my sink for the past YEAR. It drives me crazy. My DH took the trap thing off, cleaned it and we thought that would do the trick but the smell was still obvious. Mostly it was after the dishwasher had run. I'd love to tell you I found the cause but now when it starts to smell bad I pour a half cup of bleach down each side and so far it has worked for a week or so when I have to do it again. Luckily I don't mind the smell of Clorine. to me it smells of cleanliness but others might not think so.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, that's not a good problem to have. I can't offer any more advice than what's been given, but I'll add my sympathies, and hopes for a solution.
ReplyDeleteI had a leak that was dripping behind the cabinet and weird funk was growing behind the cabinet. Had to replace entire cabinet. This was in my batheoon in my previous house. The smell was awful.
ReplyDeleteKen and I thought maybe a dead mouse too.
ReplyDeleteHope it gets resolved soon.
5 more days. : )
Following this discussion, I've had mysterious smells that come from one of the sinks in our master bath. My dad who is 76 and the original fixer upper thinks it's related to the angle of the pipes under our sink and maybe the water stands in there sometimes. Who knows. I hope you figure it out and tell us.
ReplyDeleteEwww...bad smells are just awful to live with. Check around the outside of your house and attic, the water heater, etc...make sure you don't have a leak anywhere. Water in the walls can mildew leaving an awful odor that is very hard to get rid of. Check your walls and ceilings also for any water marks. Of course I don't know the sort of smell it is. If you've ever smelled death before you will know if it's something that has died.
ReplyDeleteOnce you find the offending problem and you need to get rid of the odor, you can purchase something called "Air Sponge" at your local hardware store. It works miracles in getting rid of offending odors. It may take a little while, but will clear the air.
Let us know how it goes.
Marianne xox
P.S. Thought of one more thing...check an make sure you don't have any un-neutered male cats in the area coming and spraying along your house. The odor can seep into the house causing a disgusting, caustic smell. That happened to me and I didn't know what was causing the smell for the longest time, until years later when a male cat backed up to my legs and sprayed my pants. The smell was unmistakeable - yuck!!! I had to throw my clothes away - there was no way I was putting that into my washing machine, and I don't think it would have helped.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help you! Is is sewer gas? That is a yucky smell. Let us know what you find out, I hope you find the culprit soon!
ReplyDeleteOh, Kim, I hope you find the cause as I can relate,I have a small utility sink that I have the same problem with, let me know if you find the solution. I use clorox to get rid of the odor, but after using for a while it comes back. I am beginning to think it is the way the pipes are situated!
ReplyDeleteI read all the suggestions , if this is a recent odor,I think it might be a dead critter in the wall!
Good luck as I know how frustrating this can be.
Sue
Oh I feel your pain! We once had a nasty smell develop and we couldn't find the source. After much searching and sniffing, we decided it had to be coming from our crawl space. Stuck between the insulation and the floor my hubby found a tiny dead mouse. He removed it from the crawl space and we had instant relief! I hope you find your source and get some relief!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I hope I'm not to late to answer on this....same problem here and here's the problem. When using the garbage disposal, particles of food spray up under the rubber gasket in the sink. Take a few folded up paper towels and run them along under the gasket. You will be amazed at the gunk on the towels! I now do this once a week and there hasn't been anymore smell at all. Hope this helps...
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I hope I'm not to late to answer on this....same problem here and here's the problem. When using the garbage disposal, particles of food spray up under the rubber gasket in the sink. Take a few folded up paper towels and run them along under the gasket. You will be amazed at the gunk on the towels! I now do this once a week and there hasn't been anymore smell at all. Hope this helps...
ReplyDelete