How to Fix a Smelly or Slow Bathroom Sink Drain
Slow draining and a musty smell usually mean hair under the pop-up stopper. Just removing the stopper solves half the problem.
What you need
Supplies
- 3 tbsp baking soda
- 1 cup vinegar or citric acid solution
- Hot water
Tools
- Rubber gloves
- Drain hair removal tool
- Toothbrush
- Thin bottle brush
How to do it
- 01
Remove the pop-up stopper
Many stoppers lift out if you press or twist them while pulling up. If it will not come out, it is probably held by a lever nut under the sink, so do not force it.
- 02
Pull out hair and residue
Remove the hair and soap residue wrapped around the stopper. Push a drain hair removal tool into the drain, twist and pull up whatever it catches.
- 03
Clean the overflow hole
The small overflow hole near the top of the basin collects grime inside and often smells. Push a thin bottle brush or toothbrush in, scrub and flush with water.
- 04
Add baking soda and vinegar
Pour 3 tbsp of baking soda into the drain, then slowly add 1 cup of vinegar or citric acid solution. The fizz lifts residue off the pipe walls. Leave for 15 minutes.
- 05
Flush with hot water
Slowly pour water at about 60°C (140°F) to flush it through, then replace the stopper. Boiling water can damage pipes, so let it cool slightly.
Be careful
- If you have used bleach or a chlorine drain cleaner, do not pour vinegar or citric acid. Mixing them releases toxic gas.
- Do not pour different drain cleaners one after another.
- When removing the U-shaped trap under the sink, standing water will spill. Put a bucket underneath, or call a plumber if unsure.
Malkkeum tips
- Hair is the main culprit. Throw away hair caught in the strainer right after washing your face or hair.
- While the stopper is out, scrub the grime off its rubber seal too. It can cause odor.
- If water still drains slowly after this, the blockage is deeper in the pipe. Use a drain snake or call a plumber.
Two sources of sink smell
Bathroom sink odor usually comes from hair and soap residue tangled under the stopper and from grime inside the overflow hole that you cannot see. Clean the drain but skip the overflow and the smell will linger.
If the water drains slowly
Bathroom sink clogs are almost always hair tangled with soap residue. Before pouring in a liquid drain cleaner, try pulling it out with a drain hair removal tool. That usually solves it and is kinder to your pipes than chemicals.
FAQ
Is it the same as a kitchen sink? The principle is the same, but kitchens clog with grease while bathroom sinks clog with hair and soap, so pulling debris out matters more. For kitchens, see how to get rid of kitchen sink drain odor.
