How to Clean a Bathroom Sink Drain
Clean your bathroom sink drain on a regular basis to prevent clogs and bacteria from building up.
While we often think of toilets being the germiest areas in the house, sinks give them a run for their money. Bathroom sinks are susceptible to many types of bacteria thanks to hair, toothpaste, soap, and beauty products going down the drain.
Here’s how to clean a bathroom sink drain and deodorize it, so it doesn’t smell bad.
Unclog Your Bathroom Sink Drain
Drain clogs lead to bacteria build-up, which causes nasty drain odors. You can use a plumber’s snake or drain cleaner for serious clogs.
Monthly Drain Clog Maintenance
To prevent clogs, remove your drain stopper and clear it of debris every month. You may find hair wrapped around or residue from products.
Use a paper towel or microfiber cloth to wipe it clean. Cleaning it with white distilled vinegar can act as a deodorizer.
How to Clean Hair out of Bathroom Sink Drain
If there’s standing water in the sink, you have a bigger clog. There are four ways to remove it.
Remove the clog by hand. If hair is visible after removing the drain stopper, put on a pair of rubber gloves and use your hand or a pair of needle-nosed to pull it out.
Use a plumber’s snake. A plumber’s snake looks like a metal coat hanger. After removing your drain stopper, you can use a plumber’s snake to clear the blockage in your drain.
Clean the bathroom sink trap. The bathroom sink trap is a curved pipe under the drain. Its purpose is to hold enough water to prevent sewage gas smells from traveling up the plumbing. But because of its curved shape, it can collect hair and other debris, causing a clog.
You can remove the bathroom sink trap and clean it out. Start by placing a bucket under the trap. Then use channel locks to unloosen and remove it. Next, unclog the debris, scrub with a bottle brush, rinse, and then put the trap back in place.
Afterward, turn on the water. If the water drains as it should, you’ve unclogged the bathroom sink.
Try a drain opener. Use a chemical drain opener if the clog is too far down the drain for you to reach. These products can dissolve hair and soap products.
Call a plumber if your sink drain is still clogged after trying these three methods.
How to Eliminate Bad Smells in Your Bathroom Sink Drain
If you get a whiff of foul odor every time you’re near the bathroom sink, you can kill the bacteria-based smells with simple household ingredients. All you need is boiling water, baking soda, and white distilled vinegar.
In addition to being a smelly bathroom drain remedy, this trio will help remove black gunk from your pipes.
Here’s what to do:
- Boil a pot of water and dump it down your bathroom sink
- Once the drain has cooled, add one cup of baking soda to the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar
- Place a rag over the drain and allow the solution to fizz for 15 minutes
- Rinse the drain with a pot of boiling water
Use this method once per month to keep your drain clog-free and smelling fresh.
How to Keep Your Sink Drain Clean
Preventative measures will keep your sink drain clean and free of clogs. If you experience frequent hair clogs, put a mesh drain catcher in the sink and clear it out in the trash can as needed.
Once per month, dump a pot of boiling water down the drain to combat black sludge that accumulates due to soap, toothpaste, and other products. Boiling water will also sanitize the bathroom sink drain.