Licensed Plumber LICENSE #CO88900054
Call For a Licensed Plumber: (317) 859-9999

Your kitchen should be a place that emanates pleasant aromas and appealing smells. Your family members, along with guests to your home, should associate that room with the smell of garlic cooking in a pan, fresh-baked bread, or of the savory whiff of grilled meat.

But what happens when your kitchen is filled with a bad smell? Unfortunately, this reality is all too common: Whether due to escaped sewer gases or lingering food particles in your drainage area, it’s pretty normal for kitchens to develop unwelcome odors, most of them wafting up from the sink.

The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to troubleshoot your kitchen sink stench and to get the room smelling pleasant again. Often, kitchen sink smells can be fixed with DIY efforts, though in some cases you’ll want to check into professional drain cleaning. For drain cleaning in Indianapolis or the surrounding area, contact Carter’s My Plumber.

Kitchen Sink Smells

Why Do You Have a Smelly Sink in Your Kitchen?

There are two common reasons why kitchens develop revolting odors.

  1. You’ve got food particle build-up in your pipes. Other than water, anything you put down your kitchen sink can stick to the inside of the pipes, or else sit in the U-bend. Over time, the build-up of food particles can attract bacteria, which results in a decomposition process that causes an unwanted stench.
  2. You’ve got sewer gases coming up through your pipes. It’s also possible that your U-bend isn’t doing its job at keeping sewer gases suppressed, whether due to a leak or an obstruction. You can usually determine this by taking the U-bend out and inspecting it.

Of course, there are other possible reasons why your sink may develop a foul odor, including mold or an issue with the garbage disposal. More often than not, however, the culprit is going to be one of these two main concerns.

How Can You Diagnose the Smell?

To get to the bottom of what’s making your sink smell, there are a few basic troubleshooting steps you can try. Here’s what we recommend:

  • Determine whether water is draining slowly, or not draining at all. If there’s a drainage issue, then the smell is almost surely being caused by a blockage, and by the build-up of food particles. This is where you may wish to hire a plumber with some expertise in drain cleaning.
  • See if you can clearly smell rotting food. If you’re pretty sure that you’re smelling rotting food, that likely means there’s something going on inside the pipes, including food particles or congealed grease.
  • Check whether you smell rotten eggs. A rotten egg smell, on the other hand, usually suggests sewer gases that are escaping up into your home.

What Can You Do to Get Rid of the Smell?

There are a number of remedies you can try to get your kitchen smelling fresh and inviting once more. Here are our recommendations:

1) Try to Clean Your Drain with Boiling Water

Sometimes, you can clean out stinky food particles inside your pipes by pouring a couple of pots of boiling water down the drain. (Of course, you should always put safety first when working with hot water.)

2) Use Other Non-Toxic Drain Cleaning Agents

If boiling water doesn’t do it, you might try to flush your drain with white vinegar; or, even use a combination of vinegar and baking soda, which can sometimes help clear out stuck food particles while providing a natural deodorizing effect. If you think the problem is with your disposal, try a combination of ice cubes and coarse salt. As a general rule, we don’t recommend using chemical drain cleaners, which can do damage to your pipes and lead to more serious plumbing woes down the road.

3) Check the U-Bend

The U-bend creates a natural barrier against sewer gases. It should always be filled with water; if you’ve been on vacation for a while, it’s possible for the water in the U-bend to evaporate, in which case the simple solution is just to run some water. Also check the U-bend for leaks or obstructions. If you find any, clean or replace the U-bend as needed.

4) Call the Professionals

If these home remedies don’t work, you may need to call in the pros. If you’re in the Indianapolis area, you can call Carter’s My Plumber at any time to ask about our drain cleaning cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a bad smell coming from my kitchen sink?

There are a number of possible explanations, but the two most likely are that there are food particles built up in your pipes, or that the U-bend is malfunctioning, allowing sewer gas to escape into your home.

Why does my kitchen sink smell like rotten eggs?

If you detect the smell of rotten eggs, that’s usually a strong sign that you’re dealing with sewer gas emissions.

Why does my kitchen sink smell musty?

A musty smell is likely due to food particles or evaporated water in the U-bend or P-trap. Try cleaning your drain with soap and hot water, or with a combination of ice, salt, and citrus peels (think lemon, lemon peel, or even lemon juice).

Can I pour bleach down the sink drain?

We do not recommend pouring bleach down the drain, as this corrosive substance can do long-term damage to your pipes.

Can you leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight?

Yes, it’s fine to leave baking soda and vinegar in the drain overnight, then to flush with hot water the next morning.

Will Coca-Cola clean a drain?

While carbonated sodas may technically help clear up the most minor clogs, they’re really not ideal because the sugars from cola can turn into goo and stick to debris further increasing the size of a clog. Again, vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, or plain old boiling water are all preferable.

Kelson Carter

Article reviewed by:

Kelson Carter, aka, The Prince of Plumbing

Kelson is a 3rd generation Plumbing Contractor. His family business is located in Greenwood, Indiana, and provides Residential Plumbing Service to the Indianapolis Metro market.

Kelson grew up watching his grandfather and father do plumbing. After graduating high school, Kelson went to Trade School and became a Licensed Master Plumber and Licensed Plumbing Contractor. He is also Certified in Backflow Prevention. He currently owns and operates Carter's My Plumber with his parents.


Instagram

Schedule Your Appointment Now

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
Take the time to read this review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"Thank you for being you. We can't find that in the world much."

We are so grateful for our loyal customers & our team that makes everybody feel like  a part of the family! 317-859-9999
Mr. Max reporting for duty! Let's get the weekend rolling! 

Happy Golden Friday! 🌟
Did you know we have appointments on Saturdays? Unlike our competitors, we've got technicians working on the weekends to make sure we can fit your schedule. 

We recognize life is busy and sometimes the weekends are the ONLY times to get things done. Call us to get a limited weekend spot! 317-859-9999 πŸ‘‘
Eat your veggies & support your local plumber! 

317-859-9999 πŸ₯¬
Sometimes it takes a team to get a job done right & we've got the best one! 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for Larry, Alex, and Jarred. Get our crew in your home to tackle any plumbing problem, big or small. 317-859-9999
END OF SUMMER MAINTENANCE DEAL! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Check out this limited offer. *** Plumbing maintenance really does save you money & time in the long run. Those pieces of equipment that keep your life running smooth need annual attention to maintain themselves! 

Have our team out to inspect your water softener, water heater, and sump pump before the cold weather hits and you're really in trouble. 

Call 317-859-9999 and mention this post for the deal!
Did you know your appliances use more energy during the summer months? Leading to additional wear and tear on your plumbing appliances? 

Check the lines leading to your washing machine, refrigerator, and dishwasher to ensure there are no leaks. Cracks & leaks expand in colder weather so getting ahead of the game is the KEY! 

317-859-9999 πŸ’¦
END OF SUMMER MAINTENANCE!!! 🌟🌟

Next up, inspecting sewer lines. With warm weather and rain comes GROWTH. Most growth, we love to see, but some growth can be detrimental. Tree and plant roots have potential to invade your sewer lines and cause a true headache for your family. 

If you notice obvious wet areas in your yard where sewer lines are below, call US to get ahead. Save yourself the time and the money. 317-859-9999 πŸ‘‘πŸ’ͺ
We hate it say it, but the end of summer & colder weather is near. That means it's time to start our end of summer maintenance lists. With the use of outdoor hoses to wash cares, water plants, fill pools, etc. there is the inevitable wear and tear. 

Check those outdoor hoses for water leakage before the fall/winter and make any repairs or replacements as necessary. Call us if you need some help! 317-859-9999 πŸŒŸπŸ› πŸ‘‘
It's Friday, sun is shining, trucks are clean, & we've got the best team of technicians taking care of our loyal customers today. We are counting our blessings!!!

What are you grateful for going into the weekend? πŸŒŸπŸ’¦
Free estimates, Reasonably priced, & Courteous! 

Call us @ 317-859-9999 and get your headaches resolved! 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
No time for funny business....

CALL CARTERS! 317-859-9999 πŸ’ͺπŸ’¦
Paul, one of our senior technicians, is celebrating his 1 Year Work Anniversary with Carter's My Plumber! πŸ’ͺ

Paul is hard working, experienced in his trade, shows pride in his work, and really hones in on the details required for fine craftsmanship. πŸ› 

If Paul's your technician this week, give him a BIG congrats!! Call our office to book with a plumber who you can trust! 317-859-9999
WE'RE EXPANDING THE TEAM! πŸ‘‘πŸ’¦

Carter's My Plumber has open positions for licensed & apprentice plumbers. Join a group of like-minded professionals who truly value YOU and your hard work. Let's chat!

Visit us online at www.cartersmyplumber.com or call our office at 317-859-9999 to get some additional information. πŸ› 
It's Friday & we've got some food for thought. 

When you're booking with a company, make sure they stand by their warranties on the weekends because THINGS HAPPEN. At Carters, we stand by our work. That means we're here for you when things go wrong, EVEN when its not convenient. 

Book with a company that won't leave you hanging. πŸ‘‘

317-859-9999