Smelly bathroom sink

[geordiegirl1]

I have just moved into an apartment and the en suite basin sink smells very musty. I did remove a hair ball an thought that would solve the problem but although the water drains away very quickly the smell persists. I have tried soda crystals and a product called Buster plughole cleaner but they have not made any difference. Can anyone recommend a product that would help.

Thanks in advance

[BruceBP]

Very often it is not the plughole bit that causes the smell but the overflow. The bit where water can run away before the sink overflows. Try squirting some bleach or lavatory cleaner (use lots to make sure you cover the whole if the inside) leave it for a while, then fill the sink to wash it away. Repeat if necessary. Give a post if it works - did for me.

[murraymints]

ditto..

[geordiegirl1]

Thanks BruceBP and murraymints, I have tried that but the smell is still there. Any more suggestions gratefully accepted.

[woofgang]

Has the apartment been out of use for a while? this can make the drains smell until its all had a good flush. I would try boiling kettles of water without any chemical. If it is possible to put the plug in with a string tied to it, fill the sink with boiling water till its going down the overflow, keep filling slowly so the overflow gets a good rinse, then pull out the plug with the string. You might need to repeat this a few times.
Failing that, is it rented? I would get in touch with the landlord.

[Robinia]

I don't think I'd risk pouring boiling water into a washbasin. I'd try squirting the overflow with bleach again and leave it for at least half an hour. It's going to take longer than a few minutes to remove any soapy build up.

[tonyav]

Caustic Soda will clean your drains out good and proper.

[Eve]

Maybe bacteria build up if things like soap and more goopy stuff has been used which is not washing down the pipes and building up. What unblocker did you use, was it a liquid one? Maybe try a foam one which might take more persistent things stuck in the pipes then follow it down with some strong antibacterial detergent once washed through.

[Eve]

If using caustic soda then keep it well away from your skin. I used some in the bath a while back then forgot with trying to swirl water round to make sure it was all down before I used the shower and my hands went really dry and flakey for a while afterwards even with just a little.

[geordiegirl1]

We have bought the apartment and yes it has been empty for a while. The bathroom sink and bath are fine its just the en-suite basin that smells. I will try your other suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[snags]

Undo the trap underneath and give that a good clean out too.

[tonyav]

Yep, if you use Caustic Soda wear some rubber gloves and some safety glasses. I should have said that in my original suggestion.

[alavahalf]

You say the water runs away quickly therefore it sounds as though the waste is clear and unlikely to be the cause of the offending odour.
But personally I would still take the u-bend apart and clean it out.Get yourself a a bottle cleaner (one of those twisted wire things, with long bristles) and scrub through the overflow opening, and down through the plug hole.. You will be surprised what can lurk in there. Dont forget to flush it through.
Watch out for the plughole slime ... it will flick everywhere..!

Have you checked under the sink just in case you have a waste pipe leak. If that were to get onto a carpet or under vinyl, it will cause a musky smell.

[buildersmate]

If you have done all the useful things folks have suggested, then it is not the residues in the trap that are smelling, it is because the water is being syphoned out of the U-trap. When this happens, there is an air corridor between the smells of the sewer below (often many metres away) and the drain smell permeates into the room. It often seems worse when you put the extractor fan on - because more smelly air gets drawn out of the drain from below.
The reasons are manyfold (poor design often), so contact your landlord

[The Builder]

To add to what BM says. If you've ruled out leaks and blockages, then it certainly sounds like syphoning.
Wastes are often connected up in strange, inefficient ways. To overcome it, you might need an anti-syphon trap fitted to the basin. Right now you may have a standard bottle trap, or even an old fashioned U-bend called a P-trap.(Shaped like a letter P).
Alternatively, you could fit an inline "air admittance valve". Cheap and easy to fit. It allows air in to avoid syphoning, but doesn't let smells out.

[HowardKennitby]

If you get a bottle-brush you can usually give the overflow a good going over along with strong bleach.

[Sir Alec]

I put 2 tbs bicarbonate of soda down the plug, then gradually pour on half a 568ml bottle white vinegar. Leave it to stop fizzing inbetween additions of vinegar. Leave it to work for about 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with hot water from the tap. I find bicarb will dispel most smells.

[vivandorron]

Perhaps a silly thought on my part......Has the 'en suite' basin actually got a U-bend or any sort of trap.? Perhaps the wash-hand basin was a poor DIY installation.

Check it out and let us know.

Ron.