Smelly Sink

[WhiteBear]

hiya all, any cheap way/good tips on getting rid of a smelly odure coming out of my bathroom sink? i live in a block of apartments, so i guess we share the same pipes etc... and there have been some new ppl moving into to the block too. the smell s awful ......

please help, many thanks

[Clanad]

Smelly people or no, you shouldn't be getting smells out of your sink. Under the sink you'should see a gooseneck shaped pipe. It's designed that way to hold water continously to prevent sewer gasses from escaping. My guess is that the section of pipe (technically a P trap like this: http://www.re-conceived.com/blog2/wp-content/u ploads/2007/09/p-trap.jpg ) is dirty and full enough of clogged hair and other yuck. Is your sink slow draining? Another clue... remove the trap (easily done with no tools if you're strong enough to unscrew the retaining nuts) and replace it. They're reasonably inexpensive. You could try cleaning it, but replacing is better... Good luck!

[lilacben]

Try putting bicar of soda crystals down the sink., after a while pour boiling water down it and it should smell better.

[WhiteBear]

hi Clanad

i cant see any gooseneck or pipes under the sink, its all sealed up. i live in a rented apartment so dont think the landlord would be pleased seeing some changes to the place.

i did check the trap bit though, its pretty smelly, very black and some nice decent collection of hairs!! ewwwww, cant be just mine, must b from previous tenants too!

Lilacben, thanks for the advice, i might try the soda crystals i heard this stuff is quite good!!

[sn�gs]

Save the hairs and make something nice... then chuck some bleach down there...

[Clanad]

Here's the dilemma, Whitebear; here in the U.S. it's a strict building code that all waste pipes have a p-trap and that p-trap has to be accesible. I realize things can be different in the U.K., but, if for some reason there is no trap then you're at risk of more that foul smells. Sewer gasses can be poisonous... If there's no water trap to stop the gasses, I'd be truly alarmed...

[samuelcat]

pour in half a cup of bicarb of soda.
then half a cup of salt.
then wash down with half a cup of white vinegar.
It will cause a foaming action to clean the pipes out.

[rockingian]

Pour bleach into your overflow .or fill your sink with realy hot water pour a load of bleach in pul the plug and it should cure it or in your case Kill what evers down there .