How Do I Clean My Sink Drains Naturally? (2025 Guide)

Dirty sink drains in a kitchen or bathroom can lead to smelly odors, slow-draining water, clogged pipes, and emergency plumber bills.

Even if the rest of your home is sparkling clean, a smelly kitchen sink or clogs in a bathroom sink drain can quickly sour things.

Fortunately, experienced homeowners and pros alike have mastered natural methods to clean sink drains, eliminate odors, and prevent future clogs.

In this guide, we share the 10 best natural drain cleaning hacks to make life odor-free, straight from the professionals!

Top 10 Ways to Clean Sink Drains (Safe for Kitchens and Bathrooms)

Smelly drains? Slow drainage? Gunky buildup? You’re not alone.

Dirty sink pipes, whether in your kitchen sink, garbage disposal, or bathroom, can quickly become plumbing disasters.

Here are 10 natural ways our professional cleaners at Sophia’s Cleaning Service keep sinks fresh, clean, and clog-free.

1. Flush Your Kitchen Sink Weekly with Baking Soda and Vinegar

An eco-friendly way to clean, deodorize, and unclog kitchen drains is the baking soda, hot water, and vinegar method:

 

• Pour 3 tablespoons of baking soda down the kitchen drain
• Add 1 cup of white vinegar
• Let it fizz for 15 minutes
• Then pour hot or boiling water down the drain

Pro Tip: Pre-rinse the drain with warm dish soap like Dawn to cut grease and improve effectiveness naturally. Upgrade to Barkeeper’s Friend or Dawn Powerwash to scrub out stubborn stains and reduce smells.

No question, stinky drains attract pests, especially during summer months. Find out exactly how our cleaning experts get rid of flies in and outside homes when they clean them.

2. Use Hot Water and Dish Soap Daily

Don’t wait for odors to appear. Daily cleaning with hot water and dish soap makes a huge difference:

• Run hot tap water down the drain with a few drops of mild dish soap
• Scrub around the drain opening with a scouring sponge or old toothbrush

Smelly drains usually mean future clogs, so keeping sinks clean is key. Regular cleaning is even more important if your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal and is used multiple times daily.

3. Clean Garbage Disposals With Ice and Lemon

To freshen garbage disposals, the natural and effective way is to use everyday DIY household ingredient found right in your kitchen:

• Add a handful of ice cubes and a few lemon slices
• Turn on the disposal with cold water running
• Finish with a splash of baking soda or coarse salt for extra scrubbing power

Bleach or chemical cleaners can corrode pipes and create dangerous fumes, so avoid using them if possible, especially if you have kids or pets.

4. Install Hair Catchers and Drain Strainers

For showers and bathroom sinks, catching debris is your best defense against pipe blockages:

• Use a silicone or metal mesh drain cover in every sink and shower
• Clean out the sink strainer or drain catcher after every use to prevent clogs

Drain strainers are inexpensive and reusable and save you a ton on potential plumbing bills. Sink strainers can be found at any local hardware store or Home Depot. 

5. Deep Clean Bathroom Drains Monthly

Bathroom sinks and shower drains collect hair, soap scum, and mildew. Here’s a simple natural fix:

• Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup salt in a measuring cup
• Pour it down the drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar
• Cover the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes
• Flush with hot or boiling water

A monthly deep cleaning of your drains safely breaks down gunk and keeps things smelling fresh.

Pro Tip: Warm up your cup of vinegar for 1 minute in the microwave before pouring it down the drain for an even more effective clean.

6. Unclog Drains With a Plunger or Drain Snake

Do you have some standing water in the sink or shower?

• Use a plunger only if there’s water in the basin to create suction
• For hair clogs, a drain snake is more effective and less gross than you’d think
• If you’re in a pinch, a bent wire hanger can work as a makeshift snake

The sooner you tackle the standing water, the less likely you’ll have to deal with black gunk or slime in your pipes.

Find out if vinegar kills black mold effectively or if there are better ways to remove mold safely from rooms in your house. 

DIY Clean Your Sink Overflow Drain

Every few months, take 5 minutes to clean your sink overflow drain with an old toothbrush, vinegar, and baking soda.

Then, combine the baking soda and vinegar and let it fizz out for 15 minutes while you scrub the opening with the toothbrush.

Lastly, rinse the overflow drain with 1 cup of hot water to reduce future drain smells significantly.

7. Use Enzyme Drain Cleaners as a Safe Alternative to Drano

For tougher clogs or monthly kitchen drain maintenance, enzyme cleaners like Green Gobbler are the way to go:

• Pour 2 to 4 cups of enzyme cleaner down the drain monthly
• Safe for septic systems and PVC pipes
• Avoid chemical heat-based products unless it’s an emergency

Enzyme drain cleaners are ideal for households with kids and pets since they don’t release harmful fumes like Drano does.

8. Clean Your Drain Stopper Every 3 Months

A gunky stopper is often the culprit behind smelly bathroom sinks:

• Remove your stopper and soak in a 1:1 vinegar-water solution
• Scrub with toothpaste and an old brush
• Rinse the stopper thoroughly before reinstalling

Most drain stoppers can be removed by twisting them counterclockwise until they screw loose. Once washed, they can be reinstalled by lining them up with the screw in the sink and twisting clockwise until secured. 

Cleaning drain stoppers takes just five minutes but makes a big difference in the smell and drainage of your sinks.

Two Drain Stopper Hacks:

• Use a drain snake to help center your drain screw to make reinstalling the stopper easier.
• Be sure to tighten your drain stopper just enough to let water flow freely but not loose enough for debris to fall into your drain.

9. Clean Shower Drains Quarterly (Or More Often With Pets or Long Hair)

Hair and soap buildup in showers or utility sinks lead to mold, mildew, and blocked pipes:

• Manually remove the drain cover
• Use a snake brush to clear inside the drain
• Flush with vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water

For extra prevention:

• Run your bathroom fan after every shower
• Keep bathroom lights on for 15–20 minutes post-shower to reduce humidity

10. Avoid These Common Drain Mistakes

Even the best cleaning efforts fail if you’re unknowingly damaging your pipes:

• Don’t pour grease, rice, coffee grounds, or body oils down any drain
• Avoid chemical cleaners if you have a septic system or PVC piping
• Use cold water with disposals, and never mix chemical and natural products
• Never pour boiling water down PVC pipes, as it will soften the plastic

Instead, stick to safe household solutions and stay consistent. This will prevent clogs before they start.

Your Expert Kitchen and Bathroom Sink Drain Cleaning Professionals

For over 40 years, Sophia’s Cleaning Service’s experts have helped homeowners in Chicago suburbs like La Grange or Oak Park, IL, deal with grimy sink buildup and drain cleaning issues.

From kitchen drains and smelly garbage disposals to bathroom sink and shower clogs, our drain cleaning experts have dealt with every situation over the past four decades.

Now, we’ll explain how to clean drains in bathrooms and kitchens more in-depth and provide some professional tips and tricks for keeping drains smelling great!

What Type of Sink Drain Are You Cleaning?

Clogs and stinky drains can occur in kitchen sinks, garbage disposals, and bathroom sinks, especially if the drain pipe is not cleaned regularly.

However, how and how often you clean a kitchen sink versus a bathroom sink differ.

Kitchen Sinks and Garbage Disposals Cleaner Supplies

Kitchen sinks need to be cleaned more often than sinks in the bathroom because they’re used more often and are exposed to food, bacteria, and gunk, especially with garbage disposals.

Top Tools and Eco-Friendly Products for Kitchen Drains:

• Dish soap (like Dawn) for grease removal
• Baking soda and white vinegar
• Hot or Boiling water
• Long-handled brush or toothbrush
• Disposal-safe cleaning tablets (like Alka-Seltzer)

To clear clogs in kitchen sink drains, use cleaning solutions like Dawn dish soap and more natural, food-safe solutions like baking soda, white vinegar, and hot or boiling water.

Supplies for Bathroom Sinks and Shower Drains

We use professional cleaning tools, such as drain snakes and plungers, to remove hair clogs in bathroom sinks and keep shower drains clean and debris-free.

Disinfecting and mildew-removing cleaning products like hydrogen peroxide or chemical drain cleaners can also effectively remove soap scum buildup in sinks and showers.

Bathroom drains typically clog from hair, soap scum, and toothpaste buildup. Regular maintenance prevents mold, slow drains, and expensive clogs.

Best Drain Tools for Showers and Bathrooms:

• Drain snake or zip-it tool
• Small plunger for sinks
• Hydrogen peroxide (for mildew/disinfection)
• Salt and vinegar (pet-safe, natural alternative)
• Chemical drain cleaner (for tough clogs only)

Stick to natural options if your clog isn’t too bad, especially for households with pets or kids.

Remember that only consistent cleaning can prevent drainage issues and clogs in all bathroom drains, including tubs and showers.

To keep things natural and pet-friendly, you can also use a salt and vinegar cleaning solution to clean bathroom drains, as described in our bathroom sink cleaning walkthrough below.

The salt and vinegar method also cleans out shower drains and bathtub pipes that get clogged over time.

Not only are these drain cleaning methods safe, but they are cheap and save you cash. Learn how much the average house cleaner charges in our new pricing guide. 

We cover all these in our step-by-step drain cleaning methods that follow, but let’s start with the smelliest drain in most households: the kitchen sink.

DIY-Cleaning a Kitchen Sink Drain Naturally

To clean smelly kitchen sink drains, pour a few teaspoons of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar.

Allow the mixture to fizz for 15 minutes and scrub the drain opening with a sponge or old toothbrush.

Afterwards, clean out and flush the drain area with boiling or hot water.

The bubbling reaction loosens the nasty buildup, and boiling water lets it flow down your pipes safely.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend doing this deep clean once weekly to keep your kitchen sink drain smelling fresh.

One hack to make your weekly kitchen drain cleaning easier is to pre-coat the drain with mild dish soap to remove grease before adding baking soda.

Does Vinegar and Baking Soda Really Clear Clogged Drains?

Clean drains remain clog-free longer. Vinegar and baking soda may also help unclog minor debris buildups in pipes.

However, don’t expect the vinegar and water method described above to unclog a severe drain blockage in your kitchen, bathroom, or utility sink alone.

Our professional cleaners recommend flushing your kitchen drain with hot water and mild dish soap daily and sponge-scrubbing the areas around the sink.

You can also use products like Dawn Powerwash or Bar Keepers Friend with warm water to keep drains smelling fabulous daily.

Additionally, you can use Bar Keepers Friend to remove mineral deposits and hard water stains from shower glass.

After washing the glass with a sponge, wash the soapy water down your drain for an efficient yet effective whole shower cleaning.

Can a Plunger Work to Clear a Clogged Drain?

For stubborn clogs in kitchen sinks, you can use a drain snake or plunger if standing water exists and won’t drain. In a pinch, you can also use a wire coat hanger for a DIY drain declogger.

Toilet plungers are typically made for wider openings, but can still work on shower drains if you overfill the drain with water to create a small circle of water around the drain.

If there is no standing water, a plunger, no matter the size, will not work because it needs suction to release clogs.

Take the following steps to fix a clogged shower drain with a plunger.

1. If you must use a bathroom plunger, thoroughly wash and disinfect it before using it in the shower. Instead, we recommend buying a standalone shower drain plunger if you get frequent clogs.
2. Next, fill your clogged drain with warm water until it forms a small pool around it that’s just a bit wider than the head of your plunger.
3. After that, you’ll have enough suction for the plunger to do its job and remove the shower drain clog.

Only use a chemical drain cleaner like Drano if necessary. Repeated use of harsh chemical cleaners corrodes pipes and rubber gaskets, leading to leaky pipes and costly plumber visits.

How Often To Clean Your Kitchen Sink

Kitchen sinks need to be cleaned more often than sinks in the bathroom because they’re used more often and are exposed to food, bacteria, and gunk.

Our experts recommend daily sink cleaning using mild dish soap and hot water, which helps deodorize the drain area. A deeper kitchen sink cleaning should be done once a week using the baking soda and vinegar solution described above.

Always use a stopper or drain strainer cover to prevent food bits from entering your kitchen drains. Never pour grease down the drain. Instead, soak up the grease with paper towels and throw it in the trash. You can also freeze excess grease in a mason jar and reuse it as needed.

Weekly or daily drain cleaning is even more critical for a kitchen sink with a garbage disposal unit. Lastly, never let dirty dishes sit too long in a sink with standing water to avoid bacteria and potential fly infestations.

Cleaning Garbage Disposals in Kitchen Sinks

Weekly or daily drain cleaning is even more critical for a kitchen sink with a garbage disposal unit.

To clean a kitchen sink drain with a garbage disposal, run the disposal after adding a handful of ice cubes and a lemon slice or two. Add a few teaspoons of baking soda or coarse salt for extra blade scrubbing and grime-removing power.

Rinse your garbage disposal drain pipe with cold water after each use to keep it smelling fresh.

A cold water wash is also recommended after each use. At the end of each day, you can add vinegar or mild dish soap to clean your garbage disposal. Avoid using overly harsh chemicals like bleach or chemical drain cleaners.

Precautions When Cleaning Kitchen Drains and Garbage Disposals

Based on our experience, we want to share a few precautions when cleaning kitchen sink drains with or without garbage disposals.

First, acid-based cleaning solutions like white vinegar can wear down the sealant and caulk that waterproof your kitchen sink or garbage disposal drain line.

Luckily, scrubbing sinks with mild dish soap and flushing out your drain line with hot faucet water or a boiling pot of water regularly helps reduce the need for harsher chemicals.

However, if you have PVC pipes or P-traps, avoid pouring boiling water down your kitchen sink. The hot water will soften the PVC and cause leaks in your pipe fittings.

Also, avoid dumping rice into your kitchen sink drains, especially if you have a garbage disposal. Rice expands and can clog or damage sink drains.

Lastly, avoid chemical cleaners like Drano if you have a septic system. These cleaners generate heat during chemical reactions that can permanently damage septic sewer lines or PVC drains.

Using Enzyme Drain Cleaners in Kitchens

An enzyme drain and grease trap cleaning product is a safer alternative to using Drano or bleach-based drain openers in your kitchen.

Enzyme drain cleaners break down food and organic debris in drains and are safe for pipes and septic systems.

Always follow each product’s instructions, but here is the step-by-step process for cleaning kitchen drains or grease traps with most enzyme-based cleaners.

Add 2-4 cups of enzymatic drain cleaner monthly to help prevent and release residue in kitchen sink pipes. Depending on the size, grease traps only need about half that amount of enzyme cleaner.

For problematic kitchen drains with repeated clogs, add 2 to 4 cups of the enzyme cleaning product daily until the problem subsides.

Cleaning Bathroom Sink Drains

Smelly bathroom drains and clogs are often caused by soap scum and hair buildup in your shower or sink.

Fortunately, you can use everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar, or hot water to clean and deodorize a bathroom sink drain.

Next, like cleaning a kitchen sink drain, pour a few teaspoons of baking soda down the open bathroom sink drain and add a half cup of vinegar until it fizzes. Leave it be for 15 minutes and rinse with hot water afterward.

The second option for cleaning clogged bathroom drainage is to use a commercial drain cleaning solution specifically formulated to tackle clogs quickly.

But before you go the chemical route, try using a drain snake tool to remove clogged hair manually. Likewise, you can use a sink plunger to release a pipe blockage in a clogged bathroom drain.

You’ll likely need to use a plunger or drain snake more often with bathroom drains because hair and grime buildup sit in them longer, hardening over time, compared to kitchen drains.

Keeping Bathroom Drains Smelling Fresh and Unclogged

Keeping a bathroom sink smelling great and clog-free is simple if you regularly deep clean it with the aforementioned DIY cleaning solution of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar every month.

Since bathroom sink drains aren’t used as frequently as those in kitchen sinks, you won’t need to deep clean as often.

However, you can take a few extra steps to keep your bathroom drains deodorized with natural household products found right in your kitchen.

Salt, Baking Soda, and Vinegar Clean Bathroom Drains Safely

You can combine salt, vinegar, and baking soda for extra bathroom drain cleaning power to clean your sink drains.

First, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup salt in a measuring cup. Pour the solution down your bathroom drain and coat the opening of the drain pipe.

Next, heat 1 cup of vinegar and pour it into the drain right after the baking soda and salt mixture. Cover the drain with a stopper and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.

Finally, rinse the bathroom drain with hot or boiled water and wipe with a rag to remove any remaining residue.

Remember, you can polish metal fixtures, such as the top of your sink or shower drain, with an old toothbrush and toothpaste. This not only removes odors but also keeps them shiny and new-looking.

Clean Your Bathroom Drain Stopper Every 3 Months

A dirty drain stopper is one of the biggest culprits of smelly bathroom drains and subsequent clogged pipes.

Most bathroom drain stoppers are easily twisted off after popping them up using the lever behind your faucet.

Next, grab a plastic cup and fill it with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Soak the stopper in the all-natural solution for 15 minutes.

For stubborn grime buildup, use an old toothbrush and baking soda to scrub the stopper and resoak as needed.

If it’s white or metal, polish the stopper with toothpaste for an added finishing touch.

Shower Drain Cleaning Versus Bathroom Sinks

Shower drains require more cleaning and unclogging than bathroom sinks because they receive a large volume of water, limescale, and soap scum each time they are used.

Plus, standing water from a clogged shower drain can lead to mold and mildew buildup around pipes, tubs, shower glass, grout, and tile.

No question, mold thrives in high-humidity environments like around shower drains, so take the following steps to keep your shower mold-free and odorless.

Regular Drain Cleaning Keeps Your Pets and Children Safe

If you have pets or kids, keeping up with shower drain cleaning is even more critical because it helps prevent major clogs in drains.

Indeed, preventing clogs and black sludge buildup means you won’t need to buy chemical drain products like Drano, which are extremely dangerous if consumed.

When storing Drano or related chemical drain cleaners, always keep them up high, out of the reach of your kids or pets, in a dry, temperature-controlled space or shelf.

Consistent maintenance using the safe household products and methods below will help you avoid the need for chemical cleaners.

In turn, making your home safer for your family and furry friends.

Use a Drain Strainer or Hair Stopper

Install a silicone hair stopper or metal mesh strainer over the drain to catch hair and prevent buildup. For best results, clean the strainer out after each shower.

At our house, we put sink drain covers that filter hair buildup and debris on every drain, including the shower, bathroom, mudroom utility sink, and kitchen sink.

Here’s our popular homeowner help guide on removing hard water stains from the base of your sink fixtures and backsplashes.

Flush Drains Monthly with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar down the shower drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water to break down the buildup naturally.

Don’t let the vinegar splash around the sink drain, as its acidity will eventually wear out seals, caulk, and grout.

Lightly Scrub Around the Drain Weekly

Use a scrubbing brush or old toothbrush with warm water and a bathroom-safe cleaning soap to remove biofilm, soap scum, and grime around the drain and grout.

Regularly inspect the seal around the drain and don’t overscrub the area. Cracks in the rubber seal or grout can lead to water leaks behind and under your tub or shower tile.

Remember that acid-based cleaners like vinegar wear away drain seals over time, so if possible, don’t let them sit or splash around the drain.

Dry the Area and Hang Damp Towels

After using the shower, open the bathroom door or run the exhaust fan for at least 20 minutes. This reduces humidity and helps water dry faster.

Learn how to remove those nasty mildew smells from wet towels before you run them through the washing machine.

 

Also, hang wet towels on a hanger or drying rack to reduce smelly towels or unnecessary moisture in your bathroom.

Better yet, throw your dirty towels in the washing machine every week instead of tossing them on the shower floor. Weekly bathroom hygiene habits like this prevent pesky mildew-smelling towels and wash rags.

Keep Shower Lights On After Showering

Mold grows faster in dark, damp spaces. Leaving the bathroom lights on for 15 minutes while the bathroom dries can help prevent spore formation.

Opening your window shades or bathroom blinds to allow natural sunlight also works wonders to prevent mold buildup in your bathroom’s shower.

Run Bathroom Fans During and After Showering

Always run your bathroom fan or shower exhaust fan during and after showering for 20 minutes to release the steam and humidity from the room.

Combine this with an updated bathroom fan that removes humidity through your roof vents, and you’ll avoid mildew forming on your drain and shower tiles.

Bathroom fans become less effective over time, so replace them with newer models every few years. If the motor of your old bathroom fan breaks, replace it immediately.

Rinse Hair or Shaving Residue Toward Drain Strainers

After grooming, run warm water to help wash down debris like shavings and hair toward the catcher and flush what’s left.

Remember to empty the strainer after each use, as it will clog your shower drain, forcing you to remove it while showering. This can leave some residue to run through that eventually gets stuck.

Deep Clean Shower Drains Quarterly

If you notice recurring odors or slow drainage, remove the drain cover and manually clean inside using a drain brush or snake tool every 3 months.

Regularly used drain snakes can release small debris from the shower drains before it accumulates into a major clog.

Bonus Tip: Avoid pouring body oils or thick conditioners down the shower drain. These products often cling to pipe walls and trap hair and soap particles.

Need Help Keeping Up with Your Bathroom or Kitchen Cleaning?

If you’re tired of dealing with grimy sinks and slow drains or don’t have the time for regular deep cleanings, we’ve got your back.

At Sophia’s Cleaning Service, we’ve spent 40 years helping busy homeowners across La Grange, Hinsdale, Oak Park, Western Springs, and surrounding Chicago suburbs keep their homes sparkling clean and odor-free.

Whether you need a one-time deep clean or a recurring service to keep your kitchen and bathrooms in top shape, our friendly, professional team is just a click away.

Get a free quote today and see why hundreds of families trust Sophia’s.

DIY and Professional Drain Cleaning FAQs

After cleaning thousands of homes over the past few decades, our team at Sophia’s has seen it all, from stubborn sludge to surprise blockage emergencies.

These are the questions we hear most from homeowners who want to keep their kitchen and bathroom drains clean, fresh, and clog-free without calling a plumber every month.

What materials do I need to clean bathroom or kitchen drains?

You don’t need much! For natural drain cleaning, grab baking soda, white vinegar, hot water (or boiled water if your pipes are metal), dish soap, and a sponge or old toothbrush. A drain snake, plunger, or enzyme drain cleaner helps with more challenging clogs. Optional: coarse salt, lemon slices, or ice cubes if you’re cleaning a garbage disposal.

Are chemical drain cleaners like Drano safe to use?

Only if absolutely necessary. We always recommend natural methods first. Repeated use of harsh chemical cleaners can damage pipes, rubber seals, and septic systems. If you use them, make sure they’re labeled safe for your type of plumbing. Also, never mix them with other cleaners, including natural ingredients like vinegar.

What should I avoid pouring down the drain?

Avoid pouring grease, oils, rice, pasta, coffee grounds, eggshells, or paint down the drain—especially if you have a garbage disposal. Grease solidifies, rice expands, leading to clogged drains and expensive plumber visits.

Is black sludge in my sink dangerous?

It’s not dangerous in most cases, but it’s gross and can be a sign of a full-on mold infestation in some cases.

On the other hand, sludge is usually a mix of bacteria, food waste, and soap scum. It builds up in your pipes and can lead to foul smells and major blockages. Flush it out using hot water, baking soda, and vinegar.

Call a professional plumbing company if the baking-soda method doesn’t work and the problem persists.

Can I use sodium bicarbonate to deodorize drains?

Sodium bicarbonate is another name for baking soda. It’s one of the best natural deodorizers for kitchen or bathroom drains. Just pour some down, add vinegar, let it fizz, and rinse with hot water. It works like a charm.

What’s the best way to prevent clogs in my bathroom and kitchen sink?

Prevention is key. Use a drain strainer in kitchens and clean daily with dish soap and hot water. Do a deep clean weekly with baking soda and vinegar. Don’t toss food waste from plates down the sink. Instead, scrape loose food into the trash can.

In bathrooms, clean out drain stoppers every 3 months, use a hair catcher in the shower, and flush with baking soda and vinegar monthly to avoid goopy messes.

Never pour grease or expanding foods like rice down the sink. If you’ve got a garbage disposal, keep it fresh with ice cubes, lemon slices, and cold water rinses.

How often should I clean each type of sink drain?

We recommend daily light cleaning and weekly deep cleaning for kitchen sinks, especially those with garbage disposals. Monthly deep cleans for bathroom sinks and showers are usually enough, plus quarterly deep cleans for shower drains.

Can I use a plunger to unclog a sink or shower drain?

Yes, but only if there’s standing water. A plunger needs suction to work. Fill the area with water just past the rubber head, then plunge firmly. A drain snake usually works better for hair clogs in bathroom sinks or showers.

Are enzyme drain cleaners worth it?

Absolutely. Enzyme-based cleaners are a safer, chemical-free way to break down food, hair, and organic debris in drains. They’re septic-safe and great for monthly maintenance.

Why does my sink smell even after cleaning?

Check your drain stopper, P-trap, or garbage disposal. Sludge buildup often hides there.

A deep scrub using baking soda and vinegar usually fixes it. If not, it might be time to snake the drain or use an enzyme cleaner. Also, don’t forget to clean the overflow drain of your sink every few months to keep smells away.

Not to mention, hiring a maid service or professional cleaning company on a bi-weekly basis can drastically reduce smelly drains by keeping sinks sparkling and odorless.

What’s the safest way to clean drains if I have pets or kids?

If you have pets or kids, avoid harsh chemical cleaners or bleach-based solutions. Instead, use natural solutions like baking soda, vinegar, salt, and hot water, along with a drain snake or plunger. Store any commercial cleaners high and locked away, and use drain strainers to prevent clogs in the first place.

Own an office building or retail space and need it maintained regularly? Our top-rated commercial cleaning services in Chicago are know as the most reliable and highest quality in Chicagoland and nearby western suburbs.