How to Get Rid of Musty Kitchen Sink Smell 

Over time, even the cleanest kitchen sink may start developing a musty smell. However, that should not come as a surprise seeing that sinks are some of the most used features in any home. Not to mention that they’re regularly exposed to food particles, greasy, and other nasty items we use daily when cooking and cleaning. Interestingly, getting rid of the musty kitchen sink smell is a relatively quick and easy task. But to do that, you need to know what is causing the musky smell, the best way to get rid of it, and how to prevent it in the future. 

Lucky for you, that’s exactly what this blog post is all about. So, just read on to learn everything you need to know about how to get rid of the musty kitchen sink smell! 

Causes of smelly kitchen sink drain

• Clogged kitchen sink 

The musty kitchen sink smell may be coming from a clogged sink or garbage disposal. As a result, leftover food scraps will start decomposing in the sink drain, causing a foul odor. This usually occurs when you put certain food items like grease/ fat, potato peels, bones, coffee grounds, and rice down the drain, thus clogging the pipes. 

• Blocked vent pipe or U-shaped trap 

Also, the musky smell can be caused by a clogged trap/vent pipe. In essence, the U-shaped trap under the kitchen should always have water to prevent sewer gases from escaping through the sink. On the other hand, the vent pipe allows the sewer gases to leave your home safely. Unfortunately, if any of these components is clogged, sewer gases will escape through the sink, causing a noticeable sewer stench in your kitchen. 

• Leak under the kitchen sink 

If the smell isn’t caused by a clogged kitchen sink or blocked vent pipe, it’s time to see if the pipes under the sink are leaking. Start by inspecting the sink faucet to see if there’s any standing water around the base. Also, check if the faucet is leaking through the counter opening and dripping onto the bottom of the kitchen cabinet. 

Next, inspect the kitchen sink drain and all the pipe connection areas to see if they’re leaking. Although the drain is usually sealed tightly with plumber’s putty, it can get worn down over time, causing the pipes to leak.

In addition, check the area where the cold and hot water connects to the sink to ensure they are tight enough. Lastly, check for leaks in worn-out parts like seat valves, washers, and O-rings. 

• Mold and mildew in the kitchen sink 

Sometimes, water escapes the kitchen sink pipes, soaking wood and other materials around it. As a result, mold and mildew will form around the sink, causing a bad moldy odor in the sink area. 

How to get rid of the musty kitchen sink smell 

There are a few methods you can use to get rid of the musty smell coming from your kitchen sink. However, the ideal method will vary from one sink to another depending on the cause of the musty smell. For instance, if the smell is caused by rotting food smells or a clogged sink, you can try one of the chemical or DIY drain cleaning methods. But if the smell is caused by a blocked vent pipe/ U-shaped trap, you should check the P- or S-trap under the kitchen sink/. 

That said, here are some of those methods; 

1. DIY Drain Cleaning Methods 

• Use Boiling Water 

Boil water in a kettle or pane and slowly pour it down the sinkhole. Wait for 5 minutes, then run cold tap water into the sink to flush down any remaining grease and food residues. 

• Hot water and dish soap 

Sometimes, all your kitchen sink needs is a decent wash to get rid of the musty smell. To do that, fill the sink with a few inches of water, add some dish soap, agitate the mixture until it bubbles, and open the drain to let the soapy mixture run through it. Hopefully, if you are experiencing a mild kitchen sink odor, this simple wash will be enough to make it smell good again. 

• Baking soda and white vinegar 

A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is a tried and effective method of cleaning a smell kitchen sink drain. 

To use this method, pour a ½ cup of baking soda down the sinkhole, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture foam up and leave it for about 10 – 20 minutes. 

Next, pour some boiling water down the sink drain and run cold water to flush the drain. 

• Ice cubes, lemon peels, and Coarse salt 

If hot water and dish soap don’t do the trick, put some ice cubes and coarse salt down the sink drain if you have a garbage disposal. Run cold water down the drain and turn on the garbage disposal for a few minutes to get rid of any food residues in the sink. Next, throw some lemon peels down the disposal and grind them for a few seconds to get rid of the foul smell and deodorize the drain. 

2. Chemical Drain cleaning methods 

• Ready-made drain cleaner 

You can find a ready-made drain cleaner online or in your local supermarket/ hardware store. However, you should be careful when using these drain cleaners to get rid of the musky kitchen sink smell as they contain harmful chemicals. For that, you should always wear rubber gloves and safety goggles when using these drain cleaning chemicals. 

• Bio-Enzyme drain cleaner 

Unlike ready-made drain cleaners, a bio-enzyme drain cleaner is an eco-friendly, non-toxic chemical cleaner. As the name suggests, this cleaner uses natural enzymes to break down tough food debris without damaging your pipes. 

3. Check the U-bend of the P- or S-trap under the sink 

If the musky smell is coming from the P- or S-trap under the sink, you need to disassemble it, clean it out, and put it back. However, for that to happen, you need to ensure that you have the proper tools including the wrench or pliers and a wire brush. 

After assembling the tools you need for the task, turn off the water to the kitchen sink and put a bucket under the P-trap pipe. 

Then use a wrench or pliers to loosen the 2 large nuts joining the pipes and the P-trap together. 

Remove the U-shaped pipes and clean them out with a wire brush. Also, you may want to insert a long screwdriver into the remaining pipes to ensure they are free from food residues. 

Now that you have cleaned out the P-trap, put it back in place and tighten the 2 large nuts you had loosened earlier. 

Turn the water to the sink faucet back on and ensure there are no leaks under the sink. 

Conclusion 

After getting rid of the musty kitchen sink smell, you should constantly keep it clean to prevent it from getting smelly. To accomplish that; 

• Avoid pouring grease or fat down the drain. Instead, make sure you scrap or soak up the fat from your pans with a kitchen towel before washing them. 
• Put a drain screen over the sinkhole to stop food scraps from entering the drain. 
• Pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain at least once a week or when you don’t intend to use the sink for a while. 
• Pour any left-over boiling water down the sinkhole every time you boil water in a kettle to kill off bacteria. 
• Inspect your kitchen sink pipes regularly to ensure they’re clean.