The best way to counter this is to regularly clean with quality, bacteria-combating products that, preferably, do not also cause harm to yourself or the environment. This is easy enough for the daily stuff, especially with our nifty starter packs. But, how do you do that one bigger job that not only holds a good chunk of the room’s germs but also stinks when not properly cleaned? That is the kitchen sink drain. Here’s how to get it done, quickly, easily, and without the harsh chemicals found in common drain cleaners.
Cleaning the kitchen sink drain
Your drain should be deep cleaned at least once a month, and this is due to the fairly fast build-up of food scraps, fats and oils, soap scum, bacteria, and even hair. These things can clog up or corrode your pipes, and aside from smelling bad, can cost you repair money in the long run.
There are a few ways you can start this process, and there is some debate as to the most effective (Check out this interesting experiment from Bren Did!). We have tried both, separately and combined, and they seem to work equally well in terms of ridding smell and eliminating water buildup from clogs. We will list them as the combined method, but you can choose to use just the bicarb /vinegar method, or the boiling water/dishwashing liquid method if you prefer.
Step 1:
Remove the strainer.
Using a highly effective, but safe, dishwashing detergent (like our Chamomile Dishwashing Liquid), squirt or pour a generous amount into the drain, using a circular motion to try to make contact with the internal surface of the pipe.
Step 2:
Use between half a cup and a full cup of bicarb soda to sprinkle into the drain and allow to sit for a few minutes. You can do this a spoonful at a time, or a funnel can also be very useful for this.
Step 3:
Pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain. The combination of bicarb soda and vinegar fizz and expands, eating away at grime and debris and pushing it down the drain. The dishwashing liquid and vinegar component removes even the clingiest of soap scum from the pipe walls.
Let this sit for several minutes.
Step 4:
Pour a full jug of boiling water down the drain to clear everything out.
That’s it! The whole thing should take no longer than 10 minutes and your kitchen sink drain is back to being as good as new for another month.
