I'm Stumped with a Cleaning Issue

LEMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lemon juice anything citrus. hope this helps...

Yes, its probably a clog like everyone has said. If you suspect hair is getting in the drain and a drain cleaner doesn't help, a snake would do the trick. We got one for about $30 at Home Depot for a stubborn clog. Gross and awkward, but effective.

Clorox bleach does wonders

I see you received many recommendation regarding cleaning products - DO NOT mix various cleaners, **especially** bleach and ammonia, for safety reasons. Bleach and ammonia create mustard gas, which is very dangerous!! I don't know what you'll get mixing bleach and Drano, Drano is a mixture of things, but please don't find out the hard way. Your best bet is probably to mechanically remove as much "gunk" from the trap as possible using a snake, and then try cleaning again with whatever cleaner you have been using. If that doesn't work, you need to remove the plumbing under the sink and clean everything out.

There are several good answers here so I won't add to that except to say BE CAREFUL that you DO NOT MIX PRODUCTS. DOING SO COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I know you probably know that already. If you try one thing and it doesn't work, don't quickly jump to another. RINSE, RINSE, RINSE.....I can't say that enough. Good Luck!

boil a pot of water and dump it down???
try a garbage disposal disinfectant....
that is a tuffy, good luck.
Let us know what you do

Hi L.,
I would try pouring some draino or liquid plumber down the drain so it can eat up what's trapped, then I would pour some ammonia or bleach afterwards...try that to see if that works...good luck

Hi!
Just a thought -- you can also try bleach. You are right in the fact that the smell is likely coming from the sink overflow trap, things can stay there a long time. If the sink is cast iron or porcelain, you should not have any problems once you clean the areas well, but if the traps and overflow trap is plastic, it can take up the urea in the urine and smell bad for a while. I'd strongly suggest taking the sing apart as far as possible, cleaning it or letting it sit in some dilute bleach solution, then reassembling it, possibly using new rubber washers. I know it sounds like a huge project but really its not, should take 2 people half a day, not including the soaking. You can try that, doesn't cost much, and you learn how to take apart and install a sink!

I'd try liquid, chlorine bleach at this point. I know it's toxic but sounds like that's what you need. G. B.

On commercials I have seen a foaming drain cleaner...I think it may be for garbage disposals, but it might be worth looking into. I would think a foam would reach the top where maybe the others haven't. Just a thought...good luck!

At the pet store (I went to Pet Supplies Plus) they have lots o fcleaning solutions for your situation. The best I found is called Simple Solutions, it breaks down bodily fluids. Get the gallon jug and keep it under the sink you won't regret it.

-M.

I would try drano gel. It kind of eats up everything in the pipes...just don't forget to rinse.

A

L.,
I was wondering if some of the vomit may have gone into the air hole in the sink? Not the drain but the hole near the top of the sink. Then when you use hot water it realeases that "wonderful aroma".
S.

You may have some clogging going on in the drain so the vomit got stuck in with that. Try a drain cleaner then after rinsing VERY well, pour some bleach down the sink and don't rinse it down for 10 minutes.

I agree with the others... Throw some bleach down there...
Vinegar is a great cleaner and disinfectant for alot of situations, but sometimes you gotta just bleach it out and see how it goes.

Good luck :O)

Have you taken the trap out? It is the U shaped thing under the sink. There might be some "Stuff" sitting in it.
K.

Have you tried Liquid Plumber? Maybe "stuff" is stuck down there. I don't know what type of sink you have, but for bad odors, I've poured bleach down my kitchen sink and it takes out the odor and stains.

Could be that some of it went into the overflow (the little hold near the top of the bowl) and that is where the odor is coming from. Perhaps some extra cleaning solutions down there might help to give you some relief. Good luck!

Peroxide works wonders and its cheep!! We have bathroom sink that gets stinking every month and 1/2 or so, all it takes is pouring some peroxide down the drain and the overflow hole and there is no odrer for another month and a half. (without taking anything apart!!) Not sure what builds up in the drain between brushing teeth, kids washing hands, and hubby's working out side all the time hands being washed?
I also but some in my liquid hand soap for a sanitizer, better than what is in the store bought.!

S.

You may have some stuff stuck in your drain. My husband and I found this "Zip it" thing at Home Depot (also at Menards). It's only $2 and it's a long plastic device that has teeth on it. You stick it down the drain and then when you pull it back out, the teeth will grab whatever is clogging your drain (normally hair). Then whatever else is stuck in the clog will be cleared and you can then rinse out the drain and hopefully the smell will go away. This is much cheaper than Draino or another drain cleaning product, plus there aren't any chemicals involved. And, you can use it over and over again for only $2. Good luck!!

It is probably the overflow that is 'contaminated'... and smells bad when it gets steamed. Replacing the sink itself is probably sufficient, but you could also just take it apart, and clean it out -- including the overflow. If you have one, a long flexible bottle brush may make it possible to clean without taking it apart.

Have you tried removing the faucet and cleaning the area. I'm wondering some went under the faucet area. Just a thought! Good Luck!

Yes, I agree with the others that "stuff" my still be in the trap. Take it apart and soak in bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

GL:)