I tried bleach/hotwater method, but is it time to call the plumber? November 16, 2012   SubscribeI tried bleach/hotwater method, but is it time to call the plumber?The smell is absolutely nasty. An accumulation of rotting hair and grease from soap can clog up your drain and emit a putrid, rotten egg odor into the room. Don't call a costly plumber. Most likely, you can clean out that shower drain yourself - and WITHOUT chemicals. The fumes from chemical drain cleaners are toxic and harmful to children, pets and adults. They're not good for the environment, either. In addition, the chemicals can damage metal pipes. If this isn't enough, the high price of these cleaning products should also be considered. How to clean out the shower drain Warning: This is NOT a job you want to do in your best clothes or on a queasy stomach! Have the following supplies handy: Plastic grocery bag (without holes) 3/4 cup baking soda 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar A large, old rag

A pot of boiling water Remove the shower drain cover, being careful not to drop any screws down the drain. Using rubber gloves, clean the drain cover of any accumulated hair. Bend a metal coat hanger so that the hanger portion forms a hook. Use this to fish out any clumps of slimy hair that might be clogging the shower drain. Better Homes And Gardens Fake CoverHave an old plastic grocery bag handy to catch the mess. Buying Used Rims CheckQuickly tie the bag shut to contain the odor.Fix Pvc Pipe Leak Under Sink Have the baking soda, vinegar and rag ready at hand. Pour the baking soda down the shower drain. Pour the vinegar down the drain right after. Immediately plug the shower drain with the rag. The baking soda and vinegar will react together to form a bubbling brew that the rag will help contain.

Use this time to bring a pot of water to a boil. Remove the rag and slowly pour all the boiling water down the drain. Run clear water from the shower to test if the drain is running clear. If not, repeat the process. Open the window and air out your bathroom. You may need to repeat the process the next day if the odor persists. If this attempt to clean out the shower drain has failed and the odor still fills the room, the clog may be further down the pipe requiring the use of a sewer snake. If this totally grosses you out, it might be time to call in the plumber. This "Go green" method of cleaning out the shower drain, however, usually does the trick, so it's worth a try. More "Go green" cleaning Make your own eco-friendly cleaning productsCleaning with vinegarEco-friendly kitchen cleaning suppliesPour the entire contents of the bottle down the plughole. Mr Muscle® Kitchen & Bathroom Drain Gel 500ml powers through standing water, straight to the blockage.

Allow to work for 5 minutes. For tough clogs, leave to work longer. Flush with hot water from the tap. To keep sinks and plugholes clean, use Mr Muscle® Kitchen & Bathroom Drain Gel weekly. To clear slow running drains and deep clean your entire pipe use Mr Muscle® Kitchen & Bathroom Drain Foamer.Do not squeeze bottle. When using product, keep hands, face and children away from the treated area. Do not use a plunger afterwards as the product may still be present if the plughole did not clear. Do not re-use empty container. Do not use in sinks with waste disposal units, in toilets or on old, damaged or worn enamel or chrome. Contains Sodium hypochlorite Sodium hydroxide Amines, C12-18-alkyldimethyl, N-oxides May be corrosive to metals. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand. Keep out of reach of children. Do not breathe fume.

Wear protective gloves / eye protection. Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/ physician. IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/ Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/ shower. IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. IF SWALLOWED: rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Keep only in original container. Wash hands thoroughly after handling.Do not use together with other products. May release dangerous gases (chlorine). Keep container tightly closed in a cool place and store bottle upright. Contains < 5% chlorine-based bleaching agents, soap, amphoteric surfactantsHouseBathroomHow to Clean Smelly Drains How to Clean Smelly Drains Got a blocked drain or a drain with feral breath?   The kitchen is usually the worst culprit with small scraps of food getting caught.  Really drains are like mouths, if food gets caught, it starts to rot and causes bad breath.

We can tell you how to clean smelly drains before going to the expense of getting a plumber in. Things you will need: 2 cups of bicarb 2 cups of white vinegar a kettle full of freshly boiled water 1. Place one cup of bicarb into the sink. Do it slowly so some goes down the drain; some will sit in the plug hole and that’s fine. 2. Get one cup of white vinegar and pour onto the bicarb. Be careful you don’t breathe in the fumes as they can be quite strong. 3. Let the sink bubble for 20 minutes or so. Pour the jug full of boiling water down the drain.  Wait for 20 minutes and repeat with the remaining bicarb and vinegar. How do you clean your stinky drains?Edit ArticleHow to Remove Bathroom Odors Three Methods:Eliminating OdorsCleaning Your BathroomMaking ChangesCommunity Q&A Bathrooms odors are a common source of embarrassment. You may want to cover up smells made by toilet use. You may also notice a musty, foul smell in your bathroom due to poor cleaning techniques.

In either case, there are many options to keep your bathroom smelling fresh. You can look into different methods to eliminate toilet odors, change your cleaning regimen, and make small changes to your bathroom routine.If you want to cover up embarrassing odors, proper ventilation is key. Simple air flow can help reduce smells. If you have an overhead fan, turn it on after bathroom use. If you don't, open the bathroom window to let air enter. Don't just ventilate after using the toilet. Turn on the fan or open a window after a shower as well. The moist air from a hot shower can cause mildew to buildup, resulting in a musty smelling bathroom. Use odor eliminators over air fresheners. Many people keep a spray bottle on the back of the toilet to freshen the bathroom after use. If you go this route, invest in products labeled "odor eliminator" over simple air fresheners. Air fresheners cover the smell. They do not actually eliminate the odor and the smell will remain once the product wears off.

If the smell is strong, it may even be detectable over the scent of the air freshener. Odor eliminators seek to neutralize odors. They cover smells quicker and more effectively. When at your local supermarket, look for products identified as odor eliminators. There are a wide variety of odor eliminators on the market, so you may have to do some trial and error before you find a product that works for you. You can read product reviews online to get a sense of which products work most effectively at eliminating odors. Look into air purifiers. If your bathroom has very poor air circulation, an odor eliminator alone may not cut it. Look into an air purifier, a plug-in device that helps increase air circulation and remove odor-causing bacteria from your bathroom's air. You can buy an air purifier at a department store or order one online. Air purifiers range in price. Top-rate purifiers can cost as much as $250, but may be unnecessary if their intended use is for a small bathroom. You can buy a smaller, cheaper purifier for $25 to $50.

Your problem may not just be due to toilet use. You may have an issue with mildew. In this case, invest in desiccants. Desiccants are dry materials designed to absorb water. Common desiccants include silica gels, which often comes in packages. You can use a synthetic desiccant, like silica gel, as long as you apply the powder in an area out of reach of children and animals. Desiccants can be toxic if swallowed. You can also keep desiccants in a small plastic container with holes poked in the lids. Plants are natural desiccants. Ferns or lily plants can help remove unwanted odors from your bathroom and leave it smelling fresh. Make a homemade air freshener. Homemade air fresheners may be more effective than store bought products. If an odor eliminator isn't cutting it, try making your own air freshener. For one air freshener, mix three parts water, one part vodka, and 10 to 20 drops of essential oils, such as lavender oil or eucalyptus oil. You can purchase essential oils at a local health or vitamin shop.

Place the mixture in a spray bottle and leave on the back of the toilet. If the above mixture leaves an alcohol-like odor, try mixing two cups of water with a tablespoon of white vinegar, a teaspoon of baking soda, and 10 drops of essential oils. Put in a spray bottle and leave on the back of your toilet. Use baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. Sometimes, the area around your toilet needs a good cleaning. This can help remove set-in odors that are causing a bad smell. A mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar may work well. These products are often effective at reducing odor. Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. Fresh lemon juice is best. Mix the substances together until your paste has the consistency of pancake batter. Spread this paste along the bottom of the toilet and the toilet seat using a damp rag. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Place some vinegar in a spray bottle. After 10 or 15 minutes, spray the vinegar along the paste. Let it fizzle for a moment and then wipe off using your rag.

Use essential oils when cleaning. Essential oils provide a powerful and pleasant odor. If your bathroom smell is an issue, consider adding a few drops of essential oils to a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol. Use this to clean areas like your sink and toilet bowl. Some essential oils, like cedar oil, have anti-fungal properties that can help neutralize and remove unwanted scents. Clean the toilet tank. Toilet tanks, if not cleaned regularly, can retain a urine smell. Many people neglect the toilet tank when engaging in routine bathroom cleaning. You can easily clean the toilet tank with white vinegar. Open the toilet tank. Pour a half cup of vinegar in the tank. Then, put on some rubber gloves. Use a scrub brush to wash the sides of the tank. Then, flush the toilet. Add more vinegar and repeat the process a few times. Clean the bathroom regularly. Simply cleaning your bathroom on a regular basis can help with odors. You should do a routine cleaning once a week. Clean the toilet bowl, lid, and the sides of the toilet.

Clean the bathtub and shower, as well as the sink. You can use over-the-counter cleaning products or your own mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. Regular cleaning prevents odors from building up and causing problems. Use high-quality commercial products when cleaning. Look for products that are specifically designed to target odor. It can help to know what kind of materials things like your sink, tub, and tiles are made out of, as certain cleaners may work best on certain surfaces.Clogs in drains are frequently the cause of bathroom odor. Make sure to clean out drains if you notice water backing up frequently. You should also take measures to prevent drains each month. Remove the drain stopper and clean off any hair, dirt, or debris on the stopper. You can use white vinegar and water to clean a drain stopper. You can use a straightened coat hanger to reach down the drain. You can either push the clog through or pull it out using the hanger. You can also use a plunger, plunging the drain 5 to 6 times, if a coat hanger fails to address a clogged drain.

Use hot water, leaving the tap running for several minutes. This will help flush out any dirt and debris that may be causing bathroom odor. Once a month, mix half a cup of vinegar with a half a cup of baking soda. Pour this down your drain. This will clean out the drain, help remove clogs, and neutralize any odor caused by your bathroom's drain.Mold is a common cause of odor in a bathroom. It can also be a health concern. Make a point of periodically checking your bathroom for signs of mold. While you may think spotting mold is easy, mold can often be subtle. It may be overlooked or mistaken for soot or dirt. You may notice speckles of black along your bathroom ceiling, for example. If these marks resurface after cleaning, and seem to expand, you may have a mold problem. Look under the sink. Mold commonly begins to grow around the pipes under the sink, especially if water sometimes leaks out. Recognize the symptoms of mold exposure. If you don't see any mold, but have any of the following symptoms, consider having a professional mold inspection done in your bathroom.

Symptoms include wheezing, rashes, watering eyes, red eyes, itchy eyes, and a runny nose.Caulk is found between bathroom tiles and may also run along the walls of a bathroom. It can contribute to bathroom odor. Over time, caulk becomes porous and absorbs odors. If your bathroom smell does not respond to routine cleaning, remove old caulk with an X-acto knife. Replace it with fresh caulk. You can buy bathroom caulk at a local hardware store. Close the lid after flushing. Sometimes, small changes can make a big impact on bathroom smells. Remember to close the lid after using the bathroom. This can prevent unpleasant odors from leaking into the air. Take out the trash regularly. If you have a wastebasket in your bathroom, take it out at least once a week. Any trash that's left sitting out can build up odors over time, resulting in a foul smell. Regular trash removal can be very effective in combating bathroom odors.As bathrooms are frequently damp environments, towels can get musty fast.