What stinks at my sink?

Question

I do not have a disposal with my sink. The drains or something stinks though. I've tried pouring bleach down the drains. I've tried Drano (even though there is no clog). I've tried baking soda and boiling water. I've even tried to put the heat all the way up on the water tank in the basement because it was suggested that the water stinks. I don't know if that's true because none of the other sinks or tub stink. I do notice that my sponge stinks even after a day. This is a new house for us (our first one) - not new per se, but new to us. The house we used to rent from never had this problem so I am at a loss on how to fix this "stinky" problem. Please help. Serious answers only. Thanks!!!!

Update:

I do not have well water.

DR. Plumb · Accepted Answer

change the P-trap and the pop-up under your sink. P trap being the j looking drain thing and the pop up is the drain thing at the bottom of the bowl of the sink. all avail at Lowes or Home depot and realitivly easy to install. It stinks because of toothpaste and scum in these two things. Try this first. If not get back at me.

Anonymous · Answer

The problem lies in the water escaping from the P-trap or the U shaped pipe under your sink. The water that stays in this pipe is the seal between the sewer gases and your house. If the vent on this sink is stopped up (the vent is a pipe you cant see going to the roof behind the wall) the water from the trap will siphon out and break the seal between the sewer gases and your sink. This is most likely the problem. It can also have a studor vent bad. These are normally used in mobile homes. Hope this helps.

Tapestry6 · Answer

Zap your sponge each day in the microwave for 10 seconds that will kill any bacteria on it.  
As far as the drain is concerned look beyond the drain.. look under the sink.. call in an exterminator to make sure there isn't something in the walls that is dead that might be causing the smell, make sure there isn't any veg that might have rolled into a cupboard and is rotting there( that happened to us one time a potato ended up between the frig and the stove.. we couldn't find the smell for days.

MAttsprat · Answer

Make sure you don't have a small leak under the sink. A mold and mildew problem might be where the odor is coming from. Could the smell be coming from your trash can? Maybe something is rotting that you aren't able to see! Good Luck! Let us know how you make out!!

dreynolds699 · Answer

try putting lemon juice down the drain it should help with the odor ,I have a garbage disposal so i just drop a lemon in it about once a month or so but since you don't pick up a bottle of pure lemon juice and pour a couple cap fulls down the drain every month you should notice a difference in no time

mrsdeli · Answer

You probably have a grease build up in the pipes.  It can be as far down as your main pipe.  Try using the foaming liquid plumber once a week for the next four weeks.  The foam really cuts the grease and loosens up anything that is caught in the grease.

tom the plumber · Answer

do you have water traps ie to keep sewer smells out of the home,or check your roof drain vents.the sponge is soured water it smells like pee.

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What stinks at my sink?

7 Answers