## How to Clean a Smelly Kitchen Sink Trap
The kitchen sink is one of the most used and abused fixtures in your home. It’s where you wash dishes, rinse fruits and vegetables, and dispose of food scraps. As a result, it can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, which can lead to unpleasant odors.
The sink trap is a U-shaped pipe that is located under the sink. It is designed to trap water and prevent sewer gases from entering your home. However, over time, food scraps, grease, and other debris can build up in the trap, which can lead to a buildup of bacteria and mold. This can cause the trap to smell bad and can even lead to clogs.
If your kitchen sink trap is smelly, there are a few things you can do to clean it.
### What You’ll Need
* White vinegar
* Baking soda
* Salt
* Dish soap
* Bucket
* Sponge
* Scrub brush
* Rags
### Instructions
1. **Fill the bucket with hot water.** Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the water.
2. **Remove the drain stopper.** Pour the vinegar solution into the drain.
3. **Let the solution sit for 15 minutes.** This will give the vinegar time to break down the buildup in the trap.
4. **Flush the drain with hot water.** Run the hot water for several minutes to flush out the vinegar solution and any loosened debris.
5. **Sprinkle baking soda into the drain.** Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drain.
6. **Add salt to the drain.** Pour 1/4 cup of salt into the drain.
7. **Let the baking soda and salt sit for 1 hour.** This will help to further break down the buildup in the trap.
8. **Flush the drain with hot water.** Run the hot water for several minutes to flush out the baking soda and salt solution and any loosened debris.
9. **Pour dish soap into the drain.** Add 1/4 cup of dish soap to the drain.
10. **Use a sponge to scrub the drain.** Scrub the drain thoroughly to remove any remaining buildup.
11. **Rinse the drain with hot water.** Run the hot water for several minutes to rinse out the dish soap and any loosened debris.
12. **Dry the drain with a rag.** Wipe the drain dry with a clean rag to prevent water spots.
### Tips
* If the sink trap is still smelly after cleaning, you may need to remove it and clean it manually. To do this, turn off the water supply to the sink, loosen the nuts that hold the trap in place, and remove the trap. Use a scrub brush to clean the trap thoroughly, and then reinstall it.
* You can also prevent sink traps from smelling by pouring a cup of white vinegar down the drain once a week. This will help to keep the trap clean and free of buildup.
* If you have a garbage disposal, run it for a few seconds after each use to help to flush out food scraps and debris. This will help to keep the disposal and sink trap clean and free of odors.
### Additional Information
In addition to the steps outlined above, there are a few other things you can do to keep your kitchen sink trap clean and free of odors:
* **Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain.** Grease and oil can build up in the trap and cause it to smell bad.
* **Dispose of food scraps in the trash.** Food scraps can attract bacteria and mold, which can lead to odors.
* **Clean the sink strainer regularly.** The sink strainer can trap food scraps and debris, which can lead to odors.
* **Run the hot water for a few minutes every day.** This will help to flush out any buildup in the trap.