A smelly drain can make your whole kitchen or bathroom feel off. It’s one of those sneaky problems that starts small and suddenly feels impossible to ignore.

The good news? You probably don’t need anything fancy to fix it.

Most of the time, a few simple things poured down the drain can wipe out odors and keep them from coming back.

In this post, we’ll show you what to pour down drain for smell.

#1 Boiling Water

Let’s start with the most basic (but weirdly effective) fix - boiling water.

Just heat up a big pot or kettle of water until it’s boiling, then carefully pour it straight down the smelly drain. Give it time to work its way down and melt away any greasy build-up, soap scum, or bits of food stuck in there.

If the smell is stubborn, try doing this two or three times in a row, waiting a few seconds between each pour. You’d be surprised how often this alone clears things up.

It’s a quick fix that takes less than 10 minutes and costs basically nothing.

#2 Baking Soda And Vinegar

This is the classic home remedy for a reason - it works

First, pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then follow that with about a full cup of white vinegar. You’ll hear a satisfying fizz as it bubbles and foams - don’t worry, that’s the magic happening.

Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or even longer if the smell is intense. Then pour a full kettle of boiling water down to flush it all away.

It’s gentle, natural, and surprisingly effective.

#3 Lemon Or Citrus Peel

If you have a garbage disposal, this is one of the easiest ways to freshen things up.

The natural oils in citrus peel leave behind a clean, fresh scent while also helping scrape away grime inside the disposal.

Toss a few lemon, lime, or orange peels into the disposal. Turn it on while running cold water for about 20 seconds. That’s it. Your kitchen instantly smells better.

No disposal? No problem. You can still slice up a lemon or a few peels, boil them in water for 5-10 minutes, and then pour the citrusy water down the drain. That works too and adds a nice, clean scent to the kitchen.

#4 Salt And Hot Water

This one’s simple, cheap, and surprisingly effective.

Take half a cup of regular table salt and pour it right down the drain. Follow that up with a kettle of boiling hot water. Let it sit for a bit before running any more water down.

The salt acts like a mild scrubber, helping to break up grime or grease that’s clinging to the sides of the pipe. It’s especially useful if your drain has that funky kitchen smell from old food or oil buildup.

This method is low-effort and a good option to do right before bed, giving it time to work overnight while the smelly drain's not in use.

#5 Dish Soap And Hot Water

If your drain smells like old fried food or bacon grease, yeah, that’s probably from, well… grease. And nothing tackles grease like a good squirt of dish soap.

Here’s what to pour down drain for smell:

Squirt a generous amount of grease-cutting dish soap (think Dawn or something similar) right into the drain. Then pour in hot (but not boiling) water. You want it hot enough to melt grease, but not so hot that it damages your pipes (especially if you’ve got PVC pipes).

This method works especially well in kitchen sinks. It helps wash away oily buildup that may be sticking to the sides of the drain and causing the stink.

Super easy, and you probably already have everything you need.

Bonus move: Do this every time you finish a big greasy cleanup in the kitchen.

#6 Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaner

Sometimes you need a little help from something made for the job.

Enzyme-based drain cleaners use natural bacteria and enzymes to eat away at the stuff that causes clogs and smells like hair, soap scum, and leftover food.

They’re super effective, and way gentler on your pipes than chemical-based options.

These cleaners work best if you give them time. Pour the recommended amount down the drain before bed, then rinse with hot water in the morning.

Since they’re gentle, you can use them regularly to prevent smells from coming back.

#7 Borax

Borax might not be on your radar, but it should be.

It’s a powerhouse cleaning powder that’s often used in laundry, but it also works great in drains, so it's a good option to pour down drain for smell.

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of borax directly into the smelly drain. Then pour in about a cup of hot water. Let that sit for 15 to 30 minutes, giving it time to break down odor-causing gunk. After that, flush with more hot water.

Borax helps deodorize and clean at the same time.

Just don’t mix it with other chemicals, and use it in moderation. A little goes a long way.

#8 Bleach (Diluted)

Okay, this one’s a little more intense, so save it for when nothing else works.

Bleach can kill bacteria that might be causing bad smells, but you’ve gotta be careful. Don’t just dump it straight in. Instead, dilute it first. Mix 1 cup of bleach with a gallon of water, then pour it slowly down the drain.

Do NOT use this if you’ve recently poured vinegar or other cleaners down the drain - bleach can react badly with other stuff.

It’s strong, so make sure the area is well-ventilated. And don’t make this a regular habit and make it just something to try when your nose says it’s an emergency.

Bottom Line

Drain smells are the worst, but you’ve got options. And the best part? Most of the solutions above involve stuff you probably already have in your kitchen or laundry room.

You can pour down boiling water, baking soda and vinegar, citrus peels, or even just dish soap can get rid of most drain smells in minutes.

So, next time you catch a whiff of something weird, don’t panic.

What To Pour Down Drain For Smell? (8 Solutions)