All kinds of nasty-smelling crud can build up in the pipes beneath your kitchen sink, especially if you’re one of the many out there without a garbage disposal. This trick will help you keep your sink from getting smelly over time.
Pouring boiling water into the sink isn’t a new method by any means, but The Kitchn commenter AMLitt shares a helpful tip for using boiling water to take out smells before they have the chance to develop:
My former landlord taught me the old boiling water trick for clearing junk out of older, weaker pipes. Every time you boil a kettle, instead of letting the water cool again, just pour whatever’s left right down the sink. If you’re like me and use a French press a few times a week, it helps a lot.
There’s probably not much left in your kettle every time you use it anyway, so make good use of that water and fight off those smells. When things get really bad, you can never go wrong with a little baking soda and vinegar mixed in there as well. If you happen to have a garbage disposal, some lemon and vinegar ice cubes might save the day.
Update: A few of you have noted that boiling water can potentially harm household drains. Let the leftover boiling water cool for a few minutes before you pour it so it’s more like you’re pouring “hot water” as opposed to boiling. Additionally, do not pour an entire pot of boiling water down your drain, just what’s leftover after letting it cool a little bit. Running some warm water from the faucet at the same time you pour will also help absorb some of the excess heat if you’re concerned.
10 Ways to Get Rid of That Awful Smell in Your Kitchen Sink | The Kitchn
Photo by Kelly Sikkema.