Have you been leaning over your kitchen sink wondering, “Where in the world is that awful smell coming from?”  

You’ve scrubbed, rinsed, opened windows, and maybe even lit a pure beeswax candle, but the mysterious odor lingers.

That’s where we come in!

At Branch Basics, we believe in safe, healthy, and effective products for your home – especially in the kitchen, where food comes into contact with various surfaces, including the sink.

By choosing natural, human-safe cleaning alternatives, you’re protecting both your home and the planet. 

So whether you’re dealing with a stinky sink, drain, or garbage disposal, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s figure out why your kitchen sink smells bad and how to fix it.

Common Causes Of Kitchen Sink Smells

The first step to getting rid of bad kitchen sink smells is to figure out what’s causing them. Common causes include food debris, grease, soap scum, and even leaking pipes.

Food Debris

Rinsing, dishwashing, and meal prep can all lead to build up of food particles in your kitchen sink if left unattended.

Food debris stuck on sink walls, in a garbage disposal and pipes can lead to the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew, causing unpleasant odors. 

Grease Build Up

When you pour grease down the drain, it doesn’t just wash away – it sticks to the pipes.

Over time, this build up traps food particles, blocks water flow, and can lead to a smelly sink.

Leaking Pipes 

If your sink has a rotten egg-like odor, leaking or damaged pipes could be the cause.

Often, this type of odor signals an issue with the P-trap. A curved pipe under the kitchen sink that prevents sewer gases from escaping.

If you suspect damaged or leaking pipes, it’s best to call a local plumber to assess and fix the problem.

Soap Scum 

Over time, hand and dishwashing can cause soap scum to build up inside your pipes, creating a wall that traps food, grease, and bacteria.

This can cause the drain to clog, preventing water from flowing freely. As stagnant water mixes with food debris, you may begin to notice bad smells coming from the sink.

Natural Solutions to Get Rid of Kitchen Sink Smells

Now that you’ve identified the cause, let’s take a look at some natural solutions to get rid of bad kitchen sink smells.

Boiling Water

For slow-moving drains or bad smells coming from the pipes, try pouring a pot of boiling water* down the drain. Optional: Add a few drops to ⅛ teaspoon of Branch Basics Concentrate to the boiling water.

The boiling water loosens food, grease, and soap scum to release any clogs. The surfactant action in Branch Basics enhances the ability to clear pipes of grease and grime.

After the clog releases, try deodorizing with one of the options below.

*Note: If you have PVC pipes, skip the boiling water and opt for hot water instead. Boiling water could damage PVC piping, causing further issues.

If you’re unsure, use hot or very warm water. It may take a few extra passes, but it’s better than damaging your pipes.

Lemons + Ice

The citric acid in lemon juice has natural antibacterial and degreasing properties, making it an excellent natural and non-toxic way to clean your sink.

If the odor is coming from your garbage disposal, try the lemon and ice trick.

Here’s how:

1. For your safety, turn off the power to the garbage disposal.
   
2. Fill it with ice cubes and lemon slices.
   
3. Turn the power back on and run the disposal, grinding up the ice and lemons.
   
4. Run cool water as the disposal works to flush everything down the pipes.

The ice helps clean the blades, while the lemon deodorizes and leaves a fresh, citrus scent behind.

For extra cleaning power, sprinkle baking soda onto a lemon half. Rinse off the sink then scrub it with the lemon. Rinse again for a deodorized, clean sink.

Baking Soda + Vinegar 

Combine baking soda and vinegar* to make one of our favorite natural cleaners for sinks and drains.

This safe and effective combo grabs onto and dissolves food, grease, and soap scum buildup, while vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant, keeping your sink bacteria- and odor-free.

To clean the sink:

1. Remove all food, dishes, and other items from the sink. 
   
2. Wipe the sink down with a wet microfiber cloth to remove loose food debris.
   
3. Sprinkle baking soda, covering the sides and basin.
   
4. With a damp, soft sponge, gently scrub the sink in a circular motion. Let dwell for 5-10 minutes.
   
5. Follow with a vinegar rinse, pouring the vinegar over the baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz for a few minutes before moving onto the next step.
   
6. Rinse with warm water.
   
7. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe and buff the sink clean.

If you suspect the bad smell is coming from the drain, garbage disposal, or the pipes, use baking soda and vinegar to clean and deodorize them.

Here’s how:

1. Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda down the drain.
   
2. Follow with a cup of vinegar.
   
3. Let fizz for about 10 minutes.
   
4. Rinse with hot or boiling water.

This method is gentle on your pipes but tough on buildup.

*Note: This is one of the few applications where we recommend using baking soda and vinegar together, as they can cancel each other out in other cleaning applications (acid plus alkaline).

The foaming action created by the process enhances the process through a mechanical action instead of a chemical reaction. In this drain cleaning process, it is more about the fizzing action and the hot water flush being useful. 

Additionally, exercise caution when cleaning with vinegar, especially when spraying. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is an eye and lung irritant.

Make sure to avoid breathing the fumes and provide good ventilation to clear the acetic acid from the air.

Do not spray or use vinegar for cleaning when babies, children, or people with chronic illnesses are present.

Learn more in How to Clean a Garbage Disposal with Baking Soda and Vinegar.

Branch Basics Oxygen Boost 

Branch Basics Oxygen Boost contains baking soda plus sodium percarbonate, both of which are powerful and effective natural deodorizers.

If your kitchen sink smells bad, try deep cleaning it with Oxygen Boost. This is especially effective on the build-up of soap scum, food particles, and on mold and mildew.

Here’s how:

1. Spray All-Purpose and sprinkle Oxygen Boost in the sink.
   
2. Wet the Oxygen Boost with more All-Purpose spray.
   
3. Let sit for 10 minutes, scrub, and rinse.

For more, check out How To Use Branch Basics Oxygen Boost [Complete Guide]. 

Regular Cleaning 

Cleaning your sink regularly helps prevent germs, bacteria, and bad smells.

Use a human-safe, nonabrasive cleaner, like Branch Basics All-Purpose, and warm water to freshen up the drain, basin, and faucet. Rinse well and buff with a dry microfiber cloth.

Don’t forget the P-trap! A few times a month, clear out any buildup by following one of the methods above. 

Why Choose A Natural Drain Cleaner? 

Many conventional drain cleaners contain highly dangerous chemicals that kill and injure thousands of children, adults, and pets every year.[1]

The main ingredient, sodium hydroxide, is so caustic that ingestion can cause:

• Burning of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach
  
• Internal tissue damage
  
• Extreme abdominal pain
  
• Difficulty breathing due to throat swelling
  
• A rapid drop in blood pressure
  
• Collapse
  
• And even death[2]

In contrast, a natural drain cleaner combines safe, harmful-chemical free products that work together to dissolve clogs and force them out of the pipes using pressure.

For example, combining baking soda with a natural acid, like vinegar, creates a chemical reaction that dissolves the clog.

Follow that up with a hot or boiling water rinse, which creates pressure to drive the clog down the drain.

Natural drain cleaners contain no harmful chemicals, do not produce caustic fumes, and will not damage your pipes.

Learn more in Natural Drain Cleaners: 5 Safe Options For Your Home. 

3 Ways to Prevent Your Kitchen Sink From Smelling 

Now that the odor is gone, let’s look at a few ways to keep your kitchen sink from smelling bad in the future.

1. Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance tasks like regular cleanings, flushing out the drain and garbage disposal, and checking the P-trap for clogs can help prevent your kitchen sink from smelling.

Staying on top of these simple tasks will help keep your sink clean and odor-free. 

2. Utilize a Drain Cover or Strainer 

Instead of washing food particles down the drain, catch them with a drain cover or strainer. 

Doing this prevents food and other organic materials from building up in the pipes, reducing the chance of foul odors.

3. Monitor What Goes Down the Drain 

To keep your pipes clean, it’s important to be mindful of what goes down the drain.

Water and small food particles are generally okay, but oils, fats, grease, and large chunks of food should be avoided.

Toss the Toxins with Branch Basics 

We hope this article has helped you understand why your kitchen sink smells bad and provided practical steps to identify, eliminate, and prevent odors.

At Branch Basics, we’ve created an all-in-one, human-safe, completely natural cleaning system designed to replace every cleaning and laundry product in your home.

Our Premium Starter Kits (available in refillable plastic or glass) come with our multi-purpose, human-safe, plant- and mineral-based Concentrate. Mix with water to make Laundry, Bathroom, All-Purpose, Streak Free, and Foaming Wash. You’ll also receive a bag of our popular Oxygen Boost!

And while you’re cleaning in the kitchen, be sure to check out our Natural Scrub Brush – great for scrubbing dirty dishes, pots and pans – and our pure, powerful, and plastic-free Dishwasher Tablets. 

For more information on natural cleaning and healthy living, check out our Wellness Center and free Toss the Toxins Online Course.

Resources:

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/UnintentionalPediatricPoisonInjuryEstimatesfor2019.pdf?J2KjzPPB52A
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2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002779.htm