Let’s face it: there’s nothing quite as off-putting as walking into your bathroom and being hit with a foul smell wafting up from the drain. It ruins the whole clean, relaxing feel we all want from our bathrooms. Whether it’s a rotten egg smell or just a general mustiness, it usually means something’s going wrong inside your plumbing.
If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of a drain smell in the bathroom, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common issues people face especially in older homes or in bathrooms that don’t get used often. But don’t worry. You don’t need to tear up tiles or pour a bottle of bleach down the plughole. In most cases, a bit of know-how and regular maintenance is all it takes to clear up the problem.
What’s Causing the Smell?
Before you start fixing it, it helps to know what’s actually causing the odour. One of the most common culprits is the P-trap that curved bit of pipe under your sink or shower. It’s designed to hold water, which acts as a seal to stop sewer gases from rising up into your bathroom. But if the trap dries out (which happens more often than you’d think), the barrier disappears and suddenly your nose is dealing with things it shouldn’t.
Then there’s the issue of build-up inside the drain a nasty mixture of hair, soap scum, toothpaste, skin cells and whatever else goes down your plughole. Over time, that mix starts to rot, creating the kind of smell you just can’t ignore. In showers especially, it can also form a bacterial layer called biofilm a slimy sludge that loves to cling to your pipes and stink up the place.
In some cases, the smell could be coming from something deeper like a blocked or damaged vent pipe or a hidden leak in the plumbing. But let’s not jump ahead. There are several steps you can take before calling a professional.
Step 1: Flush It Out
Start by running hot water down the drain for a good minute or two. If your bathroom isn’t used regularly like a guest en suite or downstairs loo this might be enough to refill the trap and block any odours from below. You’d be surprised how often that alone does the trick.
Step 2: Give It a Deep Clean
Next, take a closer look inside the drain. If you can remove the plug or drain cover, do it. Use an old toothbrush, a gloved hand, or a drain snake to remove what you can. Then rinse it thoroughly. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. The fizzing reaction helps break down buildup and neutralises odours. Let it sit for 15–20 minutes, then rinse again with boiling water.
Step 3: Tackle Persistent Smells
If the smell comes back quickly after cleaning, there could be organic material deeper in the pipes. In that case, an enzyme-based drain cleaner might help. These cleaners use natural bacteria to eat away at organic waste they’re slower than chemical cleaners, but much more effective at getting rid of the source of smells, not just masking them.
Also, be mindful of what’s going down your bathroom drains. Avoid letting oils, grease (yes, it happens), or large chunks of product slip through. Even toothpaste residue can build up over time.
Still Smells? It Might Be Time for a Plumber
If you’ve cleaned the drain, flushed the trap, and maybe even tried an enzyme cleaner and that smell is still hanging around then it’s probably time to call in a professional. Persistent odours could mean there’s a venting issue, a hidden leak, or even problems with your main sewer line.
These aren’t always visible to the naked eye and often need specialist tools to diagnose. But the good news? Once the cause is found, it’s usually an easy fix.
Keep the Smell from Coming Back
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate problem, it’s worth taking a few minutes every now and then to prevent it from coming back. Run hot water through all your drains once a week, especially in rarely used bathrooms. Clean the plugholes and drain covers regularly. And every now and then, repeat the vinegar and baking soda routine it takes five minutes and works like magic.
Need Help Getting Rid of That Bathroom Drain Smell?
At Plumbing Immediately, we’ve dealt with every type of drain problem you can imagine from simple blockages to complex plumbing issues that hide behind walls. We don’t just mask the smell; we get to the root of it.
If your bathroom drain smells are driving you mad, give us a call. We offer fast, reliable drain cleaning services across London and we’re available for emergency callouts too.
Call now, let’s get your bathroom back to smelling the way it should.
Bathroom drain smells are never pleasant, but they’re rarely permanent. With a bit of regular maintenance and a helping hand when needed you can keep your drains clear and your bathroom fresh. The key is acting fast and not ignoring the problem.
Because the longer you wait, the worse it gets. And nobody wants their bathroom to smell like the sewer.
Say goodbye to bathroom drain smells for good
Don’t let lingering odours ruin your space or signal a bigger plumbing issue. Whether it’s a simple clean-out or a deeper pipe problem, our expert plumbers are ready to help. We offer fast, friendly, and professional drain cleaning and repairs across London.
