Have you been asking yourself, “What is that awful smell?” the last few times you’ve been in your bathroom? Does it seem to come from the shower after the drain hasn’t been used in a while? The bad news is that it likely is an issue with your plumbing system. The good news is that you can easily fix it on your own. But first, you need to know what might be causing the problem. 

WHY DOES MY DRAIN SMELL SO BAD?

No matter how much you clean or stick to a cleaning schedule, there are some parts of the bathroom that may still exude a bad smell, especially the shower drain. Let's learn how to get rid of shower drain smell. First, we have to start with the drain cover.

CLOG IN THE DRAIN COVER

Does the water seem to be struggling to move down the drain after using the shower? It could be a clogged drain. Think about all the hair, soap, and debris that’s likely made its way into the drain. Some of it can get caught, causing more build-up and an eventual clog. And with all of that not making its way down the drain, you’re likely to notice a smell. 

SMELLS FROM BIOFILM OR MOLD

The water and soap that’s constantly going down the drain can leave a thin layer of biofilm behind. It can also cause mold to build up within the drain—both of which can cause a foul smell.

DRY DRAIN

Shower drains that are used infrequently can suffer something known as dry drain. When your drain pipes dry out from lack of use, which allows bad odors trapped deeper in the system to escape.

DIRTY SHOWER DRAIN

How often are you cleaning the shower? If left unchecked, dirt, grime, soap, and more can build up in the drain and on another shower surface. Sometimes a deep cleaning is all your shower drain needs. 

HOW TO CLEAN A SMELLY SHOWER DRAIN EASILY

Once you believe you’ve identified the culprit, it's time to get cleaning. If your culprit is the shower drain then here are the steps on how you can get rid of smelly drains in the shower. 

REMOVE & CLEAN THE DRAIN COVER

• Remove the drain cover (you may need to use a screwdriver depending on the style of cover.)
• Clean out any debris, hair, or soap from the cover. 
• (Optional) use a drain snake to remove hair or break up clogs deeper in the drain. 
• Once the drain cover is clear and if you snaked the drain, give it a test with hot water.
• Run it for 30-60 seconds.
•  If water doesn’t drain easily, it’s time to contact a local plumbing professional.

REDUCE THE SMELLS FROM DRY DRAIN, MOLD, OR BIOFILM 

• Continue or start regularly deep cleaning the shower and sinks.
• Keep an air freshener handy.
• Run water regularly in infrequently used showers and sinks. 

KEEP IT CLEAN & PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS

If you have vinegar and baking soda at home, then you have just what you need for a DIY cleaning solution. Combining these ingredients doesn’t just make for a cool science experiment; it can help prevent future drain issues. Here’s how to get rid of that smell in bathroom drains.

• Pour a half cup of baking soda down the smelly drain. 
• Allow it to sit and stick on to clogs, hair, and anything else plaguing the drain.
• Pour a half cup of vinegar down the drain.
• You should start hearing the ingredients interact with a fizzling sound.
• Allow it to fizzle for an hour.
• Either get hot water in a bucket or start the hot water and let it run.
• Note: Don’t use boiling water, as it can cause damage to the plumbing. 
   

SCHEDULE A SHOWER DRAINING SERVICE

Not sure you can handle cleaning on your own? You don’t have to. Contact the Stephens Plumbing team for drain cleaning services today. Whether it’s a shower, kitchen, or basement drain, our drain-cleaning plumbers will get your plumbing back into working order.