Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wes1989]

I moved into a new place and it smells. The building is new but I think there is a smell coming from the sink drain. It smells like eggs, fart and garbage. I put a rubber plug in the sink hole but it still smells. One friend said to get a rubber sheet and cut it to the dimension of the sink and put it over top. Another said to use some pipe cleaning chemicals. Anyone have this issue? How did you get rid of the smell?

[T-J]

Look under your sink. I'm guessing the pipe runs straight down and you don't have a P trap.

If this is the case your only real solution is to instal one or have one installed.

Without it the smell will always come up. You can try to block it, cover it, clean it, but without a P trap it's a losing battle.

[wes1989]

[Lucas]

Now is Kimchi making season. ppl in their apts are making kimchi on their balconies and then throwing the little bits of cabbage down the drain.

They are too lazy to pick them up!

[Steelrails]

Send some ammonia/bleach/other chemical (Not at the same time) down there. Sometimes that can buy some relief.

[mayorhaggar]

My sink drains are really weird (but probably totally normal here), the drain pipe is surrounded by a second sunken bit with water that just pools in it and never drains. Usually it seems ok but sometimes that water gets fetid as hell and really smelly.

Also are there ANY sink basket things (the things you put in the drain to catch food bits) that don't clog up the sink and let the water flow into the drain properly? I've tried several but they all make the water back up to some degree.

[lemak]

[FriendlyDaegu]

[chrisinkorea2011]

a safer alternative to bleach is to pour vinegar down the drain, usually works wonders. I have a P trap and smell sometimes still comes out a little during the summer hot months. I pour vinegar and it helps to get rid of a chunk of the smell.

[joseph921]

I second the vinegar. I use baking soda and vinegar to clean everything including removing smells from the drain.

Believe it or not, soju left out in a bowl also absorbs odors and smells in the air...u can leave a bottle of it out to deodorize your room.