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Clean Up Your Septic Tank & Kitchen Sink

cleaning kitchen

The most difficult job after my daughter was born was not taking care of her, but getting a house maid. A few weeks of search confirmed that it is the most demanding at the same time having utmost scarcity to find such a resource.

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Cleaning and washing have turned into the most dreadful jobs. Kitchen sink has become a battle scene every day. Septic tank, a holocaust site once a year! There is always something which will get stuck in these places. I was afraid if I get used to the nauseating foul smell emanating from these. Somehow, I had strongly believed that neither I nor my family members are incapable of doing the cleaning job. Let’s see how we can deal with septic tank and kitchen sink.

The septic tank is a place where all the waste is decomposed and stored, but because of the anti-bacterial cleansers used, there aren’t adequate bacteria in the septic tank to eat away the waste. Hence, individual septic tanks tend to develop an odor when the pH level is too acidic. Those who experience the predicament of a foul-smelling septic tank need to ensure that necessary steps are promptly taken to get rid of the smell before it worsens.

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Causes of Foul Smell

The septic tank is full: The commonest cause is that the septic tank is full; this is the easiest to resolve: you need to have it pumped.

In case you have a leaky faucet, or are using more water than usual, you need to have the septic tank pumped oftener to diminish the odor.

Clogged septic tank vent: Septic tanks ought to have a vent installed which permits gases from the sewage to escape, thereby averting a buildup of toxic methane gases. Occasionally, the vent may get clogged by snow, nest or a frog. Check the vent to see that the gases are escaping. A clogged vent could be the cause of your septic tank odor, which can be rather disagreeable.

Covered septic tank vent: If your home has been remodeled or altered since the septic tank was installed, it could have been covered up. A number of tanks were built to vent into the attic, so if the attic has been converted into a room, that room may experience odors from time to time.

No septic tank vent: If your septic tank has been installed by a contractor who wasn’t paying attention, it may have been installed without a vent. Shockingly, this does happen. Without a vent, the odor from the tank comes up through the drains, making the kitchen and bathroom stink.

Getting Rid of Bad Smell in Septic Tank

Never pour more water than necessary. Pouring too much water flushes the baking soda present in the septic tank rapidly and propels extra waste which has not been digested by the microbes outside the tank.

Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain once a week in order to maintain good pH levels in the septic tank. Baking soda absorbs odors and functions as a cleaning agent when mixed with white vinegar. This will clean as well as deodorize the tank.

Do not throw things which will not flush properly, such as, coffee grounds, cigarettes, tissues, or plastic; microbes are unable to decompose them and results in offensive odor.

Mix 1 bucket of hot water with dish soap and pour in to the drain. This flushes the drain and also eliminates the septic tank odor effectively.

Another useful remedy is white vinegar. Vinegar is a deodorizer and a disinfectant which annihilates the bacteria which trigger the horrible odor.

Maintenance of the tank is very essential ensure that you hire professional cleaning service every 5 years.

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kitchen cleaning

Cleaning Up a Kitchen Drain

Before you can clean and deodorize your kitchen drain, you have to remove any food or other debris that is clogging it. If it is just a minor clog, you can probably remove it by picking the food out of the drain with your hands or by just draining more water. Read on to find out how to deal with a more seriously clogged kitchen sink drain and how to deodorize your drain.

Run hot water in the drain

The stinky scent in your drain is most likely caused by bacteria, and hot water can go a long way in beginning to zap. By hot water, this means very hot water, such as when you can see steam coming out of the drain. Just let the water run through for about 15 seconds.

Drop in some baking soda

Once the drain is good and hot, throw in about a teaspoon of baking soda, and keep the hot water coming for another 15 seconds. Baking soda is great for killing odors and this just might do the trick.

If the hot water and baking soda doesn’t quite work at getting rid of the smell, there are several additional cleaning solutions you can try. You can pour about a cup of one of the following substances in the drain, let it sit for about half an hour, and then rinse it out with hot water: table vinegar, bleach or lemon juice. If you are going to use bleach, wear old clothing, since it may spatter when you pour it. And only use it in a well-ventilated area.

If there is still foul odor coming from your drain after trying all of these methods, you may have a more serious plumbing problem, such as a clog further down in your plumbing system. If you’re not sure what the problem is or just don’t feel comfortable dealing with it yourself, it may be time for you to call in a professional.

Dreaded Drain Flies

Though it is not that common, your kitchen drain may be inhabited by “drain flies,” small, furry lies, which can live in pipes and sewers. If the infestation in your home is already severe, or you find you don’t have drain flies but one of their winged cousins instead and you can’t figure out where they are coming from, you may want to call a professional exterminator.

Keeping your Kitchen Drain Clean and Fresh

To prevent odors from lingering in your kitchen drain, scrape your dishes into the trash can instead of down the drain, especially if the food on them is moldy or has a strong odor. Also, run hot water down the sink after each time you use it to wash dishes, and drop a tablespoon of baking soda and/or a cup of vinegar down the drain about once a week to prevent odors from building up.

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Image courtesy: merchantcircle.com , ballhomes.com

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