Why drains start to smell
Remove hair and residue from the shower strainer. Distinguish visible dirt, a dry trap and a possible blockage before taking further action.
Strainers and hair traps collect hair, soap residue, skin flakes and, in the kitchen, food scraps and grease. This mixture stays warm and damp and begins to smell over time. At the same time it slows the flow of water, so water stands longer in the shower.
The good news is that most of these deposits sit right at the top, within easy reach in the strainer or cover. Cleaning there regularly by hand prevents many problems before they develop deeper in the pipe. You do not need special tools or strong chemicals for this.
Cleaning the strainer by hand
Wear household gloves. Lift out the cover or strainer if it can be removed without tools, as the manufacturer intends. Remove hair and residue with your fingers or an old cloth and put it in the rubbish bin, not the toilet.
Then wash the strainer with warm water, a little washing-up liquid and an old brush. Rinse it well and put it back correctly. Finally, let some warm water run through.
- Put on gloves
- Remove the strainer without tools
- Put hair and residue in the bin
- Clean with washing-up liquid and a brush
- Refit correctly and rinse
How often, and small habits
How often you should clean depends on the household. With long hair or several people, a quick look at the shower strainer after each shower or a few times a week is worthwhile. In the kitchen it helps to scrape plates into the bin before washing up and never to pour grease down the sink.
A simple hair catcher from a household shop placed over the drain also catches a lot. Make sure it fits properly and that water still drains well.
Never mix drain cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are aggressive and can harm skin, eyes and materials. They are not needed for regular care. Never use several drain or cleaning products one after another or together in the same drain, because dangerous reactions can occur.
If you have already used a product, follow the instructions on the pack exactly, ventilate well and do not add anything else. Large amounts of very hot or boiling water are not suitable for every pipe and seal either.
Further reading
Do not dismantle what is not meant to be removed
Beneath many shower drains and sinks are the trap and odour seal, which keep sewer smells out. Only remove parts that the manufacturer explicitly intends for cleaning, such as a removable strainer or insert. Do not unscrew pipe connections or force covers out.
If the trap has dried during a long absence, running some water may help. If the smell remains or water leaks, contact management or a plumber. The cause cannot be confirmed without checking.
Distinguish dirt, odour and blockage
If water barely drains despite a clean strainer, if it gurgles, if water comes up elsewhere or if the smell persists, the problem lies deeper. Report it to the property management or call a plumber. Do not poke wires into the pipe.
You can book regular apartment cleaning in the supported municipalities around Zurich and Rapperswil-Jona with PUTZIO for CHF 40 per hour. Visible strainers and covers are cleaned as part of normal cleaning. Clearing blockages or opening pipes is not included.
| Situation | Appropriate action |
|---|---|
| Hair in the visible strainer | Remove only the intended user-cleanable strainer, bin debris and refit correctly. |
| Smell after absence, water drains normally | Run some water; a dry trap is only one possible cause. |
| Backflow, gurgling or persistent smell | Contact management or a plumber; do not open pipe joints or add drain chemicals. |
Further reading