Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Drain & sewer smells

A smell from the floor drain in the basement or laundry area

Easy · About 10 minutes

Where I am
A sour sewer smell comes from the small drain on the floor.
Where I want to be
A floor drain that doesn't smell.
What's in the way
The trap has dried out, or the drain is unclean.

Landlord's job? Report it in writing with dates, and keep a log. Who fixes what depends on your lease and where you live.

Try this first, free: Pour a pitcher of water down the floor drain. Many floor drains are dry and nobody notices.

The fix

  1. Pour a few cups of water into the drain and let it run in.
  2. Add a spoonful of cooking oil so the water lasts longer.
  3. Rinse the grate and wipe it with warm soapy water.
  4. Top it up each month, or after you have run the washer.

What this won't fully fix: Water in the trap stops the smell if it was dry. If the drain backs up or the smell stays, it needs a pro, not another pitcher.

What to get

Drain trap seal on Amazon Drain cover on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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