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The Kitchen Table

Bathroom Mildew Smell 2

16 years ago

This is a different question from the previous posting but similar. Every time someone takes a shower in the main bathroom, about an hour later, there is a TERRIBLE mildew smell. HELP!

Originally I thought that there might be a leak in the wall behind the shower, but one day I was cleaning the tub, didn't use the shower...just drained the tub and BAMM a mildew smell. Makes me think it is something in the pipe. Any suggestions?

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Comments (6)

sheilajoyce_gw
16 years ago
Pour some bleach down the pipe.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
It sounds to me like there is a leak in the drain somewhere. It is accessible, like in a basement, or a crawl space?

A friend used to have awful odor after doing a load of wash. Come to find out, the drain line was broken under the house and that was where all the washer water had been going for some time.

Sue
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Pawprint
16 years ago
Oh great, now everyone will think I'm gross. But this happens in my kitchen disposal sometimes!! I run a lemon wedge through every so often. That won't work on your bathtub, but I sympathize!!
Marcia Thornley
16 years ago
It's most likely just a build up of organic material (hair,dead skin cells, even soap scum) Go to a Sanitation supply and buy a Live Enzyme product. You may even get it at a pet store. The live enzymes digest the bacteria from the organics thus destroying the odor.
One brand in Canada is called Liquabac a Liquid Live Bacteria with instant odor control. It gets rid of odor and keeps drains running clear. Also great for sump pump basins, odors in carpets etc.
hayjud_mn
16 years ago
When I have forgotten to clean my drains, I get a 'sulphur' sort of smell in the master bath sink drain. When I called the plumber about it, he said it was most likely in the vent pipe for that line.

I would get the awful smell while running water in the sink, with my face down over the sink, it didn't happen right away, but after it ran for a while. He refered to it as a burp!
He told me to put bleach in the drain, leave it for a while and rinse it down. That does it!
OklaMoni
16 years ago
I took the drain grate off, and used bleach to clean the drain up. It was ssssooooooo gross, black, chunky, don't know how the former owners managed to take a shower. YUCK.

Then, I proceeded to do the same with the sink drains. There was black moldy stinky stuff in them too.

Now, I bleach all ever so often, and so far, so good.

Moni

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