Have you ever taken a minute to examine the back of the sink in your bathroom? If you have, chances are you have noticed a small hole under the faucet often located towards the back of the bowl. This little hole, known as an overflow hole, is one thing a lot of people never think about.
To ensure your bathroom sink stays clean and fresh, it is essential that you understand the function of this little negative space. In this article, we will be looking at how to clean your bathroom’s sink overflow hole. But before that, let’s have a look at what an Overflow Hole is.
What is the Purpose of the Overflow Hole in Your Bathroom Sink?
An overflow hole exists for one purpose only, to keep your bathroom sink from flooding in the event you have a plumbing issue or if someone left the faucet on by accident. It achieves this by diverting excess water, allowing you to act before the water starts to spill over.
Keeping Your Sink’s Overflow Hole Clear
As you can tell, it is crucial to ensure that your sink’s overflow stays clear or else it won’t serve its purpose. It is also essential that you keep it clean since bathrooms are hot and damp places and you do not want mold or mildew growing in your bathroom sink’s overflow drain hole.
To clean your overflow drain hole, you will need:
• A pipe cleaner or sink-cleaning brush
• Two to three quarts of boiling water
• A funnel or tube made of a non-heat conducting material such as silicone capable of withstanding the high temperatures of boiling water
Stick the sink-cleaning brush or pipe cleaner into the hole and push it in and out a couple of times to remove as much build-up and gunk as possible. Remove the brush or pipe cleaner and stick the funnel into the hole. Pour the boiling water through the silicone funnel to flush and loosen any remaining gunk and build up. Be careful not to splash hot water on yourself as it could scald you. It is a good idea to have an extra pair of hands around.
Repeat as needed.
How to Clean Your Bathroom Sink Overflow Drain If It Stinks
Overflow holes with mildew growing in them tend to have a nasty smell. To clean the mess up, here’s what you need to do.
You will need:
• One cup of distilled white vinegar
• One cup of baking soda
• Two quarts of boiling water
• A funnel or tube made of a non-heat conducting material such as silicone capable of withstanding the high temperatures of boiling water
Stick the silicone funnel into the overflow drain hole and pour the baking soda in it. Slowly pour the distilled vinegar down the silicone tube – expect to see some fizz as the two ingredients react with each other. Allow the vinegar and baking soda to sit for about fifteen minutes so they can work their deodorizing magic. Using the boiling water, carefully flush the overflow drain. Be very meticulous to avoid getting a steam burn or splashing hot water on yourself. If possible, have someone help you at this point.
If the odor remains, repeat as needed.
You can call a local cleaning professional to take care of all your cleaning needs including ones that involve overflow drains.