• Stinky sink drains can be cleaned with natural ingredients.Old Rusty Sink 1 20080713-1210446 image by SIGNSofMIND from Fotolia.com
  
  A stinky sink drain can linger, making time in that room unpleasant. You can try cleaning the drain using commercial cleaners, however, these are not only expensive, but they are also filled with chemicals. Luckily, there are a number of natural household products you probably have in your kitchen that you can use to clean your drain for little money and without chemicals.
  
  

Hot Water

• Water can do wonders on smaller odors. Letting the faucet run on the hottest water setting will remove some of the food particles and grease buildup that is causing odors. You can also try boiling water and pouring it down the drain instead of letting the faucet run. The hotter water will help break up more grease. If you have a more stubborn odor and have a garbage disposal in your sink, try adding some cloves and cinnamon sticks to the water when its boiling. The spices will release an aroma that will freshen the air in your home. Once they are added to your sink, the disposal will grind up the spices, releasing more of their pleasant aroma, which will help remove the offensive odor from your sink.
  
  

Baking Soda

• Baking soda is a common household odor agent. Not only is it great for deodorizing carpets and neutralizing nasty fridge odors, it can also be used to treat the odors in your sink. You can accomplish this by pouring baking soda and vinegar down the drain. The result will be a baking soda volcano that will bubble through your pipes and help clear minor debris and clogs as well as deodorize. After the fizzing stops, use running water to clear the remaining debris.
  
  

Lemons and Ice

• Another way to freshen your garbage disposal is lemons. The smell of lemons is often used in cleaning products. If you have a garbage disposal, drop slices of fresh lemons into your sink along with a handful of ice cubes. When you turn on the disposal you will release the oils from the lemon rind that will help mask the odor and the ice cubes will help sharpen your disposal blades. If you do not have a disposal, soak lemon slices in water and pour the liquid down the drain.
  
  

Prevention

• Once you have fixed the present odor, you will want to work to prevent the odors from returning. If you have a garbage disposal, do not put food down it. Instead, use it only to clear away small debris that falls down the drain. Also, try using one of the remedies once a month as a preventive.