Kitchens are no strangers to mold, and the sink – inside and underneath – is the most likely place you will find it growing. Find out what the causes are, how to prevent it from happening, and, most importantly – how to remove it. Also, the information covered here applies to bathroom sinks too.
Topics Covered
- What causes mold to grow underneath the kitchen sink?
- How to remove mold from underneath the kitchen sink
- How to remove mold from inside the kitchen sink
- How to deal with stinky sink drains
- Prevention methods
What causes mold to grow underneath the kitchen sink?
So you’ve opened up your kitchen sink cabinets and found a horrible black patch of mold on the inside. No need to panic as we will shortly show you how to remove it, but first, we need to go over what might have caused it.
This is particularly important because the root cause should found and fixed; otherwise, the problem will keep on returning.
The most common cause for black mold underneath the kitchen sink is water being present – either from a spill that was never adequately dried or from a slow dripping leak.
If you cannot see anything leaking, then plug the basin and fill it with water. Once full, pull out the plug and carefully watch for any leaks as the water drains out. Make sure you can see clearly, so if it’s too dark, then use a flashlight.
Pay particular attention to the underneath of the drain, the water supply connection, and the p-trap. If a leak is present, then you have found the root cause, and the primary objective should be to fix the leak. If this is a task, you feel comfortable doing, then go ahead. Otherwise, it might be best to call in a professional plumber. Read more about leaking sinks.
On the other hand, if there are no leaks present, then it was most probably a spill that was not thoroughly cleaned or just left to dry on its own.
How to remove mold from underneath the kitchen sink
Mold can vary from being an irritant to being downright toxic, so if the infestation underneath the kitchen sink is large, then it will be better to call in a mold removal company.
If the mold growth is not too significant, then it’s okay if you take care of if yourself. You will, however, need the proper safety equipment such as a pair of gloves and a quality respirator mask.
You will also need a cleaning solution that will kill the mold and disinfect the surface areas. There are many products and even household ingredients that can do this, but for this example, we will use a combination of vinegar and baking soda.
Take a spray bottle and add a mixture of 50% distilled vinegar and 50% water. Add three teaspoons of baking soda to it and shake well.
Step 1: Open all the windows and doors in the kitchen to get some fresh air circulating. You don’t want to be working with mold spores when it’s trapped and confined around you.
Step 2: Remove all items from underneath the kitchen sink and place them outside.
Step 3: Thoroughly dry any wet surface areas under the sink.
Step 4: Soak the moldy areas as well as every other surface area underneath the kitchen sink with the vinegar and baking soda mixture. Wait for about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Spray all the surface areas again and start brushing the mold until it starts breaking apart. Remove all of the mold pieces.
Step 6: Spray the surface areas again and thoroughly dry everything underneath the sink. You may want to leave the kitchen sink doors open so that there is sufficient ventilation for drying too.
Step 7: All those items you removed from underneath the sink earlier needs to be cleaned and disinfected too, because they more than likely are covered in mold spores. Take each item and spray the vinegar and baking soda mixture on and then thoroughly dry each one.
Step 8: After each item is cleaned/disinfected and the insides of the kitchen sink are adequately dried out, then put the items back inside the cabinet. Done!
How to remove mold from inside the kitchen sink
Mold inside the sink is usually caused by a leaking faucet or a damaged o-ring. Once again, if you feel capable of doing the repairs, then go ahead. Otherwise, enlist the services of a professional plumber.
Fortunately, removing the mold from inside the sink is easy, and for this, we’ll be using the same baking soda and vinegar combination from before.
Spray the moldy areas with the solution and allow it 15 minutes to soak in, before brushing it off. Once off, thoroughly wash and dry the area. Done!
How to deal with stinky sink drains
Stinky sink drains are relatively common and indicate that food is stuck in the p-trap and is now rotting. The last thing you should do in this situation is to ignore it and hope it will eventually go away.
To fix this problem, get yourself a good-quality drain cleaner and use it as per instructions. This should do the trick, but if not, then it may be best to remove the p-trap and clean it manually.
Prevention methods
1: Inspect for leaks: Regularly check for leaks inside the sink, as well as underneath. If there is a leak, do not ignore it and have it fixed as soon as possible.
2: Clean up spills: If you ever spill liquids in the cabinet underneath the sink, ensure that it’s thoroughly dried.
3: Monitor humidity: Keep humidity levels in check – especially underneath the kitchen sink.