First, try the fridge trick. Fill a pitcher and stick it in the fridge for an hour. Cold water reduces your ability to smell geosmin, so the dirtiness fades into the background. It’s not a fix, but it’s a band-aid.
Second, invest in a carbon filter. A simple Brita pitcher or a faucet-mounted filter will absorb geosmin and 2-MIB like a sponge. Activated carbon is a beast at grabbing these compounds—it’s literally what water parks use to make their water taste “fresh.”
Why My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs at Brandon Myers blog
Third, boil your water for a few minutes and then let it cool. Heat can help release the volatile compounds into the air (that’s why hot water tends to smell worse). Just don’t drink it hot—unless you enjoy dirt tea.
If the problem is chronic and you’re on city water, consider a whole-house carbon filter. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but it saves you from that dreaded sink-sip moment. And your laundry will smell less like a root cellar.
