Clean a Garbage Disposal: Stop the Smell in 4 Safe Steps

A garbage disposal smells when food particles cling to the splash guard, the walls of the grinding chamber and the drain pipe, then start to rot. Running water alone does not reach most of it. A short monthly clean deals with the cause rather than masking the odor.

The most important part of this guide is safety. Never put your hand into a disposal, even when it is switched off, and always cut the power before reaching anywhere near the opening with a brush.

Safety first

Turn the disposal off and, if you will be working near the opening, disconnect power completely. Many disposals plug into an outlet under the sink; unplug it. If yours is hard-wired, switch it off at the circuit breaker.

Use tongs or pliers, never fingers, to remove anything that has fallen in, such as a spoon or bottle cap. Keep children away from the sink while you work.

Tip: Do not pour chemical drain cleaners into a disposal and then add other cleaners. Mixing drain cleaners with each other, with bleach or with vinegar can cause dangerous reactions and splash-back.

What you need

You do not need a special disposal cleaner for routine care.

• An old toothbrush or a long-handled dish brush
• Dish soap
• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar
• A kettle of hot (not boiling) water
• 1–2 cups of ice cubes
• Optional: a lemon or orange peel for scent

Step 1: Scrub the splash guard

The rubber flaps at the top of the drain are often the main source of the smell. Food gets trapped on their underside, where you cannot see it.

With the power off, lift each flap with the brush and scrub the underside and the inside of the rim with dish soap. Some splash guards twist or pull out for cleaning; check your model's manual. Rinse with warm water and you will often notice the smell has already faded.

Step 2: Baking soda and vinegar flush

Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, then slowly pour in 1 cup of white vinegar. It will foam up. Cover the drain with a sink stopper so the fizz is pushed down into the chamber, and leave it for about 10 minutes.

Flush with hot tap water or water from the kettle that has cooled slightly. Very hot boiling water is best avoided if you have PVC drain pipes, as repeated exposure is not recommended for some plastic plumbing.

The foaming reaction helps loosen loose residue, while the hot water carries it away. It is a gentle routine clean, not a fix for a clog.

Step 3: Grind ice to scour the chamber

Restore power. Turn on the cold water, start the disposal and drop in 1–2 cups of ice cubes. The ice tumbles around the chamber and knocks off sludge stuck to the grinding parts.

Some people add a handful of coarse salt with the ice for extra scrubbing. Run the disposal until the grinding sound stops, then keep the water running for another 15–20 seconds.

Step 4: Freshen with citrus

With the cold water running, grind a few small pieces of lemon or orange peel. They leave a fresh smell. Cut them into small pieces first and add them one at a time so the disposal is not overloaded.

This is a finishing touch, not a cleaning step. If the smell returns within a day or two, the splash guard or chamber was not fully cleaned, or there may be a blockage further down the pipe.

Habits that prevent smells and jams

Most disposal problems come from what goes into them.

• Always run cold water before, during and for a few seconds after grinding.
• Avoid grease, oil and fat: they solidify in pipes and coat the chamber.
• Keep fibrous and starchy scraps out, such as celery strings, corn husks, potato peels, pasta and rice, which can tangle or swell.
• Do not grind bones, fruit pits, eggshells in large amounts or coffee grounds in quantity.
• Run the disposal for a few seconds every day or two so food does not sit in the chamber.

General information only. Check product labels and manufacturer instructions before you start.