by Trevor Woods |
Last Updated: November 23, 2020 If you’ve got a garbage disposal, you have certainly battled the smell. The smelly smell that haunts your house, coming from the depths of the sink. It’s horrible, we know. You try taking out the trash hoping it’s the culprit, and the smell still lingers.
Instead of learning to coexist with an unpleasant odor, we want to help you get the clean garbage disposal you deserve. So, let’s get to work!
What Causes Garbage Disposal Odors?
Now that you’re ready to get rid of the garbage disposal order, you must get to the bottom of the cause. There are several reasons for garbage disposal smells. Reasons for the smell can include:
Food
There’s a good chance food is stuck in your garbage disposal. Even the best running machine can miss pieces, and the build-up will grow bacteria and cause an odor.
Another reason for the garbage disposal order could be that the parts are old and not breaking down the food as it is supposed to, so particles are being left behind.
Broken Parts
Something inside the garbage disposal might be broken. If part of the disposal isn’t working properly, the food that should be, well, disposed of maybe getting stuck where it doesn’t belong.
This can cause bacterial growth, as well. Broken parts can lead to clogs along with the garbage disposal smells.
Plumbing
The garbage disposal odor might not be the disposal’s fault. You could have a deeper problem in the pipes that is causing the smell. There could also be a blocked drain vent.
Don’t try to fix this yourself unless you know what to look for. If you notice the smell coming from other drains in the house, you should call a plumber to figure out what’s going on.
Why You Should Clean Your Garbage Disposal?
A clean garbage disposal is a happy garbage disposal. Regular cleaning and maintenance will increase the lifespan, and replacements will be less frequent.
Even though garbage disposals are fairly good at cleaning themselves, it’s important to check in on your trust device. Preventative cleaning can help keep garbage disposal odors at bay, thus keeping you from ever smelling the smelly smell.
How Not To Clean Your Garbage Disposal
Before we get into the “do’s,” let’s look at the “don’ts”.
- DO NOT use drain cleaner products to clean a garbage disposal. It can destroy parts of the machine inside rendering it useless.
- DO NOT use commercial garbage disposal cleaners. Most of the time they will do more harm than good. They have also been known to not clean very well in general.
- DO NOT use lye. Same thing. It can severely damage your garbage disposal as opposed to cleaning it.
- DO NOT put your hand in the garbage disposal. Even though they don’t have blades inside, you can still hurt yourself and get a cut. There could be glass particles or other dangerous things in there depending on how dirty it is.
How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal
Now that we know what NOT to do. Please don’t put your hand in there. Let’s work towards that clean garbage disposal.
Ideally, you should be cleaning out your garbage disposal once a week if you are using it frequently. We know that we shouldn’t use commercial cleaners, so what are the best ways to get a clean garbage disposal?
Ice
This method is great because you probably have this stuff laying around the house.
Here’s what you do! Get a cup full of ice cubes and dump them into the garbage disposal. Turn it on so the cubes start to get crushed. Add in about a half a cup of salt. The ice and salt will become a dynamic duo and scrub away all of the gross gunk stinking up the place. Rinse it all down with lots of water.
The ice method can also be used with one tablespoon of baking soda instead of salt.
Vinegar
Combining baking soda and vinegar together in the drain can also clean the garbage disposal.
Pour about ¼ of a cup baking soda down the drain and follow it with vinegar. Let the concoction foam for a few minutes before running the water. The foaming combination should leave you with a clean garbage disposal.
The all-natural alternative!
Derived naturally from corn grown in the USA. Use all-natural vinegar for cleaning, deodorizing, gardening, laundry, chrome polishing, grease removal, and more!
PRO TIP: Go easy on the vinegar. Vinegar can damage the rubber parts of your garbage disposal like the splash guard, so if you choose to use this method you might not want to do it that often.
Go Easy On The Vinegar
Vinegar can damage the rubber parts of your garbage disposal like the splash guard, so if you choose to use this method you might not want to do it that often.
Citrus
Does the phrase “lemony fresh” sound familiar? Using citrus is a fantastic way to clear garbage disposal odor.
This one is simple. Get a lemon and peel off the skin. Congratulations! You’re almost done. Throw the lemon peels in, and run the disposal. If you are dealing with a minor smell issue, this method will help prevent it from getting worse AND give you that nice lemon fragrance.
Dish Soap
Another item you already have on hand is dish soap. We have been talking about the inside of the garbage disposal, but let’s not forget about the exposed drain area. Particles of food can get stuck here and create odors if they aren’t properly cleaned.
What you’re going to want to do is get a scrub brush and use regular dish soap. Scrub all around the rim and get into the grooves. This is an easy thing to forget to do because if you’re washing dishes in the sink, the soap should be cleaning the drain ring, right? Maybe, but it’s always good to give the area a scrub once in a while.
The OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set features two tools for scrubbing those hard-to-reach places. Both brushes include sturdy nylon bristles and comfortable non-slip grips.
Your garbage disposal has a rubber splash guard in the drain. Cleaning the top of it is easy, but make sure to clean the underside of it, as this is where odors could be hiding! To get the bottom, use your dish soap on a toothbrush or other longer scrub brush. Pull back the guard, scrub away, and you’ll have a clean garbage disposal!
Bleach
If all else fails, give bleach a try. DO NOT use more than 1/3 of a cup of bleach, and make sure to dilute it with water. Wear gloves. After pouring the
How To Prevent Garbage Disposal Odors?
Now that you’ve got that sweet sweet clean garbage disposal, you want to keep it that way. Along with a weekly cleaning, there are preventative measures to take so this doesn’t happen again.
To keep from getting clogs and garbage disposal smells, avoid letting fibrous foods get in there. Potatoes, celery, coffee grounds, grease and fruit pits should not go down the drain. These fibrous foods are likely to get caught in places that will cause garbage disposal odor.
Running cold water through the garbage disposal after every use will help to flush out any foodstuffs that could become smelly gunk. This will prevent buildup and keep your garbage disposal running perfectly.
A good rule of thumb is to run your garbage disposal five seconds longer than you think you should to make sure everything is cleared out. Not running the disposal long enough is a culprit in food buildup.
Anytime you run your garbage disposal, make sure to run water! This will help the food bits to flush through it and prevent larger buildup. Regular cleaning is still recommended.
There is an array of commercial products out there to help get rid of garbage disposal smells. Some brands make all-natural pods to throw in and run through the disposal to give it a good scent. Make sure to look at ingredients so you are not using anything that could cause corrosion. We are trying to practice preventative care!
Its foam reaches deep to power away the toughest grunge and foul odor!
The biodegradable packet cleans and scrubs the disposer sidewalls, blades, under the splashguard and other hidden areas, leaving the disposer, sink and the whole kitchen fresh and smelling clean.
If you want to avoid commercial products altogether, you can make your own DIY refresher cubes. The cool thing about making them at home is you can choose your own scents and build off of recipes online. Lavender and lemon-scented cleaning pods for the win! The all-natural approach is great if your skin is sensitive to chemicals, as well.
Conclusion
To sum it up, nobody likes garbage disposal smells. There are plenty of prevention methods, but that doesn’t mean you won’t end up with a smell at some point.
When cleaning make sure to use one of the methods we mentioned to ensure a clean and fresh disposal. Try to avoid commercial cleaners and use things that you already have at home. Not only is it better for your garbage disposal, but it’s better on the wallet!
If one method isn’t working well, try combining methods to find a system that works for you. Perhaps you use the foaming baking soda and vinegar and wash it down with lemon peels. Citrus is a classic kitchen scent and sure to have your garbage disposal feeling fresh in no time!
Happy Plumbing!
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