How to Get Rid of a Bad Smell in Your Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is an incredibly helpful household appliance that most of all take advantage of.  It reduces the amount of food that you have to throw in your trash which helps cut down on how many trash bags you use and helps reduce odor for the trash can.  But, any garbage disposal that gets used with some regularity is bound to start to smell a little from time to time.  And once that garbage disposal starts to smell, you will notice it when you wash dishes and spend any amount of time in your kitchen.  If you do not do some work to clean your garbage disposal, that smell will stick around and keep bothering you.  Your garbage disposal may seem like a dark place where you cannot really see what is happening so how exactly will you clean it?  But, there are some very easy ways to clean your garbage disposal and keep those nasty odors away.

1. Prevention is Key

You can help avoid odor from accumulating in your garbage disposal by avoiding putting the wrong things down the drain.  Never put things that are not biodegradable down the drain and never put any liquid grease down the drain.  Liquid grease will cool and harden which will cause clogs.  Foods like bread or pasta will absorb water and expand, also causing clogs.

2. Use Cold Water

Turn on the cold water and the garbage disposal and let them run.  It is best to use cold water and let the water run for 30 seconds after you turn the disposal off.  Often, the odor comes from food particles that have been crushed up adhering to the walls of the garbage disposal and eventually starting to smell.  Many times, by running the water and garbage disposal for a minute or two you can get rid of that bad odor.

3. Use Citrus

The peelings from a lemon or orange work wonders when put down your garbage disposal.  The garbage disposal will grind up the peels and they will release their naturally wonderful smell while also helping to clean the blades.

4. Ice Cubes

Grind up some ice cubes in your garbage disposal.  The ice cubes will help remove built up food particles and will sharpen the blades as it grinds.  To give the ice a boost, pour some dish soap in while it is grinding and it will give it some extra cleaning power.

5. Vinegar & Baking Soda

If those pesky odors are still sticking around, some common household items will get that garbage disposal clean in no time.  Pour 1/2 cup – 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain.  Let it works its magic for about 30 minutes and then run  some water down the drain to clean everything out.  The baking soda and vinegar will loosen tough, dried on food and other debris and the water will rinse it all away.

6. Bleach

When all else fails, pour a mild bleach down the drain while cold water is running and the bleach will also help loosen food particles and clean the disposal and pipes.