If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, it is highly likely that you will require smelly garbage disposal solutions at some point. Smelly odors coming from your garbage disposal are usually a sign of food buildup. The solution is as easy as cleaning the unit, freeing debris, and running it properly going forward. Here we have gathered the top tips to resolve your garbage disposal odor problems.
Note: Check your garbage disposal user’s manual before trying any of these solutions. For example, some smaller units may not be able to chop ice.
Baking Soda Solution
InSinkErator, one of the leading manufacturers of garbage disposals, shares the following advice to get rid of odor coming from your garbage disposal.
What You Need: Scouring pad, baking soda
What To Do:
- The first step is to remove any food particles that are stuck inside the unit. First, turn off the garbage disposal and disconnect the power supply. Reach through the sink opening and clean the baffle’s underside and inside the grinding chamber’s upper lip with a scouring pad. Do not put your hand inside the unit.
- Next, place the stopper in the sink and fill it halfway with warm water. Pour 1/4 Cup of baking soda into the water. Turn on the garbage disposal and remove the stopper to wash away any loose particles.
- Lastly, make sure to run the unit properly. Food that gets trapped inside the unit is usually a result of insufficient water flow during and after use. Always run the unit with a moderate flow of cold water during use continuing to let it flow for a few seconds after grinding is complete.
InSinkErator – There’s an Odor Coming From Garbage Disposal
Ice Cubes and Citrus Peels Cleaner
Karen Logan, author of Clean House Clean Planet, offers this homemade solution for a smelly garbage disposal.
What You Need: Three or more ice cubes, citrus peels – any kind
What To Do:
- Drop the ice cubes and citrus peels into the unit and grind them. According to Logan, help cool any grease and grind it out. The citrus peels have a refreshing scent and have a natural acid cleaning power.
Logan, Karen. Clean House Clean Planet. United States, Gallery Books, 1997.
Ice Cubes, Peeled Lemon, and Liquid Dish Soap Solution
If simple ice cubes and citrus peels don’t do the trick for you, the professionals at Roto-Rooter have a slightly different solution.
What You Need: One cup of ice, one peeled lemon (halved), one cup of liquid dish soap, tongs
What To Do:
- Place the peeled lemon halves in the garbage disposal with tongs. Add the ice. Turn on the unit.
- Pour in the cup of liquid dish soap and run cold water for thirty seconds.
- Turn off the unit.
Roto-Rooter.com – How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal
Ice Cubes and Vinegar
Anne B. Kocsis, author of The Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly House Cleaning: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply, recommends a weekly cleaning with ice cubes and white vinegar to remove greasy residue and lingering food odors.
What You Need: Six ice cubes, one cup of white vinegar
What To Do:
- Turn on the unit and drop in the ice cubes.
- Pour in the white vinegar.
- Do not use the unit for at least an hour.
Kocsis also suggests periodically placing equal parts of table salt and hot water in the unit to keep it grease free.
Kocsis, Anne B. The Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly House Cleaning: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply. United States, Atlantic Publishing Group, 2010.
Heloise’s Frozen Solutions
Efficient Heloise also advises the use of citrus as a quick odor solution, but instead of ice cubes and citrus, she suggests freezing leftover lemon and lime wedges, orange peels, or any other citrus remnants and then tossing them in the unit, followed by a lot of cold water.
Kitchen Hints from Heloise: More Than 1,527 Time-saving, Money-saving, and Work-saving Hints for Cooking, Cleaning, Shopping, and Storing. United States, Rodale, 2005.
A second hint that Heloise shares is making vinegar ice cubes. She suggests filling an ice cube tray with water mixed with 1/2 of a cup of white vinegar and freezing it. Then put the vinegar ice cubes down the disposal once per week.
All-New Hints from Heloise. United States, Penguin Publishing Group, 1989.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleaner
Halle Cottis, author of Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness: Health Remedies and Green Cleaning Solutions Without Toxins Or Chemicals, recommends a rock salt, ice, baking soda, and vinegar process to help keep your garbage disposal clean and free from bacteria.
What You Need: 1/2 cup of rock salt, 1 cup ice cubes, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and lemon or orange peels (optional).
What To Do:
- First, to remove debris, pour the rock salt down the drain and add the ice. Run the unit for two minutes. Turn off the disposal and unplug it.
- Next, pour the baking soda and vinegar down the drain. Let it fizz for fifteen minutes.
- Finally, run hot water down the drain and turn the unit back on. Run for a minute or so.
- If you want to finish with a citrus scent, run the citrus peels through the unit for thirty more seconds.
Cottis, Halle. Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness: Health Remedies and Green Cleaning Solutions Without Toxins Or Chemicals. United States, Page Street Publishing, 2017.
