How To Clean A Garbage Disposal?
QUICK ANSWER
Clean a garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes plus 1/2 cup salt through the disposal with cold water; the ice scrubs the blades and grinder. Follow with citrus peels (lemon or orange) to deodorize. Avoid bleach or harsh chemicals that can damage the rubber seals.
Garbage disposals smell because food particles accumulate on the rubber baffle (the splash guard at the top), the grinding chamber walls, and under the blades. The fix is straightforward and uses cheap household ingredients. The same routine handles routine maintenance and tougher odor issues. Here is the right method and what to avoid.
Why does the garbage disposal smell?
Food residue clings to surfaces inside the disposal that water alone cannot fully rinse: the underside of the rubber baffle (splash guard) at the top, the chamber walls, and the area under the blades. Combined with constant moisture, the residue feeds bacteria that produce sour, rotten odors. Greasy food particles are the worst offenders since they coat surfaces and resist water. The smell often appears to come from the drain itself but is almost always coming from the disposal above the drain.
What is the easiest cleaning method?
Fill the disposal with ice cubes (a full tray or two), then add 1/2 cup of table salt or rock salt. Turn on cold water and run the disposal until all the ice is ground up. The combination of ice and salt acts as an abrasive scrub that cleans the blades, the chamber walls, and the underside of the splash guard. Follow with a handful of citrus peels (lemon, orange, or lime) ground up with cold water for fresh scent. The citrus oils also help dissolve grease.
How do you deal with serious clogs?
If the disposal hums but does not grind (something is jammed), turn it off immediately. Unplug the disposal or shut off the breaker. Insert the Allen wrench that came with the disposal (or any 1/4 inch hex key) into the recessed slot at the bottom center of the disposal. Turn back and forth to free the jam. Restore power and try again. For total clogs that prevent drainage, never use commercial drain cleaner since the chemicals damage rubber seals. Disconnect the drain trap underneath and clean manually.
What should you not put down a garbage disposal?
Avoid fibrous foods (celery, corn husks, artichoke leaves, onion skins) which wrap around the blades. Skip starchy foods like pasta and rice that expand and clog. Bones harder than chicken bones can chip the blades. Coffee grounds form sludge that clogs the drain. Grease congeals downstream and creates massive clogs. Egg shells (despite the old myth) do not sharpen blades and just create a sandy paste. Stick to soft food scraps and small amounts. Cold water during use, not hot.
Garbage disposal cleaning uses ice and salt to scrub the blades, plus citrus peels to deodorize. Avoid bleach, commercial drain cleaners, and fibrous or starchy foods that cause clogs. For jams, use the Allen wrench at the bottom. The whole cleaning routine takes 5 minutes and handles routine odors well. Repeat weekly for kitchens with heavy use, monthly for typical households.
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