How to Deep Clean and Deodorize Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are workhorses, but they are often treated like trash cans, which leads to trapped food particles and foul-smelling bacterial buildup. If your kitchen has a lingering sour smell, it is likely the organic matter decaying underneath the rubber splash guard or clinging to the disposal's grinding ring. Cleaning the unit effectively requires more than just running hot water or tossing in a citrus peel. You need to physically remove the debris trapped in the crevices and scour the interior walls of the chamber. When done correctly, your disposal will run quieter, last longer, and stop acting as a source of kitchen odors.

1. Kill the Power First. Unplug the disposal from the outlet under your sink. If it is hardwired, flip the specific circuit breaker at your home's main panel to the 'off' position to ensure no power can reach the unit while you work.
2. Attack the Hidden Culprit. Lift the flaps of the rubber splash guard and use an old toothbrush to scrub the underside and the grooves where it meets the sink drain. This area is the primary culprit for trapped, rotting food.
3. Abrade the Inner Walls. Pour two cups of ice cubes followed by one cup of rock salt into the disposal. With the water running, turn the unit on until the ice has been completely crushed and washed away.
4. Unleash the Chemical Reaction. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the disposal and let it sit for ten minutes. Follow this by pouring a half cup of white vinegar into the drain to trigger a foaming reaction that loosens stubborn residue.
5. Melt Away the Grease. Boil a kettle of water and pour it slowly down the drain while the disposal is running. The heat helps dissolve remaining grease and fats that cold water leaves behind.
6. Scent Your Success. Toss a few lemon or orange peels into the disposal while running it with cold water. This provides a natural, pleasant scent to finish the process.