How to Get Rid of a Garbage Disposal Smell (Safely)
The worst smell usually lives on the underside of the rubber splash guard, not deep in the grinder. Here's how to clean it without ever putting your hand in the unit.
To get rid of a garbage disposal smell, switch the disposal off at the wall switch and unplug it or turn off its circuit breaker, then scrub the underside of the rubber splash guard (baffle) with an old toothbrush and dish soap, rinse, and grind a few ice cubes and citrus peels with cold running water. Never put your hand into the disposal, and never add cleaning chemicals and then reach in or use tools.
That’s enough for most odors. If the smell is still there, it may be coming from the drain, the dishwasher hose or the other sink basin rather than the disposal itself.
Why a disposal smells
Food particles stick to the folds of the baffle, the upper chamber walls and the grind ring. Grease, rice, pasta and fibrous scraps are the usual culprits. Running the disposal briefly or with too little water leaves more residue behind. Over a few days, that residue starts to rot.
What you need
- An old toothbrush or a long-handled dish brush
- Dish soap and warm water
- Kitchen tongs or pliers (for retrieving objects, power off only)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon, lime or orange peels
- Baking soda
Step-by-step: clean a smelly garbage disposal
- Cut the power. Turn off the wall switch. Then unplug the disposal under the sink or switch off its breaker, so it can’t start while you work.
- Check for objects. Shine a flashlight into the opening. If you see something that shouldn’t be there, remove it with tongs or pliers, never your fingers.
- Scrub the splash guard. Lift each rubber flap with the brush and scrub the underside with dish soap and warm water. This is where the smell usually lives. Some models have a removable baffle that pulls straight out for rinsing; InSinkErator describes this for some of its series (InSinkErator cleaning guide). Check your model’s manual.
- Scrub the upper chamber. Reach the brush in and scrub the walls you can reach. Keep your hand out of the chamber.
- Rinse and restore power. Flush with warm water, then plug the unit back in or turn the breaker on.
- Grind ice. Run cold water, turn the disposal on and drop in a handful of ice cubes. Ice helps scour the grinding parts.
- Grind citrus peels. With cold water running, feed in a few small pieces of lemon or orange peel, one at a time. They scrub and freshen.
- Flush. Keep cold water running for 15 to 30 seconds after the grinding stops.
For a light deodorizing between cleanings, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of baking soda into the disposal, leave it for 15 minutes, then run cold water and the disposal.
Myth checks
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| Ice sharpens the blades | Most disposals don’t have blades. InSinkErator, for example, says its units use impellers that push food against a grind ring. Ice helps clean those parts; it doesn’t sharpen them. |
| Citrus fixes the smell | Citrus peels freshen and help scrub, but the scent can mask an odor whose source is the dirty splash guard. Clean the baffle first. |
| Baking soda and vinegar deep-clean the drain | The fizz is the two neutralizing each other. It may loosen a little debris but isn’t a strong cleaner. Each works better alone. |
| Hot water is best when grinding | Cold water is the usual advice while grinding because it keeps grease solid so it can be chopped and flushed, rather than melting and coating the pipes. |
| Bleach is the fix for odors | A rinse with soap and a brush usually solves it. If you use any chemical, follow the label and your disposal manual, and never mix it with other products. |
Is it the disposal or the drain?
- Smell even with the disposal clean: check the drain on the other basin in a double sink. Scrub its strainer and pour hot (not boiling) water through it.
- Smell after running the dishwasher: the dishwasher drain hose often connects to the disposal. Clean the dishwasher filter, and check that the hose has a high loop or air gap as the installation instructions require.
- Sewer-like smell: a dried-out P-trap or a venting problem can let sewer gas up. Run water in rarely used sinks. If the smell persists, call a plumber.
- Sweet, rotting smell with tiny flies: drain flies or fruit flies may be breeding in the gunk; see how to get rid of fruit flies.
Chemical drain cleaners and disposals
Chemical drain openers are strong caustics or acids. They can splash back, and if a clog doesn’t clear, the sink fills with a dangerous liquid that anyone who later works on the drain must handle. Check your disposal manual before using any of them, never use two different drain products together, and don’t use a plunger or reach in after adding one. For a clogged disposal, many units have a reset button and a hex socket underneath for freeing a jam; the manual shows how. If you’re not comfortable, call a plumber.
Mixing drain cleaners with each other, or with bleach, can release toxic gases. Our list of cleaning products you should never mix explains the most dangerous combinations.
How to keep the smell away
- Run plenty of cold water before, during and for several seconds after grinding.
- Feed scraps in gradually, not all at once.
- Keep grease, oil and fat out of the sink. Let it cool and put it in the trash.
- Avoid fibrous scraps (corn husks, celery strings), large bones and expanding starches like rice and pasta in big amounts.
- Scrub the splash guard weekly. It takes two minutes.
Safety notes
- Always cut the power before reaching near the opening, and use tongs, never fingers.
- Follow label directions for any cleaner, ventilate the kitchen, and wear gloves if the label says so.
- Keep products in their original containers, out of reach of children and pets.
- If someone swallows, inhales or gets a cleaning product in the eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or emergency services.
Bottom line
Turn off the power, scrub the underside of the splash guard, then grind ice and citrus with cold water. If it still smells, look at the drain, dishwasher hose and other basin. Skip harsh chemicals, and never put your hand in the disposal. For more on what the fizzing combination really does, see baking soda and vinegar cleaning.
FAQ
How often should I clean my garbage disposal?
Scrub the splash guard about once a week and do the ice and citrus routine every week or two, or whenever you notice a smell.
Can I put bleach down the disposal?
Check your manual first. Never combine bleach with vinegar, citrus juice, drain cleaners or ammonia, and rinse with plenty of water.
Are eggshells and coffee grounds okay?
Many plumbers advise keeping both to small amounts, since they can build up in pipes. Your disposal manual lists what to avoid.
Why does my disposal smell after I clean it?
The odor may be in the drain line or trap below the disposal, or coming from the dishwasher hose. Work through the drain checks above.
