10 Best Ways To Clean A Garbage Disposal (Get Rid of Odors)

Do you want to learn a variety of methods to clean and deodorize your garbage disposal?

From numerous home inspections, I have come across a lot of smelly, filthy, and poorly maintained garbage disposals.

Fortunately, the strategies below will help keep your disposal smelling fresh and running smoothly. If you have a clog or need to reset your disposal, read our special guide here.

In this article, we’ll go over:

• DIY and homemade solutions to clean your disposal
• Using commercial pre-packaged tablets
• Pros and cons of each cleaning strategy
• Step-by-step instructions

Let’s get started!

Way #1: Ice And Rock Salt

The ice and rock salt method is a popular and effective way to clean garbage disposals.

Instead of using chemicals, it uses the mechanical force of ice and salt to clean it. The ice slurry mechanically helps loosen stuck debris and food bits that chemicals can’t do.

Since ice is cold, it hardens grease inside the disposal, making it easier to be removed by the ice and then washed down the drain.

And coarse salt (e.g., kosher or rock) acts as a mild abrasive that polishes the surface of the disposal — helping to break free smaller particles — thoroughly cleaning it.

It’s important to avoid putting too much ice in the disposer since it can put strain on the motor or it may seize up.

Advantages

• Common kitchen supply
• Ice slurry breaks up grease and fat
• Salt polishes and deep cleans

Disadvantages

• Don’t use the salt and ice method more than once or twice a month (especially with older disposals) because it puts strain on the motor.
• There is a small risk of rust if the salt is not fully washed off, but most disposals are made out of stainless steel and rust-resistant parts.

7 Steps For Using Ice and Salt

1. Gather about a cup of ice and half a cup (or less) of coarse salt.
   
2. Drop the ice into the disposal.
   
3. Sprinkle the salt over the ice cubes.
   
4. Turn on COLD water to keep the ice solid for as long as possible. Don’t use a max stream but a gentle amount to minimize ice melt.
   
5. Turn on the disposal and let it run for 15-30 seconds or until all the ice is ground up.
   
6. Turn off the disposal.
   
7. Let the cold water run for an additional 10 seconds to flush any remaining debris and salt.

Way #2: Garbage Disposal Brush

If you aren’t afraid of a little elbow grease, physically cleaning the disposal with a long handled brush is a fantastic way to clean disposals.

A brush with stiff bristles can physically remove grease and odors which the other methods may be unable to do.

Ideally, homeowners should use the brush to clean the disposal bottom and the cylindrical wall. It’s crucial to scrub the rubber splash guard and entrance hole of the disposal since smells often originate from there.

I recommend purchasing a garbage disposal brush online for around $10 which is custom-designed for disposals. They have stiff bristles, long handles, and a T-shaped tip to maximize the reach. An old toothbrush or other long-handled brush can also work in a pinch.

The biggest risk is injuring yourself which is why rubber gloves are essential and to avoid putting your hands deep inside. Please be certain that the disposal is off by unplugging it or flipping off the breaker.

Advantages

• Gets areas that other methods miss like splash guard and flange
• Deep cleaning
• Chemical-free method

Disadvantages

• Requires most effort
• Doesn’t deodorize (unless used with dish soap or vinegar etc.)
• Risk of injury to hands

7 Steps to Using A Disposal Brush

1. Turn off the power by unplugging the disposal at the outlet or flipping off the circuit breaker.
   
2. Apply some dish soap to brush head or other cleaning agent. Alternatively, have a bowl filled with a cleaning solution at hand.
   
3. Use a flashlight and inspect disposal for grime to know where to clean.
   
4. Use brush and scrub the bottom, grinding plate (impeller), inner walls, and splash guard.
   
5. Rinse the brush, add more cleaning solution, brush, and repeat.
   
6. Pull out brush and turn power back on.
   
7. Turn on cold water and run disposal to flush any dislodged debris.

Read Also >> How To Fix A Leaky Faucet

Way #3: Dish Soap and Hot Water

Dish soap and hot water is an easy DIY method to clean garbage disposals.

The dish soap releases fat and grease from the walls of the disposer. There are chemicals in dish soap called surfactants that emulsifies grease and dissolves it into the hot water.

The hot water also softens the grease so that the fats and oils can get penetrated by the dish soap and more easily flushed down the drain.

Fortunately, almost every household has dish soap on hand, making this the easiest method to clean your disposal.

Advantages

• Easiest method since you just need dish soap
• Dish soap breaks down fat and grease
• Hot water softens oil and grease

Disadvantages

• Won’t dislodge a lot food debris (better for greasy slime)

5 Steps To Using Hot Water And Dish Soap (Stopper Method)

The stopper method fills up the sink with soapy water, and then the water rushes into the disposal. The force of the rushing water helps loosen more grease and residue.

1. Plug drain to sink with a stopper (disposal side) if available and fill sink with hot water.
   
2. Squirt a few tablespoons of dish soap into the sink
   
3. Mix the dish soap with the water in the sink.
   
4. Pull out the stopper, and allow water to drain into the disposal.
   
5. Run the disposal while the water drains.

6 Steps to Using Hot Water and Dish Soap (No Stopper)

The no-stopper method is done by squirting dish soap directly into the disposal while running hot water.

1. Turn on HOT water into the disposal.
   
2. Run the disposal while hot water runs at the same time.
   
3. Squirt dish soap directly into the disposal of about 1–2 tablespoons.
   
4. Allow it to foam up for 10 seconds.
   
5. When the foam dissipates, squirt in another tablespoon of dish soap.
   
6. Allow the foamy water to drain out.

Way #4: Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar is a classic method to clean and deodorize garbage disposals — and other sinks drains as well.

Baking soda (a base) reacts with vinegar (an acid) to form a fizzy solution made up of carbon dioxide gas and water. This gassy solution penetrates hard-to-reach parts of the disposal, effectively cleaning and deodorizing it.

The grit of the baking soda is also a mild abrasive which helps break up stuck grease on the grinding plates and walls of the disposal. The vinegar — being an acid — is also great at breaking down fats and oils.

This gentle method of baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-true cleaning solution for many households while being eco-friendly.

Advantages

• Good at removing foul odors
• Fizzy solution can clean hard-to-reach areas
• Non-toxic and common ingredients

Disadvantages

• It isn’t effective for heavy grease buildup (better for periodic maintenance and deodorization)
• The acidity of vinegar may damage rubber parts if it is over-used but the risk is low.

7 Steps To Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into the disposal, make sure it goes inside.
   
2. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the disposal over the baking soda.
   
3. Let solution bubble up and sit for 10 minutes.
   
4. Turn on hot water and let it run for 15-30 seconds.
   
5. Turn on the disposal for 10-20 seconds with the hot water still running.
   
6. Turn off disposal, and do a smell test for odors.
   
7. If there is still an odor, repeat step.

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Way #5: Citrus Peels

Citrus peels are a simple and non-toxic way to clean and deodorize your garbage disposal.

Citrus peels from oranges, lemons, and limes contain essential oils and acids that breaks down grease and helps remove odors. One of the main active ingredients (essential oil) is called limonene which acts as a natural solvent, cutting through fat and oil, while providing a nice scent.

Essential oils also have mild antibacterial properties that can help reduce smelly bio-films. In addition to the essential oils, the fiber contained in the citrus peels acts like an abrasive and helps to clean and dislodge debris.

Just be careful to avoid putting too much peels in the disposal since it may clog. Also, if you have a septic system, be careful about putting too much organic material into the system.

Advantages

• Natural deodorizer with essential oils.
• The fibrous rinds are abrasive and helps remove debris.
• Easy-to-get ingredients

Disadvantages

• Unlikely to deep clean or remove heavy grease
• Too many peels may clog the disposal
• May be incompatible with septic systems if done too much.

6 Steps To Using Citrus Peels

1. Gather about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of citrus peels, cut into small pieces.
   
2. Drop the peels directly into the disposal.
   
3. Turn on a steady stream of cold water into the disposal.
   
4. Turn on the disposal until all the peels are chopped up (about 15 to 30 seconds).
   
5. Turn off disposal, but keep running cold water for 10-20 seconds to flush any remaining debris.
   
6. Repeat if needed.

Way #6: Pre-packaged Disposal Cleaning Tabs

There are a variety of ready-made garbage disposal cleaning tabs or packets on the market that do a good job if you don’t want to go the DIY route.

These tabs have a mixture of bio-degradable chemicals such as foaming agents, surfactants, and mild abrasives that break down grease and grime. They typically have deodorizers as well and will leave your disposal with a nice fresh scent.

These pro cleaning tabs are easy to use, you simply drop the packet into the disposal with running water, turn on the disposal, and let the foaming agent rise in the sink.

The foaming agent is typically so strong that the foam will rise in both sinks if it is a double-sink.

However, professional cleaning tabs may not be able to remove heavy grease and food buildup as effectively as brushing or grinding up ice. The chemicals are also typically synthetic so it may not appeal to those who only want to use eco-friendly ingredients.

Advantages

• Foaming action reaches all crevices including splash guard
• Great for light grease buildup and deodorization
• Easy drop-in tablet or packet
• Typically septic-safe and biodegradable

Disadvantages

• Won’t remove heavy food or grease buildup
• Usually more expensive than DIY cleaning solutions
• Uses synthetic ingredients

6 Steps To Using Pre-Packaged Cleaning Tabs

Instructions will vary for the specific product but the general steps below are pretty common:

1. With the disposal empty, turn on HOT into the disposal side of sink, but not directly into the drain hole.
   
2. Let hot water drain into sink for 1 minute, and then slow down the stream to a small stream.
   
3. Drop a cleaning tablet directly into disposal (do not open packet).
   
4. Turn on the disposal.
   
5. Allow the foam to rise up in the sink with disposal running. It should take around 1 minute for the foam to go away.
   
6. Turn off disposal, but allow water to keep running until the foam is entirely gone.

Way #7: Borax

Borax is a natural mineral compound that is found in arid regions around the world such as dried salt lakes.

It has been used as a cleaning agent, clothes detergent, and deodorizer for many years in U.S. households.

Borax also has antibacterial properties that can kill and prevent microbial growth in the disposal — helping to stop foul smells. Due to its slightly abrasive texture and alkalinity (pH around 9-10), it can break down acidic grease, fats, and oils stuck in your disposal.

Even though Borax can get rid of smells, it won’t release any aromas like other cleaning agents, so you may want to add your own, such as a few drops of an essential oil.

It’s also best not to mix any acidic cleaner like vinegar or citrus peels because the acidity will neutralize the alkalinity of the Borax — reducing its effectiveness.

Advantages

• Removes and absorbs smells
• Breaks down grease through alkalinity
• Minimal effort needed

Disadvantages

• Can leave chalky residue and settle in drain pipe if not rinsed thoroughly
• Not very effective against large food debris
• May affect septic systems if used too much

5 Steps To Using Borax

1. With disposal OFF, sprinkle 3-4 tablespoons of Borax directly into the disposal.
   
2. Let the Borax sit for 15 mins. to 1 hour so it can break down grease and absorb odors.
   
3. Run HOT water into the disposal.
   
4. Turn on disposal and allow the Borax water-mixture to run through disposal for 10-20 seconds.
   
5. Repeat if needed.

Way #8: Bleach

Bleach is a powerful way to deodorize disposals since it kills microbes like mold, mildew, and bacteria — even though it includes a few risks.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is a strong disinfectant and it works by oxidizing and killing microbes in the disposal that are causing smells.

It also has a very high alkalinity (pH around 11) which neutralizes microbial bio-films living inside the disposal.

It’s essential to dilute bleach with water in order to avoid damage to the disposal especially the rubber components. You also don’t want to ever mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or other cleaning agents because it can chemically react and release toxic gases.

Bleach is great as a quick fix for removing odors, but it won’t do a deep clean, and it should be used sparingly — rather than a go-to cleaning method.

Advantages

• Kills microbes like bacteria and mold.
• Quickly neutralizes foul odors
• Easy-to-do by just mixing with water
• Most households already have bleach.

Disadvantages

• Can damage disposal and rubber parts (if used too much or if undiluted)
• Doesn’t effectively remove grease buildup
• Can release toxic gases if mixed with vinegar/ammonia etc.
• Not safe for septic systems

7 Steps To Using Bleach

1. Make sure disposal is OFF.
   
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of bleach (usually 5-6% concentrate) with 1 gallon of tap water in a large container.
   
3. Slowly pour the diluted bleach/water mix into the disposal.
   
4. Let the bleach solution soak in the disposal for at least a few minutes.
   
5. Run COLD water into the disposal.
   
6. Turn on the disposal and allow the bleach solution to drain and flush away any debris.
   
7. Turn the disposal OFF and run cold water for 10-20 more seconds to flush any remaining bleach.

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Way #9: Vinegar Ice Cubes

The vinegar-ice-cube method combines using ice and vinegar into a hybrid cleaning strategy — packing a powerful punch.

The ice gets crushed by the disposal which turns into an icy slurry that physically dislodges food debris. And the acidity of the vinegar (acetic acid with a low pH) helps neutralize odors and kills smell-producing microbes like mold and bacteria.

The basic idea is to pour standard white vinegar into an ice cube tray until it freezes, and then toss a handful into the disposal. You want to run COLD water when the disposal is running to keep the ice solid for as long as possible.

It’s important to avoid using too many ice cubes (or ones too big) that may over-work the disposal motor. This method is great for maintenance but it won’t fix clogs or heavy grime buildup.

Advantages

• Dual action of ice scrubbing and vinegar cleaning power
• Naturally kills microbes due to the acetic acid in vinegar
• Stops odors
• Low effort by filling ice cube tray with vinegar

Disadvantages

• For light maintenance only (won’t get heavy grease buildup)
• Doing it too much could degrade metal/rubber parts
• May over-work disposal motor if too much ice used

5 Steps To Using Vinegar Ice Cubes

1. Fill standard ice cube tray with regular strength vinegar.
   
2. With disposal OFF, drop 5-7 ice cubes directly into disposal.
   
3. Run COLD water into the disposal from faucet (cold water reduces ice melt).
   
4. Turn on disposal for 15-30 seconds until there is an ice slurry.
   
5. Turn the disposal OFF but keep running cold water for 10-20 seconds to flush all vinegar down the drain.

Way #10: Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a simple way to sanitize and clean garbage disposals that is less harsh than bleach.

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer that breaks down the cell walls of microbes like odor-causing mold and bacteria. The oxidizing effect also breaks down grease, fat, and oils.

Hydrogen peroxide foams up when applied, and this bubbling action helps lift up greasy residue stuck on the disposal walls, bottom, and grinding plates.

Similar to bleach, you want to use hydrogen peroxide sparingly and not as a go-to cleaning solution since it can damage disposal parts over time.

You also don’t want to ever mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or bleach since the reaction will create toxic gases.

Hydrogen peroxide is great to clean your disposal in a pinch but it won’t be very effective against heavy grease and food-debris buildup.

Advantages

• Deodorizes and disinfects by killing microbes
• Lifts up and loosens debris through foaming action
• Non-toxic and safer to use than bleach
• Most households already have it in stock

Disadvantages

• Not effective for heavy grease or food debris
• May damage metal/rubber parts of disposal if used too much
• Creates toxic gases if mixed with vinegar or bleach

6 Steps To Using Hydrogen Peroxide

1. Measure out 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration).
   
2. With disposal OFF, slowly pour the peroxide directly into the disposal.
   
3. Let the peroxide sit in the disposal for 5-10 minutes.
   
4. Run COLD water into the disposal and turn it on.
   
5. Let the disposal run for 10-15 seconds to flush any debris and peroxide.
   
6. Turn disposal OFF, but let cold water run for an additional 10 seconds.

Final Thoughts

There are a variety of DIY or homemade garbage disposal cleaning methods that are cheap and effective.

Each strategy has its own strengths such as the mechanical force of ice, the deodorizing effect of citrus peels, or the disinfecting power of bleach.

Most of the methods in this article are great for ongoing maintenance, but some methods like bleach or vinegar can damage your disposal if used too much.

With these homemade cleaning methods, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling fresh.

I hope you enjoyed this article by TimberSill. Please share your experiences below or ask me a question on garbage disposal cleaning!