Unplug the garbage disposal Shine a flashlight into the drain to see if you can locate any large clogs, stuck food, or other blockages Use tongs, long tweezers, or pliers to remove the blockage Plug the appliance back in Turn on the water, turn on the disposal, and run the disposal for a minute Turn off the disposal, followed by the water
Put a plug in the garbage disposal drain Fill the sink with at least 4 inches (10 cm) of water Add 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of liquid dish soap Swish the water around to create suds Unplug the drain Turn on the garbage disposal and let it process the soapy water Turn off the disposal when the water has drained out
Rinse a dish wand or scrub brush with water Pour a liberal amount of liquid dish soap onto the brush Scrub the accessible parts of the garbage disposal, including the rim in the sink basin and the inside of the drain
The ice cubes will help dislodge any stuck-on food particles, and the salt will scrub the impeller blades and remove possible odor sources. [4] X Research source
Always turn the water on before running the disposal, and turn the disposal off before shutting off the water.
Pour 2 cups (440 g) of baking soda into the garbage disposal drain Slowly pour in ½ cup (118 ml) of vinegar Let the cleaner sit for an hour After an hour, turn on the water and the disposal and run it for a minute
In the morning, remove the vinegar cubes from the tray and pour them into the disposal drain Turn on a low stream of water, turn on the disposal, and let it run until the cubes are gone
You can use any citrus peel for cleaning and deodorizing your disposal, including orange, lime, or grapefruit. [8] X Research source
Fibrous foods to avoid include banana peels, artichoke, celery, onion skin, and corn husks. [9] X Research source
Potatoes Rice Bread Pasta
Similarly, putting too much food into the disposal at once can also cause problems, so only add food in small quantities. [11] X Research source
Always turn the water on before you run the disposal, keep the water running as long as the disposal is on, and run the water for at least five seconds after you turn the disposal off. [12] X Research source If you don’t run the water long enough, food can get caught in the disposal, can dry onto the blades and housing, and can cause bad odors.
As the grease ages, it will start to smell, and if food gets stuck in the drain because of the grease, it will also cause bad odors. Because grease can accumulate on pipe walls and cause blockages, you shouldn’t put grease into the garbage disposal.
Egg shells Chicken bones Small fruit pits, such as cherry pits Fish bones Ice cubes
