Does your sink reek? Here's how to clean a garbage disposal, according to experts

CNN

18-04-2025

Garbage disposal cleaning quick picks
To stay out of the mess: O-Cedar Playtex Handsaver Gloves
A disposal's best friend: Mr. Scrappy Universal Garbage Disposal Brush
A convenient pre-portioned cleaner: Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner
An odor-buster that works overnight: Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Probiotic Drain Maintenance Learning to clean a garbage disposal was a rite of passage for me. I graduated high school, moved away from home and was suddenly faced with this grimy, potentially dangerous kitchen appliance at the bottom of my sink. That's not to say I'd never encountered one before (my grandma has one), but I'd never cleaned it myself — or at least not with the proper cleaning products or technique.
For years, I poured hot water and dish soap down the sink, thinking that was enough. But after talking to experts for this piece and deep-cleaning the sink, I learned that I hadn't been doing a very good job. Here's how to polish, sanitize and deodorize a garbage disposal correctly.
It should be obvious, but a clean, well-maintained garbage disposal will last longer and smell better. Unfortunately, I'm speaking from experience. Since moving into my apartment about two years ago, my housemates and I haven't deep-cleaned the garbage disposal once. (Dudes rock, am I right?) That's partly because we've avoided using it, opting to catch debris with an Oxo sink strainer instead of grinding it up with the disposal. Thanks to our neglect, an unsightly gray slime has taken over the garbage disposal's splash guard.
Even if you aren't as negligent as my housemates and I, ask yourself when you last cleaned your garbage disposal.
If your answer ranges from a few months ago to never, you're slacking. Rob Garrett, merchant of product development at The Home Depot, said he recommends cleaning your disposal at least once per month, adding that it's crucial to hit the splash guard and sink stopper too. Still, there's no exact timeline, according to Corey Junio, a brand manager at Electrolux, which makes garbage disposals, and it depends on usage, not to mention your tolerance for grime.
Cleaning a garbage disposal isn't rocket science. You need some soap, a scrubber and, if you want to get fancy, a few special tools and cleaners. Below, I'll share a couple methods and products I used, plus pro tips from experts. That said, Lisa Muentener, a research chemist at Arm & Hammer, said that you ought to consult your garbage disposal's cleaning instructions first to avoid any mishaps.
Step 1: Disconnect your garbage disposal from its power source
There's a famous scene in 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' where a plane's propeller collides with one of the villains, and it isn't pretty. You don't want your hand to get anywhere near an active garbage disposal for similar reasons. That's why all the experts I spoke to stressed the importance of disconnecting your garbage disposal before cleaning. You can do that by simply unplugging the disposal or switching off the kitchen breaker.
Klein Tools Voltage Tester Pen
It may be overkill, but Garrett said you can confirm your disposal is disconnected with a voltage detector like this one. Step 2: Remove debris
Next, you'll want to check for any lingering debris, whether that's large food particles or miscellaneous junk. I did this with my iPhone light and a pair of pliers I had lying around, but I'd much rather use a powerful flashlight and extra-long pliers for better reach.
Maglite Solitaire Flashlight
In our testing, this keychain flashlight was small enough to use one-handed, making it a great choice for maintenance around the house.Read our review
O-Cedar Playtex Handsaver Gloves
Garbage disposals are caked in filth. I'd recommend protecting your hands with a pair of rubber gloves.
Stanley 5-Inch Needle-Nose Pliers
Any old pliers will do, but these have the advantage of being extra long so you can grab onto things in hard-to-reach places. Step 3: Flush and scrub
Now that your garbage disposal is empty, you can get cleaning. Garrett said to start by plugging the sink (I used a bowl) and filling it with hot water. Once the water has filled the sink halfway, reconnect the disposal to the power, unplug the sink and turn the disposal on.
Following the flush, disconnect your garbage disposal again and start scrubbing. There are a lot of tools and soaps you can use — many of which are designed for garbage disposals — but Muentener said an old toothbrush works too. Just make sure to hit the flaps, which she said can 'accumulate grime and cause odors if not cleaned regularly.'
Mr. Scrappy Universal Garbage Disposal Brush
You can scrub your garbage disposal with everyday cleaning products: a sponge, a retired toothbrush, a dish brush or some combo of the three. But I found this thick-bristled disposal brush was worth the cost, especially if you plan on cleaning your sink often.
Dawn Radial Head Kitchen Brush
The shape of this kitchen brush was well suited to cleaning the flaps, and it's more versatile than the disposal-specific Mr. Scrappy model.Dawn Platinum Liquid Dish Soap
I always recommend using whatever you already have, and that goes for soap too. But if you need to restock your dish soap anyway — or want a little more firepower while cleaning — snag a bottle of Dawn Platinum. It's similar to Dawn Ultra but comes with a few more surfactants.
Step 4: Clean the impellers with ice
You probably think garbage disposals have blades, but they actually use dull lugs called impellers. Cleaning and sharpening them isn't easy since they're at the bottom of the disposal, but Muentener says a mixture of salt and ice can help. 'The ice helps to clean the grinding chamber and sharpen the blades, while the salt acts as an abrasive to dislodge any remaining particles,' she said.
Recipes vary, but according to Garrett, a ratio of 2 cups of ice to 1 cup of salt should work. Once you've added those two ingredients, you can run the cold water and turn on the disposal. Be warned: The disposal will make a loud, crunching sound, but it'll dissipate after a few seconds.
Morton All-Purpose Salt
I only recommend Morton's because it's widely available and cheap, but it doesn't really matter which brand you use. Just don't pour your box of Maldon finishing salts down the drain. Step 5: Deodorize with baking soda and vinegar
Remember baking soda and vinegar volcanoes? You can do the same thing (more or less) with your sink to clean out the garbage disposal. Muentener recommended pouring about a quarter cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a quarter cup of white vinegar. 'The mixture will fizz and bubble, which will help to dislodge grime and neutralize odors,' she said.
You can also use baking soda for minor clogs or slow-moving drains, Muentener said, though for clogs she recommends pouring a pot of boiling water down the sink before adding baking soda and vinegar.
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Baking soda (aka sodium bicarbonate) is the same regardless of brand. Arm & Hammer is the most well known and widely available.Heinz All-Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 3-Pack
Ditto for vinegar you're using for cleaning; it doesn't really matter what brand you use. My advice? Find the cheapest bottle (per unit) and buy that one.
Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner
The beauty of baking soda and vinegar is that they're versatile. One day, you might be using them to flush your disposal; the next, you can use them to clean your oven. But there are also plenty of premixed, disposal-specific cleaners on the market like this one.
Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner
Glisten's foaming disposal cleaner has the advantage of coming in single-use packets, and the price isn't too bad either. If you're after convenience, consider it. Step 6: Let probiotics work their magic overnight
Like your wellness-obsessed friend, your sink needs probiotics too. According to Junio, not only do probiotic disposal cleaners remove odors caused by grease and food remnants but they also continue working long after you first use them. 'Cleaning results improve over time as the probiotic continues to remove food buildup and organic material,' he said.
If you're still dealing with odors at this point, you can also use citrus peels in small quantities, Garrett said. I took a peeler to a lemon, threw a few peels down the drain and turned the disposal on. The citrusy smell offers immediate relief. Just be sure you only put tiny citrus peels down there (no full lemons).
Mrs. Meyer's Probiotic Drain Maintenance
I used Mrs. Meyer's lavender probiotic cleaner (love the smell), pouring half the bottle down the drain and then waiting overnight to let the microscopic enzymes eat away the grime.
Frigidaire ReadyClean Probiotic Sink and Disposer Cleaner
Frigidaire also sells a universal probiotic cleaner, which comes in convenient single-use packages.
The following FAQs have been answered by appliance experts Corey Junio and Rob Garrett.
How do you keep a garbage disposal working for years?
How do you keep a garbage disposal working for years?
A garbage disposal is an expensive appliance, especially if you have to replace it every few years. But provided you follow the steps below, they're hardy machines.
Use it frequently: It sounds counterintuitive, but Garrett and Junio said that using a garbage disposal often will extend its life. 'Letting it sit idle for long periods can cause corrosion or jamming,' Junio said.
Always use cold water: Garrett said that cold water is best while running the disposal, as it 'helps solidify grease and wash it down the drain properly.'
Grind in moderation: Grind only one cup of food at a time, Garrett said.
Clean and deodorize monthly: If you don't want your disposal to smell like a landfill, clean and deodorize it regularly. Citrus peels are fine in small quantities, Garrett said, but disposal-specific cleaning pods are a safer option.
Replace worn parts: Finally, Garett recommended replacing parts like splash guards and stoppers when they're worn out.
What should you avoid throwing down your garbage disposal?
What should you avoid throwing down your garbage disposal?
There's a long list of things you shouldn't put down your disposal, whether because they'll clog your pipes, corrode components or dull the impellers. A few highlights that Junio and Garrett mentioned include the following:
Grease, oil and fat, which can clog pipes.
Eggshells and coffee grounds, which clump and glom onto other debris.
Starchy foods like pasta and rice, as they'll turn into a sludgy, hard-to-clean mess.
Large citrus peels, which may dull the disposal's impellers.
Harsh, corrosive cleaners and chemicals, including those that contain bleach, sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide.
How do you unclog a garbage disposal?
How do you unclog a garbage disposal?
Whatever you do, don't rummage around in the disposal with your hand, Junio said.
Instead, Garrett recommends unplugging the disposal and switching power off at the circuit breaker before manually rotating the impellers with a compatible hex key or unjamming tool. You'll also want to remove obstructions, using a flashlight and long-nose pliers to fish out debris, he added.
If you can't see any obvious jams, try flushing the disposal with boiling water (for grease). You can also try adding a half a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar, waiting 10 minutes and then flushing with hot water. Plungers can work too, especially if they're fitted to sink drains.
After you're finished, Garrett said the next step is resetting and testing the disposal. If all else fails, call a certified technician.
Rob Garrett, merchant of product development at The Home Depot
Corey Junio, brand manager at Electrolux
Lisa Muentener, research chemist at Arm & Hammer
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this guide, associate writer Maxwell Shukuya spoke to three experts to learn how to properly clean a garbage disposal. He then implemented their advice, testing a handful of garbage disposal cleaning products at home.