How to Clean and Deodorize Your Garbage Disposal in Minutes

Anyone with a garbage disposal can attest to just how quickly they can become odorous and grimy. "Garbage disposals can become biohazard zones faster than [you may] think," says cleaning professional Neel Parekh. He explains that food particles tend to stick to the rubber flaps and the walls of the grinding chamber. This, in turn, becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which release odor-causing sulfur compounds.

The good news is that there are a number of quick and easy methods of cleaning out your garbage disposal to prevent malfunction and extend its lifespan (while keeping your kitchen smelling fresh, too).

Follow any of these simple methods below to clean your garbage disposal effectively and quickly (we're talking mere minutes here).

Method: Ice and Salt Scour

Time: 2-3 minutes

1. Throw a handful of ice cubes into the garbage disposal.
2. Follow by pouring about a cup of coarse salt over the ice.
3. Run cold tap water into the disposal. As the water is running, turn on the garbage disposal and run until the salt and ice are ground up and flushed out.
4. Continue running the cold water for another minute or so to thoroughly rinse the disposal and the drain.

Method: Baking Soda and Vinegar Fizz

Time: 5-10 minutes

1. Run the cold water and turn on the disposal. Turn off both and inspect the disposal for any large debris. Remove any with tongs, never your hands, instructs cleaning expert and professional organizer Isabella Flores.
2. Pour approximately ½ cup baking soda into the disposal.
3. Add ½ to 1 cup vinegar and allow it to fizz for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. While the mixture is fizzing, scrub the bottom of the rubber splash guard and the visible portion of the drain with dish soap and a small brush.
5. When fizzing has ceased, run hot water and activate the disposal for 30-60 seconds to remove loose debris.
6. Optional: Throw a handful of citrus peels into the disposal and grind with cold water to leave your garbage disposal smelling ultra-fresh. 

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Method: Dish Soap, Ice, and Lemons

Time: 5 minutes

1. Owner and CEO of Hubbard's Maid Service, Nicole Kent, recommends first running the hot water and a bit of dish soap to loosen stuck-on goop.
2. Turn off the hot tap. Add ice cubes and lemon pieces (with peels still on) into the disposal.
3. Run cold water and pour in some additional squirts of dish soap.
4. Turn on the disposal to grind the mixture for about 1 minute. "[This] will scrape and sharpen the blades and also make it smell better," says Kent.

Method: Enzyme Tablets, Vinegar, and Baking Soda

Time: 6 minutes

1. Drop two enzyme cleaning tablets (designed specifically for garbage disposals) into the drain.
2. Run cold water and the disposal for about 15 seconds. “The enzymatic formula gets rid of organic matter in places that are hard to reach,” says Parekh. 
3. Pour 1 cup of vinegar along with ½ cup baking soda into the disposal. Let fizz for 5 minutes.
4. Run the disposal and flush it with hot water for an additional 30 seconds. “This [method] gets rid of dirt that is hard to see, which is where most smells come from,” says Parekh.

3 Things to Remember to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean and Odor-Free

To keep your kitchen sink draining properly and your garbage disposal in good working condition, our experts recommend keeping the following three cardinal rules in mind.

• Perform maintenance regularly: If you cook a lot at home, clean your disposal once a week, advises Parekh. If you eat out a lot, cleaning your disposal every other week is typically adequate. To perform a weekly quick deodorizing clean, use a hot-water flush plus citrus peels or a small amount of baking soda, says Flores.
• Run the hot water: Always run hot water before, while, and after using the disposal for at least 20-30 seconds to flush all particles thoroughly through the pipes. This will help prevent bacteria growth and food from sitting static in your disposal.
• Put only suitable waste down your disposal: Never flush fats, oils, grease, stringy vegetables, egg shells, potato peels, coffee grounds, or large bones down a garbage disposal. "This will not only help your sink smell better but will improve the overall performance and will help the components last longer," says Kent.