Garbage Disposal Smell – How to Deodorize and Fix It Once and for All

Garbage Disposal Smell – How to Deodorize and Fix It Once and for All

Garbage Disposal Smell – How to Deodorize and Fix It Once and for All

personby TruFusion labelDrain cleaner

Having a garbage disposal in your kitchen provides a very convenient way to quickly clean up the kitchen and dispose of food scraps without filling up the garbage can or clogging up your sink. Unfortunately for anyone that has one, frequent use can lead to less than desirable, or downright disgusting, odors wafting from the disposal. Akin to a scent you might smell coming from a dumpster behind a busy restaurant, odors will quickly form if the disposal is not cleaned and deodorized regularly.

Think about the environment inside of the average in-sink garbage disposal…it’s dark, damp, and cool. Mix that with all the food scraps that get put into it and it’s no wonder it starts to stink. Odor-causing bacteria thrive in these conditions, but don’t worry!

Below we’ve listed some easy tips on how to clean and sanitize your garbage disposal to get rid of those lingering bad smells.

Clean the Visible Areas

Put a liberal amount of dish soap on a scrub brush and scrub the areas in the garbage disposal that you can see. Pay close attention to the joint where the disposal rim meets the sink basin. Debris and small food particles tend to get trapped in this area and can lead to nasty mold.

Clean with Salt and Ice

Salt and ice work wonders when it comes to cleaning the garbage disposal by creating friction that dislodges stuck on, decaying food particles thereby helping to eliminate odor. Do the following:

  • Put 10 ice cubes inside the sink around the disposal.
  • Sprinkle ½ cup of coarse salt on the ice cubes.
  • Turn the disposal on and use a kitchen utensil to push the ice cubes and salt towards the opening, keeping your hands at a safe distance.
  • Run the disposal until all of the ice and salt are completely gone.
  • Run cold tap water as hard as possible directly into the disposal for 1 to 2 minutes to flush away any remaining debris.

Citrus Peels

It is pretty common knowledge that lemon juice acts as a natural deodorizer. Using lemon, orange, lime, or grapefruit peels at the disposal can work wonders. Try grinding a few peels, or even the entire fruit, in the disposal. Not only will this help clean the blades and disposal walls, it also deodorizes the disposal leaving your kitchen with a fresh citrus smell. Lemon juice also works well to remove built-up stains.

Deodorize the Garbage Disposal

Sometimes, even after all the food particles are gone, the odor still hangs around. If your disposal still has a foul odor after a thorough cleaning, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate those nasty smells.

  • Dump 2 cups of baking soda directly into the disposal.
  • Add ½ cup of white vinegar, pouring slowly.
  • Let the mixture sit for 1 hour.
  • Run water into the running disposal for 1 minute to disperse and remove the mixture.

Use a Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer

Maintenance is always better than the cure, so it’s best to always clean and deodorizes your kitchen sink garbage disposal on a regular basis. Keeping a good garbage disposal cleaner and deodorizer on hand is important for times that a quick cleaning just doesn’t do the trick.
TruFusion™ WASHOUT™ Build-Up Remover eats away any hair, grease, paper, organic matter, food, and soap scum that has built up in the garbage disposal with specially formulated dual-action biologicals and enzymes.

At TruFusion, we understand the hazards a clogged drain poses to your environment and how it can affect your health and your daily routine. With years of experience in plumbing technology, our experts have designed powerful cleaning products that work – every time. Our products answer cleaning’s biggest questions and offer a safer, stronger and more reliable solution to clogged drains and the buildup of bad odors. Visit our website today!