How to Get Rid of a Garbage Disposal Odor

You come home from work, head into your kitchen to get a drink, when you’re hit with a horrible smell. You open the fridge and sniff, nope. The trash can? No dice. Where could this smell be emanating from? You walk towards your sink, sniff, it’s the garbage disposal.

Now you’ve found the smell, but how can you get rid of that smell from your garbage disposal? Luckily for you there are several things you can do.

1. Good Old Fashioned Water and Dish Soap

For this solution, you won’t even need to leave your sink. Put either a rubber or steel stopper into your drain and fill the sink with hot water. Next you’ll want to add and mix in some dish soap. Take out your stopper and let it all drain. Hopefully the hot water and soap mix will clear out any gunk built up in the drain.

2. When Life Gives You Lemons

Forget the old trope, don’t make lemonade with these lemons, we’re going to use them to clean your drain’s smell. Take some lemon peels and cut them into small strips, then run your tap with some hot water. Then turn on the garbage disposal and let it run until you hear no noises for 10-15 seconds. The lemons will only take care of the smell and won’t remove any food build up.

3. Baking Soda and Vinegar

Most homes contain both baking soda and vinegar, so you likely won’t need to leave the home for this method. You want to pour the baking soda into the drain first, followed by the vinegar. Let the concoction fizzle and do its thing for about 15 minutes. Then turn on the garbage disposal and run hot water for 30 seconds. This should clear out your drain and remove the smell. Note: vinegar is acidic and can damage the rubber parts of your disposal. Use this method sparingly.

4. Kosher Salt and Ice Cubes

Here’s another option that can be completed with only household items. Take some ice cubes along with a handful of kosher salt and throw them into your drain. The ice cubes will get crushed up and will knock any buildup off of your drain. The salt acts as a scrub and will help clean your garbage disposal.

Still Having Trouble?

If you are still having issues with smells coming from your garbage disposal, then you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced Eldersburg plumber. We have been servicing Eldersburg and other local areas for years, and would be more than happy to help you get your garbage disposal smelling good again. Give us a call today!