Does your garbage disposal reek of last night’s go-to dinner, and who knows what else?

There are many tips and tricks for using everyday household items found in your kitchen pantry and fridge that will help banish the foul odors coming from the depths of your sink.

Read on to learn the simple ways on how to clean a smelly garbage disposal.

1. Go With Baking Soda and Vinegar

One way to neutralize the funky odors coming from smelly garbage disposal is by hitting it with the dynamic kitchen cleaning duo of baking soda and vinegar.

Start by dumping two cups of baking soda into the disposal. Follow with a half cup of vinegar. The combination will create a bubbly chemical reaction that breaks down the dirt and grease hiding in your garbage disposal.

2. Flush With Hot Water and Dish Soap

A stinky garbage disposal needs daily flushing to keep the foul smells at bay.

Start by plugging the sink and filling it halfway with hot water. Hot tap water will do, but consider boiling a kettle full of water as well. Add a few squirts of dish soap as a degreaser. Add some vinegar for good measure.

Unplug the drain and turn the garbage disposal on. Enjoy a refreshed disposal.

3. Harness the Power of Lemon Peels

If you’re tasked with cleaning a stinky garbage disposal, consider dicing up a few lemons.

The citrus from the lemon peels will deodorize any nasty smells and is a natural degreaser to attack the oil and fat hiding in the crevices. Run the water before you flip the switch on your garbage disposal.

Be sure to chop up the peels into small chunks, so they don’t clog up your disposal.

4. Pair Ice Cubes and Salt

Proper garbage disposal cleaning wouldn’t be complete without ice cubes and salt.

Deposit two cups of ice into the garbage disposal and add a cup of salt. Kosher salt or whatever you have on hand will do the trick.

Run the cold water while turning on the garbage disposal. The disposal will crush the ice, give the blades a good cleanse, and the salt helps to neutralize any residual odors.

If kitchen smells are a consistent problem, a professional cleaning service could offer a deep cleaning to sanitize hard-to-reach areas.

5. Clean the Exterior of the Disposal

If you’ve tried the above tips and tricks and you’re still asking yourself, “Why does my garbage disposal smell?” the answer could be cleaning the exterior of the disposal.

Take a small brush and add some dishwashing liquid. Scrub the beneath the splash guard and around the rim of the disposal to get rid of any leftover food debris.

Knowing How to Clean a Smelly Garbage Disposal

Now that you know the steps on how to clean a smelly garbage disposal, it’s time to vanquish those funky scents and enjoy a kitchen refresh.

For more cleaning tips and to schedule a deep-cleaning service with our specialists, contact us for a home cleaning quote.