My Garbage Disposal Stinks!

Updated on June 28, 2007
M.D. asks from Crowley, TX
15 answers

Does anyone have any magic solutions for a stinky disposal? I have tried the orange peels, pine sol, and bleach. Nothing seems to work. Last night I filled my sink with hot water and added hand cleaner to the water- sounds weird, but I thought the degreaser in it might help. The smell is fading after that, but it is not gone yet. The pipes are not clogged- we checked. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

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C.R.

answers from Dallas on

Hi M.,

We had the same problem a couple of months ago.

Go to Home Depot and pick up some garbage disposal cleaner. I apologize but we don't have the bottle any more to give you the exact name we used. My husband said any of the brands should work.

I didn't even know they made garbage disposal cleaner!!!

Good luck!

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.TheTrinityGroup.org
www.ValueMyNeighborhoodOnLine.com

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F.S.

answers from Dallas on

Not only does the disposal stink, but it's a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Every couple of weeks pour 3 tablespoons of borax down the drain and let it sit for 1 hour. Then turn on the disposal and flush it with hot water. Ice cubes help with grease build up. Put some down the drain and grind them up. The grease clings to the ice. To keep it smelling fresh, toss lemon and orange peels down the drain every other month or as needed. You can also freshen it up with salt. Dump a 1/2 cup salt, run cold water, and start the disposal. The salt dislodges stuck waste and neutralizes odor. Last, you can mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, pour into ice cube trays, freeze. Then drop a couple of vinegar cubes down the disposal every week or so, followed by a cold water rinse.

I've tried them, and they work. All these helpful hints were taken from the book reader's digest extraordinary uses for ordinary things (2,317 ways to save money and time). I love this book!!!

Good luck!

Fe

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I use limes, vinegar, or baking soda. It just depends what I have on hand, but they all work for me.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Halfed limes always works for me!

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

There is a product called disposer care, it's in a little blue bag or box. You'll find it where the dishwashing soaps are. Use it ever few months and it really help. You could also take out the shield (the little black rubber thing) and clean it off. Stuff seems to stick to it.

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

Take a lemon and cut it into about six slices and run cold water while slowly adding each slice to your garbage disposal. It works like a charm!

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

Hi M., grind up small pieces of lemon in your disposal it will keep it smelling fresh.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

Vinegar is good too, always work for me and its inexpensive..

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

I use lemon halves and ice cubes together. This works for me!!

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M.P.

answers from Dallas on

In my old apartment, my disposal would smell horrible. I found these things at Wal-mart - it's a little package that you just stick in your garbage disposal, run some water into it, and turn on your disposal. It foams up and smells like lemons, and it works for a while. I don't remember what they were called, but I know that they were on the same aisle as the dishwasher soap...

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G.R.

answers from Dallas on

Have you tried cutting lemons in half and putting them down the disposal. Turn the disposal on and let it grind up the lemons. Usually this will take away the smell. You may even try pouring used coffee grounds down it. Make a pot of coffee and put the grounds down the sink with hot water running. Then after run your disposal.

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L.

answers from Dallas on

I try to clean as organically and non-toxically as possible. I read to put baking soda down in the disposal and then add vinegar. It bubbles up and 'scrubs' the inside of the disposal. After letting it sit for a while (5 minutes), pour boiling water down the drain. It works for me.

I clean my dishwasher that way too. When it gets really humid...like recently...my dishwasher gets moldy. I can run a cycle with vinegar and baking soda and it gets out the mold and smell.

Good luck!

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B.P.

answers from Dallas on

I have used lemons or orange peels. when that don't work then I use the lemon or orange itself and like others cut it in half and allow the garage disposal to grind it up.

Another thing to do is take the little rubber ring out and clean it, you be surprized how filthy that can get that can create that yucky smell. I normal take it out at least once a month to give it a good cleaning and at times when I've used it more often I take it out more than once a month to clean it.

I've also have pour baking soda down the drain...
to help keep it fresh about once a month.

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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

I have used vinigar in mine and it always works :)

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J.Y.

answers from Dallas on

They make a garbage disposal cleaner that always works for mine. It's on the same aisle as dish detergent.

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