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Posted on May 27, 2016 by

What to Do When Your Garbage Disposal Smells

It was only after I found that there was a terrible smell coming from my garbage disposal unit that I realized that I could fix it myself as well as keeping the smell from returning. Not only do I avoid putting certain objects down my garbage disposal unit, but I also keep up with it. Anytime I wash the dishes in the sink, which is daily, I make sure to add extra soap before letting out the water and running the garbage disposal unit. I like to think that this helps to make the garbage disposal smell a little bit better.

garbage-disposal-connectionsEvery week I take citrus fruits of some kind and grind them up into the disposal unit, but I mostly use the peels alone as opposed to throwing in the entire fruit, which I prefer to use for cooking around the house.

If I have no citrus fruits around the house, then I’ll use things like ice, salt, and I use vinegar in their a lot too. I don’t particularly like the smell of vinegar, so I prefer to use baking soda, but the citrus fruits are the best.

I wasn’t certain why citrus was the best, but the advice was given to me by a friend. I looked it up myself, and the acid in the citrus is what helps to disinfect as well as clean the unit, so I had no problem using any citrus fruits, especially since I always have them around the house.

If I keep up with the regular cleaning regimen for my garbage disposal unit, then I never get fouls smells anymore, and I always make sure that no pieces of food are left in the unit, which will end up rotting eventually. Even my plumber says I’m doing a good job keeping my garbage disposal clean.

Natural Remedies That Neutralizes The Smell

Using natural remedies to clean smells from a garbage disposal unit is probably the best way to go about getting the smells to disperse, but it’s best to use the right kind of natural remedies. Here are a few ingredients that can help freshen up a garbage disposal unit:

  • cut_up_some_citrusSalt & Ice
  • Citrus Fruits
  • Mouthwash
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Soda & Vinegar

Salt And Ice- Using these two ingredients is very common for cleaning a garbage disposal unit. They both can work together to help clean the unit, but the ice itself is helpful if you want the blades of your garbage disposal to get sharper. It seems ironic that using sturdy objects like ice would sharpen the blades, but this is a proven fact, and the salt is suitable for disinfecting the unit to help it smell better.

Citrus Fruits- Any citrus can make a garbage disposal smell better, especially an orange, which has a sweet smell to it. Lemon, lime, and even grapefruits can help, particularly as it’s the acidity of the fruit that helps to clean the unit, which means you can use the entire fruit or just the peels of the fruits to get the same results.

Mouthwash- Most people use mouthwash to finish their cleansing routine when they brush their teeth because it helps to get rid of germs and bacteria, so it should have the same effect if it’s used in the garbage disposal unit. Although this isn’t necessarily a natural remedy, it’s not the chemical cocktail that is sold in the stores to clean garbage disposal units, so it’s a lot more natural than using other remedies.

Baking Soda- Not only is baking soda good for cooking but cleaning, as well as disinfecting, and it’s been proven to be a good way to get rid of any smells. Refrigerators can stay fresh longer if they have a box of baking soda in it, so consider using some in your garbage disposal, especially when the smell is overwhelming.

Baking Soda And Vinegar- When you want a clean that is unsurpassed in your garbage disposal unit, try adding some vinegar to the baking soda. The vinegar should follow the baking soda, and consider using a half a cup of baking soda. These two ingredients will come together to form a chemical reaction that is ideal for loosening bits of food inside the unit, especially if it’s allowed to sit for about 15 minutes. After using this concoction, rinse the unit out with hot water to get it thoroughly clean.

Avoidable Objects In The Unit

garbage-disposalWhen using a garbage disposal unit, you’ll never want to put the following things or objects inside of it:

  • Corn Husks
  • Vegetables
  • Grease & Oil
  • Cabbage
  • Raw Meats
  • Metal
  • Cotton

Putting these items in the garbage disposal unit may cause it to malfunction or not work anymore, and it may also contribute to the bad smells that you later find within your unit. It’s best to avoid grease going into the-the garbage disposal, particularly as it may no longer be seen but can still cause problems within the disposal by clogging the pipes.

Citrus Can Be Powerful

You’ll always want to find a way to put citrus within your garbage disposal when you need it to be cleaned, particularly as it has the most pleasant smell, and the acid in the fruits are perfect for cleaning. Citrus fruits can be found in almost every store, even if you simply go to the gas station to pick up an orange.

If the smell is bad enough, get an orange, peel it, cut up the fruit into pieces, and throw all of it little by little into the disposal unit until it disappears. When you have trouble with your garbage disposal unit, then always call a plumber, especially if it’s problems that you are unable to fix.

Superior quality plumbing work, including garbage disposal fixes, are available through Daniels Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC in Albuquerque, NM at (505) 913-7075 so call today.