July 13, 2020

Applewood Plumbing’s “Stinky” Disposal Solutions


If you have noticed a less than pleasant scent lurking from your kitchen sink, the problem is probably coming from your garbage disposal. Luckily, there are simple solutions.

Fixing a Stinky Garbage Disposal

These home remedies use common household items that you probably already have on hand.

Here are Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric’s favorite solutions to stinky disposals:

  1. Clean the Visible Portion. Use dish soap and a sponge to scrub the visible area of the disposal. Sometimes when rinsing the sink, small food particles will get stuck between the disposal rim and sink basin. Left for too long, the particles may turn into mold.
  2. Flush the Housing. If the appliance smells bad, there is a chance that food is still stuck in the disposal. Stop the sink drain and fill the basin about halfway with water and soap or vinegar. Simultaneously turn on the disposal and uncork the drain.
  3. Remove the Slime. Kosher salt works as an abrasive cleaner. This can dislodge slimy residue left behind by food. To use this, pour a large cup of ice into the garbage disposal and begin running it. Add a half-cup of salt while still running. The combination of salt and ice should grind away the odor-causing residue. Rinse thoroughly to remove any residual salt.
  4. Routine Flushing. Cleaning your drain shouldn’t only happen when the drain smells. Routine flushes can help keep your disposal from smelling bad and maintains clean blades. To do this, just turn on a thick stream of hot water and run your disposal for at least one minute.
  5. Prevention is the Best Solution. It is relatively easy to remove foul smells, but prevention is the easiest way to fix the problem. Avoid running fibrous vegetables, like celery, or starchy foods through your disposal. Also, try to run your disposal for a few seconds longer than you need to push the small particles through.
  6. Fresh Smelling Cleaner. If the steps above didn’t improve the smell, you may need a stronger cleaner. First, lift the rubber flaps and pour in a half cup of baking soda. Next, fill the drain with water until the baking soda is not visible, then pour in a half-cup of vinegar. Let sit for one hour. Turn on the garbage disposal and run cold water for one minute.

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