It smells like something died in my garbage disposal. What can I do?

[AuroraBorealis]

I never use the garbage disposal. I grew up without one so I'm used to not using it.

My roommate, however, shoves everything (except bones, flatware, and plastic and other no-no's) into the garbage disposal. It currently smells like something died down there and my kitchen stinks!

I've tried running it with ice cubes, pouring baking soda down there and letting it sit overnight, pouring boiling water down while running it, and even vinegar (once the baking soda was gone.) Nothing has helped.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[HelenePA]

is bleach a no no? I never had one either..

 

[GraysMom]

You could cut a lemon in half and run the disposal (or a lime or orange).

 

[Doe]

I chop up an orange and put it down there, peel and all. Lemons too.

 

[disbugsmomma]

I turn on really hot water, turn on the disposer and squirt some lemon scented Dawn into it. Let it run until the soap goes away and it smells so much better.

 

[MAKmom]

My disposal will not take lemon or lime peels. Have you tried putting your hand in there & seeing if there is anything in the disposal. You may need to take it off & see what is in it.

 

[Snow_White]

When mine smells yucky, I take an old toothbrush and scrub everything. There are always a few food particles that stick to things and inevitably stink. No matter what you do, unless you get all the gunk out, it's still going to stink. After I do that, I run some soapy water through it and the smell is gone.

 

[elizke]

When I clean out the sink with bleach, I usually douse a paper towel liberally with it and reach in there and scrub. Use a paper towel wad because once you see the gunk you will come up with you will not want to use whatever you used ever again.

I usually don't rinse for a while either. Let the bleach do its job killing the germs for 10 minutes or so. (I go elsewhere and wash my hands or gloves.) It's usually the area under the rubber that collects the disgusting scum.

 

[Pop Daddy]

coffee grounds, dish liquid soap, and clean the bottom of that rubber thing

 

[kimluvswdw]

My mom and dad bought some cleaner and the bottle actually garbage disposal cleaner. If it works for her then I am going to get a bottle.

 

[lg3]

I often have the same problem, and I treat my garbage disposal with kid gloves. You MUST take everything out and clean it thoroughly with a disenfectant. I have tried EVERYTHING!!!! Little lemon scented pellets (from Linens & Things) were okay, but never really got to the root of the problem I guess. I finally found a foam cleaner for disposals at Home Depot that seems to work wonders. I'll check on the type and let you know.

 

[sharonW]

Lemon juice usually does the trick!
(the bottled stuff)

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to start with citrus fruit and work my way up to actually having to take it apart.

I've shined a flashlight down there and there is some gunk that just isn't going away. I'll make my roommate stick her hand down there to clean it! She's the one who uses it!

 

[WorldlyWise]

run ice through it, maybe with a little dish soap

 

[Dolce27]

I turn on really hot water, turn on the disposer and squirt some lemon scented Dawn into it. Let it run until the soap goes away and it smells so much better.

That's what I do and it usually works.

 

[AllyBri]

Foolish question here.
What is the purpose of the garbage disposal? Never had one, my entire life till 7 years ago (have never used it)
I just take the garbage out each day.
Everyone I ask, say they never use theirs either.

 

[grlpwrd]

I had this problem before and so I went on an internet search to figure it out.

I scrubbed it, too. Of course, make sure it is turned off. I cleaned the black rubber cover and flaps with a toothbrush and soapy water. It was a challenge to do, but there was gross build up there.

Then I deodorize it with slices of lemon and then I add baking soda. Turn on the disposal with water to grind. I do this every month or so now. Or I pour about half a cup of baking soda down the disposal and then half a cup of vinegar. Let sit for a few minutes and then flush with hot water.


I also think part of it is to be careful what you put in the disposal. Now I know not to put in things like egg shells and grease.

GL!

 

[MomofKatie]

Foolish question here.
What is the purpose of the garbage disposal? Never had one, my entire life till 7 years ago (have never used it)
I just take the garbage out each day.
Everyone I ask, say they never use theirs either.

I use it for any grindable food items that would start to smell in the garbage. You name it, I shove it in the disposal- leftovers that sat in the fridge too long, pizza crusts, lemon peels, egg shells, left over onion tops (after I chop up the rest) and other veggies, whatever DD left on her plate at dinner, etc, etc, etc. I don't put potato peelings, shrimp shells, or meat scraps in there- DH has had to take apart the plumbing a few times because of them- but everything else is fair game!! I am not afraid to use and abuse the disposal (we've been in our house 7 years and we're on our 3rd one... ).

 

[Pop Daddy]

Foolish question here.
What is the purpose of the garbage disposal? Never had one, my entire life till 7 years ago (have never used it)
I just take the garbage out each day.
Everyone I ask, say they never use theirs either.

its a status symbol

 

[Kathi OD]

My parents got their first garbage disposal when I was about 10 (over 40 years ago). Since then the only time I didn't have one was for about a month when we bought our first house. It was the first "upgrade" we did. No way I want that stinky garbage around.

As for cleaning it, the most important thing is to clean the underside of the rubber collar at least 3 or 4 times a year. If you don't it gets really mildwey (is that a word?) because it is so dark and wet,and starts to stink pretty bad. I usually put a cut up lemon in mine once a week and then use a bleach/dish detergent solution maybe once a month to keep the other parts of the disposal clean and smelling fresh. If you clean the underside of the collar several times a year, it really isn't that bad of a job.