Garbage Disposal Smells Bad: Causes, Fixes and Prevention

Something smells bad in your kitchen- I think it’s from your garbage disposal. 

A garbage disposal is efficient and can make your after-meal cleaning job easy. However, it can develop a fishy smell if food particles get stuck and grounded improperly. 

Thankfully, this guide breaks down every step you can follow to remove the bad smell from the disposal unit. 

So, let’s dive in. 

Table of Contents

• Why Does My Garbage Disposal Smell Bad?
• How To Get Rid of Garbage Disposal Smells? 
  • Baking Soda and Vinegar
  • Ice and Salt
  • Hot Water and Dish Soap
  • Citrus Peels
  • Clean The Garbage Disposal With Specialty Products
  • Clean the Splash Guard
• How Often Should You Clean Your Garbage Disposal To Prevent Smells?
• How To Prevent Your Garbage Disposal From Smelling Bad?
• FAQs
• Conclusion

Why Does My Garbage Disposal Smell Bad?

Your garbage disposal smells fishy due to the leftover food scraps rotting inside the disposal unit. A garbage disposal doesn’t have sharp blades like a blender. This means that the impellers of the disposal unit don’t turn food particles into powder-like substances. 

If you don’t run sufficient water before and after using the food waste disposer, the food particles trap between the impellers and the flywheel. Consequently, they start to rot and spread the stink. 

Here are the reasons behind the bad smell emanating from the garbage disposal unit: 

• Food buildup: Food particles can accumulate in the garbage disposal over time, causing foul odors. The buildup can happen under the impellers, in grooves, and crannies.

• Grease and Fat: Putting grease and fat into the disposal unit is the culprit behind the stink. These two substances can solidify and stick to the disposal pipes, leading to clogs and foul odors.

• Lack of cleaning: If you neglect regular cleaning, bacteria and mold can thrive, causing unpleasant smells.

• Inadequate flushing: Food particles can linger inside the garbage disposal unit if you don’t flush sufficient water before and after using the disposer.

• Sewage Leaks: Does the garbage disposal smell like sewage or rotten eggs? This sewage-like smell indicates a leak in the plumbing system, which requires immediate professional attention. 

How To Get Rid of Garbage Disposal Smells?

To remove the garbage disposal smell, check the grinding chamber for obstructions. You’ll need to nip it in the bud by cleaning out any trapped food before it worsens.

Use a flashlight to identify the obstructions and remove the blockage using pliers or tongs. 

Once you clear the restriction, try one of the following cleaning methods to refresh the disposal unit: 

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Let’s cut to the chase- pouring baking soda and vinegar into the disposal is one of the best natural remedies to the foul odor. 

Create a solution of baking soda and vinegar by putting 1/4 cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the disposal. 

Mixing those two ingredients creates a strong chemical reaction that’s enough to kill the odor-causing bacteria and germs.

Let the cleaning solution soak by leaving the disposal unit for several minutes. 

Then, flush the garbage disposal with cold water. 

Ice and Salt

Put two cups of ice cubes and a cup of rock salt into your garbage disposal unit. Then, run the cold water and turn on the disposal unit to grind the ice cubes. 

The crushed ice cubes help dislodge the food buildup trapped in every nook and cranny of the disposal unit, while the rock salt kills the odor. 

Once you grind the ice cubes, run the cold water through the unit for about a minute to flush them down the drain. 

Hot Water and Dish Soap

Dish soap is another ingredient for removing odor from garbage disposal due to its ability to cut through grease. 

To eliminate the fishy odor using dish soap, place the stopper on the sink drain and fill it with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing soap.

Pull out the stopper and turn on your garbage disposal. The soapy water will flush the food buildup and the stinky odor as it gets pulled in. 

Citrus Peels

Peels from citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, and lime are great for replacing foul odors with a fresh citrus scent.

Cut lemon, orange, or lime into smaller pieces and toss them into the garbage disposal. Turn on the cold water and then switch on your food waste disposer.

Those citrus peels help wash away the bad smell and replace it with a nice citrus fragrance. 

Clean The Garbage Disposal With Specialty Products

If the stinky smell persists, you can get specialty products designed to clean the garbage disposal. Get the garbage disposal cleaner or pods from the grocery store and toss it into the disposal. 

Then, run the water and switch the disposal unit to On. Soon, you will find foam bubbling up. Those foam clean and refresh your garbage disposal. 

Clean the Splash Guard

Cleaning the splash guard on a garbage disposal is a part of deep cleaning. 

Food particles can build up under the rubber splash guard, leading to a smelly garbage disposal.

You can read this guide to learn how to clean garbage disposal splash.  

How Often Should You Clean Your Garbage Disposal To Prevent Smells?

It depends on how often you use your garbage disposal. If you operate the garbage disposal every two or three days, clean your disposal once a week. 

On the other hand, monthly cleaning will be sufficient if you use the garbage disposal less often. 

I highly suggest you maintain a consistent cleaning routine. For example, you can clean the disposal unit every week or month. Frequent cleaning will help prevent foul odor from emanating and keep the disposal in shape. 

How To Prevent Your Garbage Disposal From Smelling Bad?

It’s simple to eliminate bad smells from the garbage disposal. The best way to address the unpleasant odor is by preventing it.

Here are some maintenance tips you can follow to prevent your garbage disposal from smelling fishy:

• Operate the disposal unit for at least 30 seconds: Run the garbage disposal for at least 30 seconds every time you turn it on. It will help the disposal to grind the food particles thoroughly.
• Run Sufficient Water: Run plenty of water through the disposal unit. It helps flush the food particles smoothly down the drain.
• Don’t grind fibrous vegetables or starchy foods: Never put these items into the disposal unit, including celery, corn husks, rice, and pasta. They clog the garbage disposal.
• Grind ice cubes or small fruit pits occasionally: Crushed ice cubes or fruit pits can pass through the disposal and dislodge the lingering food debris. 

FAQs

Does vinegar help garbage disposal smell?

Vinegar can’t alone deodorize your garbage disposal. However, when you combine vinegar and baking soda, it creates a chemical reaction that cleans and freshens the disposal unit.

Why does garbage disposal smell like sewer?

A garbage disposal smells like sewer due to mold buildup or a leak in the plumbing system. As the garbage disposal unit consists of dark, wet parts, mold and bacteria thrive there due to the moist environment. Similarly, your garbage disposal smells like sewage if there is a leak in the plumbing system. 

Does putting ice in the garbage disposal clean it?

Yes, putting ice in the garbage disposal unit can clean it. Ice cubes work as a scrubber and scour hard-to-clean areas in the grinding chamber. They help dislodge the food debris stuck in every nook and cranny of the disposal unit. 

Conclusion

Stuck food debris in the garbage disposal is the culprit behind the foul odor. Furthermore, the unpleasant smell of the garbage disposal can be attributed to insufficient cleaning and inadequate flushing.

Fortunately, deodorizing the garbage disposal is pretty straightforward. Just pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar into the disposal and let the solution sit for five minutes. Then, flush the garbage disposal with cold water. 

I highly suggest you maintain your garbage regularly and set up a regular cleaning schedule. 

You can refer to our garbage disposal manual for detailed guidance on maintenance and troubleshooting.

Read Also:

• Garbage Disposal Problems and Solutions