How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal: A Practical, Expert Guide

Keeping your garbage disposal clean prevents odors, reduces clogs, and extends the life of the unit. This guide walks you through safe, effective routines and deep-cleaning methods, plus simple maintenance tips you can combine with other kitchen chores—for example, when you do a kitchen cabinet declutter you can also check the plumbing connections under the sink.

Tools and supplies you'll need

• Stiff-bristled brush or an old toothbrush
• Long tongs or needle-nose pliers
• Freezing ice cubes (or a bag of ice)
• Coarse rock salt or kosher salt
• Baking soda and white vinegar
• Fresh citrus fruits or citrus peels
• Dish soap (mild, degreasing)
• Protective gloves and safety goggles
• Bucket and towels for spills

Safety first

Always treat the disposal like power tools. Unplug the unit or switch off the circuit at the breaker before placing any hands or tools near the blades. If your unit has a reset button, know its location so you can restore power safely after maintenance.

• Never put your hand into the disposal unless the power is confirmed off.
• Use tools (pliers or long tongs) rather than fingers to remove foreign objects.
• Wear eye protection when using baking soda and vinegar to avoid splashes.

Tip: If you smell persistent odors after cleaning, run cold water and grind citrus peels or a small cup of ice and salt to re-scrub the grinding surfaces.

Routine cleaning (weekly)

Perform these quick steps weekly to keep odors and buildup at bay.

• Run cold water for 15–30 seconds before turning on the disposal. Cold water helps solidify any grease so it can be ground and flushed away.
• Turn on the disposal and feed a mixture of ice cubes and 1/2 cup coarse salt. Let it run until the ice is gone—this scrubs the impellers and dislodges debris.
• Follow with a handful of citrus peels (lemon, lime, or orange) while the disposal runs to freshen and lightly clean surfaces.
• Rinse for 10–15 seconds with a strong stream of cold water to flush everything down the trap.

Deep cleaning (monthly or as needed)

For grime that routine methods don’t remove, use this more thorough approach.

• Turn off power to the disposal and unplug it or switch off the breaker.
• Use long tongs or pliers to remove visible large debris from the grinding chamber.
• Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the disposal followed by 1 cup white vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz for 5–10 minutes to loosen grease and mineral deposits.
• After fizzing, run very hot (but not boiling) water for one minute while running the disposal, or restore power and run the unit briefly while flushing with hot water—this dissolves dissolved residues.
• Use a brush to scrub the underside of the splash guard (the rubber flange) and inside the rim where food and grime accumulate.

Removing jams and odors

Many jams come from hard objects, silverware, or fibrous food. Never use your hand; always use a tool and power off.

• If the disposal hums but won’t grind, press the red reset button under the unit after removing the jam. If it still won’t start, check the breaker.
• To free a jam, insert an Allen wrench into the manual turning hole at the bottom of the motor housing (if your model has one) and rotate back and forth to clear the impellers.
• For persistent smells, grind a handful of citrus peels, or run the unit with a small amount of mild dish soap and cold water.

Preventive care and best practices

Long-term care avoids messy clogs and repairs.

• Never dump cooking grease, bacon fat, or large quantities of oil into the sink. Instead, let it cool and wipe pans with a paper towel before washing or collect grease in a container for disposal—this advice aligns with broader cleaning tasks where you might also remove grease from oven surfaces and pans.
• Avoid fibrous foods (celery, corn husks, onion skins), coffee grounds in large amounts, bones, and expandable starchy foods like rice or pasta—these create clogs and wrap around the blades.
• Run cold water while grinding and for 15–30 seconds after to flush debris into the drain line.
• Include the disposal in routine kitchen maintenance days: when you kitchen cabinet declutter and organize spice jars, quickly check for leaks, odors, and loose fittings under the sink.

When to call a professional

Call a plumber or appliance technician if you experience frequent jams, persistent humming without turning, bad electrical smells, visible leaks you cannot stop, or if the unit is more than 10–15 years old and performance has declined. Professional service can replace worn seals, fix leaks, or replace the motor safely.

Extra organizational tips

Pair cleaning tasks to save time. For example, when you organize spice jars and wipe cabinet shelves, sweep and mop the area and check the garbage disposal and drain connections. A short, combined maintenance routine prevents odors, saves money, and keeps the kitchen functioning smoothly.

With regular attention—simple weekly rinses, monthly deep cleans, and sensible usage habits—you can keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and running well for years.

More tips in the section Kitchen Cleaning & Organization