how do i get rid of the disgusting smell that is coming from my garbage disposal?

Question

My garbage disposal just reaks and fills my whole sink area with this rotten garbage smell. what is this and how do i get rid of it? i have tried running hot water and soap down it, it will go away for awhile but then come back. no one else seems to have problems with theirs. i am only putting normal stuff down it, like left over cereal or soup, etc.

Answer 1

We had this problem really bad and I used the following:

1. Orange peel
2. Clorox
3. Dish soap like you stated.
4. Baking soda
5. Disposal cleaners purchased at walmart etc
6. Disposal brush and cleaner from fuller brush
[purchased via Drugstore.com]
The Full brush option was best as it was more complete in attacking the problem....

Unfortunately for us we finally had to replace our unit.. but this actually took care of the problem.... You may want to see how old your disposal is.... if it is over 15 years old [ours was at least 20]... you may want to look into replacement.....

Answer 2

I've tried just about all of the suggestions listed here. Lemon peels, orange peels, bleach, baking soda.... they might work for a minute, but the smell comes right back. I hate that smell.

There is a product on the market that is specifically for cleaning garbage disposals. It's a little packet that you put into the disposer, you turn the water on in a drizzle and run the disposer. The packet breaks apart and it starts foaming and churning until all of a sudden there's a big whoosh and it's done. The garbage smell is gone and the clean smell lasts for a long time. The stuff I have right now is called Disposer Care.

Answer 3

You have a couple of options:
(1) lemon or lime peels - and run the disposal

(2) pure chlorine pour on both sides (if you have a double sink) let sit for about 15 mintues and then run hot water

(3) another option is to put about 1 cup of baking soda - you will need to help it down. Then pour vinegar (undiluted) - it will bubble up - that is normal. Let sit for about 15 minutes and then run hot water on both sides.

(4) pour liquid plumber down the drain and follow the instructions in the bottle (if you have a septic tank make sure the one you use is appropriate for the tank)

Do this often (at least once a month)

If the above does not fix the problem, turn off the water and remove the connections under the sink and wash them.

If you are on a septic tank, you might have problems with the tank itself - may need cleaning? Costs about $200.00.

Sometimes they backup from everywhere in the house. Suggest you do and ALL house treatment - meaning: pour whatever you decide to use in all the drains and even the toilets - let sit for 15 mins and then flush/run hot water.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

All those tricks are great and they work but be sure you dont have a slow drain! if you do the food particles are net getting washed off of the disposer and building up! If the drain coming out of the disposer and into the main line are level then this would cause a slow drain! and i see disposers in stalled that way all of the time! Also if you here a burping sound from your drain you most likely have a clogged vent! lastly make sure you run enough water to keep the disposer clean after using it.....Don

Answer 5

All this is from About.com (use the "unclogging" advice to freshen, as well):

Putting orange and lemon peels down the garbage disposal makes the drain, sink, and entire kitchen smell fresh and clean. No one likes a smelly drain, and recycling these peels as air freshener can make your entire kitchen smell citrus fresh. Older citrus fruits that may be going partially bad, can still be cut up and put into the garbage disposal. I cut the peels into at least quarters of the whole to not make the disposal work so hard. If you don't have a disposal, orange and lemon juice with warm running water can keep your drains smelling fresh.


Unclogging and Freshening Drains with Baking Soda

Unclogging the Drain

Option #1: Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar. Try heating the vinegar in the microwave before adding it to the drain. Wait 5 minutes before flushing the drain with 2 quarts of hot water. You can repeat this process a few times if it is necessary. If this is the first time you have cleaned your drain in a long time it may be necessary to repeat the baking soda flush a couple of times.

Option #2: Try pouring 1 Cup of baking soda and 1/2 Cup of salt down the drain. Let this mixture sit in the drain for several hours, overnight is best, before flushing the drain with 2 cups of boiling water.

Tips For Baking Soda and Drains

Use baking soda that has been used in the refrigerator or freezer to help clean the drains and you'll extend the use of something you otherwise would have just thrown away.


USE THE SAME IDEAS TO CLEAN AND FRESHEN YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL. You may be able to cut the required amounts of baking soda, water, vinegar, and salt in 1/2 for use in your disposal.

Try putting baking soda down the drain without rinsing when you are going on vacation or even just a weekend trip. It will help reduce odors that may develop while you are gone. Flush the baking soda out of the drain with hot water or hot vinegar followed by hot water when you return.

Benefits of Baking Soda and Drains

Using Baking Soda to clean your drains and garbage disposal eliminates harsh chemicals that may leave odors and residue in your sinks.

All of the listed combinations are environmentally friendly, which will help concerns about chemical contamination, or even the risk associated with having chemicals in a home with children.

Using baking soda for these jobs can be friendly to your wallet too, especially if you recycle the boxes you use in the freezer or fridge when they are no longer as fresh.

Answer 6

A couple of things may help;

Run and orange or maybe a lemon down it. That will make it nice and fresh.
Grinding up ice in it can help scrape debris from the blades.
Most of all. Run water for about 10 or 15 seconds after you are sure the garbage is all ground up and gone through it. This will help the disposal to "self-clean" itself. If you don't let it run long enough, the bit of leftover food rots and causes your odors.

Answer 7

some thing that I even have constantly used when I also have a bitter smelling disposal is to pour some baking soda (arm & hammer, etc) into the disposal and then save on with it up with approx a million/2 c of white vinegar. After it stops effervescent, your scent must be long gone.

Answer 8

You can buy garbage disposer cleaner at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. It comes in a blue box. It is located with the cleaning supplies. I think it smells like lemons. It is like a paper pack you stick it in your disposer and run water behind it then it foams up until it is gone. I used it before it works great!!!

Answer 9

The best thing you can do for your garbage disposal is to cut up a fresh lemon (one half at a time, but cut it into small pieces) and grind it up. If it is as rank as you say, do the entire lemon. You can do one half a lemon once a week to help it stay that way. It will really sweeten up your entire kitchen. Good luck, I hope your stinkies go away.

Answer 10

Cut up a lemon now and then and run it through the disposer. This should eliminate the odor. Dropping a few ice cubes in it and running plenty of water to rinse helps prevent itin the first place.