Is there anything to put in my garbage disposal to get rid of the smell?

Question

I have a fairly new garbage disposal in my kitchen sink, but it's getting really smelly! I didn't experience this with my old garbage disposal. Is there any sort of cleaner I can put in there that will take the smell out?

Answer 1

Run cold water for about a minute...turn on garbage disposal & run constantly....slowly add 1 then a second lemon.....wait until completely chopped up then add a large bowl of ice cubes. The lemon freshens & the cubes clean off the blades. If you have put greasy items down the disposal just add about a 1/4 cup Dawn Dishwashing Liquid when you add the lemons to cut the grease & get rid of residue. I do this about once a month & my disposal stays fresh & clean smelling! Follow this & you should never have a problem again.

Answer 2

Smell In Garbage Disposal

Answer 3

Are you sure it's sewer gas? If you have natural gas heating and or cooking, that might be what you are smelling. Gas companies add an odrorant to the supply to alert people to leaks, It smells pretty bad. The gas company has a leak detection service. It's usually free. Next I would start by asking if my neighbors are having the same problem. if so, something is happening in the municipal sewer system that is forcing sewer gas back into the piping and overcoming your vents and traps. If your plumbing vents are accessable, I would make sure they are open. If you are the only one in the neighborhood, then somewhere in your house is an open path to the sewer. You just haven't found it yet. It could be an abandoned pipe from an old renovation. Also check the shoe under your bathtub(s) for a separated fitting. There should be an access panel on the opposite side of the wall at the head of the tub. Don't overlook the garbage disposal, dish washer, and clothes washer discharges. All that notwithstanding, check your central heating and air conditioning system for leaks in the supply ductwork where it passes through the attic. A leak here can create a negative pressure in your house and aggrevate odor problems that otherwise you wouldn't notice.

Answer 4

use about 6 or seven ice cubes and one teaspoon of table salt.... place the ice cubes in first then the salt turn on disposer...wait about 10 seconds turn on the cold water let run about 20 more seconds

voila all nice and clean again
and a clean disposal has no smell

now that it is clean and in the off position open the flap and look inside .... is it holding water in the base ?
if it is that is the cause of the odor being created now

many of the newer disposal units are bigger and dont sit the same as the older ones
so if the new one was placed in with out lowering the drain it will hold water that will create mildow and mold in the base of the grinder

the only cure is to have to P- trap lowered a little bit

or you could add a little bit of bleach EVERYDAY

Answer 5

You can grind up a lemon in there, which will help. Just slice it up before you drop it in. Follow by flushing it with hot water. If it's grease causing the odor, run a couple of ice cubes in the disposer. This should congeal the fat, allowing the unit to grind it into disposable pieces. Then flush with cold water. And avoid putting coffee grounds or tea leaves into the unit, as that can cause the odor.

Answer 6

I make my own drain cleaner and it will open slow drains as well as deodorize you garbage disposal. It is the musty smell of food that is accumulating inside the pipes and eventually clog it up if you are not careful. Just remember, no potato peels, bread, or pith type substances such as pineapple cores or ginger.
Here's my recipe: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt, 1/4 cup cream of tarter. Mix well and pur 1/4 cup into drain and follow with 2 cups boiling water. Come back 5 minutes later and rinse with tap water.

Answer 7

Chop up a lemon or lime and run it thru the disposer. I do this about 2x a month. Leaves a fresh smell.

Answer 8

I'm no housewife but if u take the crap out of the drain by hand(whatever is in there lingering between the sink and the disposal) then run the water with the disposal on, that should do it.

Answer 9

The best thing I have found is a hand soap by I think, Soft Soap called Kitchen Fresh Hands. It has lemon in it. It is great for getting onion and other nasty smells off your hands. You can also just toss lemon, or other citrus rinds in there and grind them up.

Answer 10

Pour baking soda down the drain and then follow it with vinegar. The foaming action will clean your disposal - and it's environmentally friendly too!