Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Cleaning

How do you know when to clean your garbage disposal? If you use the disposal every day, it’s a good idea to plan on cleaning it weekly. If you only use it occasionally, a monthly cleaning will work. However, these are just starting points. There are some signs that will tell you a disposal needs cleaning:

You notice bad odors that don’t go away when you run water down the disposal. Lingering foul smells can indicate residue in the disposal chamber or on the disposal guard in the drain.
The water on the disposal side of the sink drains slowly. Slow-draining water might be a sign of a clog in the disposal or the drain pipe connected to it.
You hear a rattling sound when the disposal is running. This noise could indicate debris that the disposal cannot grind.

Caution

While some sounds, such as rattling or buzzing can indicate there’s a foreign object in the grind chamber or an obstruction that’s keeping the blades from turning, they can also indicate more serious problems with the device. If you hear unusual sounds and there’s no indication of a foreign object, turn the disposal off and have a professional plumber inspect it.

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Materials You Need for Cleaning

An open canister of baking soda, a yellow spoon and a gray scrub brush on a counter.

You usually don’t need specialized tools or materials to clean a disposal. In fact, you may have some of them in your kitchen already:

Ice cubes
Baking soda
Rock salt
Lemon, lime or orange peel
Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
Dish detergent
Flashlight
Grout brush or toothbrush
Cleaning gloves
Needle nose pliers

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning a Garbage Disposal

Cleaning a garbage disposal is usually a simple do-it-yourself project and regular cleaning can help the device work efficiently and can help keep your sink smelling fresh. This DIY work may even save you the cost of calling a plumber. Even better, the disposal does most of the work for you.

These are general tips, but may not be suitable for all disposals. Always follow the cleaning instructions for your disposal. If you don’t have the manual handy, check the manufacturer’s website for instructions.

Caution

Never place your hand or fingers in the grind chamber.

Good to Know

If you don’t want to try DIY cleaning products like the ones below, Lowe’s offers a selection of garbage disposal cleaners that make disposal upkeep simple.

Garbage Disposal Cleaning Steps

Before doing any type of cleaning, maintenance or inspection you need to disconnect the disposal from power. If you have a plug-in model, unplug it from the outlet. If the device is hard wired onto an electrical circuit, locate the breaker that controls the circuit and flip it to the OFF position.

After disconnecting the disposer from power, test it to make sure it won’t turn on. Make sure you turn the disposal power switch at the sink back to the OFF position after testing.

Make sure your cleaning tools are out of the disposal and reconnect the device to power. Plug the sink drain and fill the sink halfway with cold water. Remove the plug, run cold water and turn the unit on. Allowing water to run through the disposal should flush out any material you scrubbed away. Once the sink is empty, turn off the disposal but allow the cold water to continue running for about 10 or 15 seconds more to finish rinsing the grind chamber.

With the hand scrubbing done, now you can let the disposal do most of the remaining work. There are a couple of methods you can use for this part of the cleaning. You can use ice and rock salt or you can use baking soda and vinegar. The salt and vinegar method can do a deeper cleaning, helping remove residue and reduce bacteria in the device.

How to clean your garbage disposal with ice and rock salt:

Pour a couple of cups of ice into the disposal.
Add a cup of rock salt.
Turn the disposal on, running cold water into it as it grinds the ice.
Turn off the disposal and keep the water running for another few seconds to flush it fully.

How to deep clean your garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar:

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal.
Add a cup of vinegar.
Place the stopper in the disposal but don't seal the drain. Allow the solution to sit for about 10 minutes.
Turn on the hot water and run the disposal to flush out the solution and grime.
Turn off the disposal and let the water do a final rinse for a few seconds.

Good to Know

Because vinegar is acidic, it can damage some seals and gaskets over time. Some manufacturers may recommend against using it for cleaning. Follow all cleaning recommendations for your disposal.

How to Maintain a Clean Garbage Disposal

A woman and a girl in a kitchen putting orange peel into a garbage disposal.

Good garbage disposal use and maintenance will make regular cleaning easier and more effective at keeping unpleasant garbage disposal smells away. Proper use can also reduce the need for repairs or replacement.

Don’t place bones, eggshells, corn husks, fruit pits, celery, coffee grounds or banana peels in the disposal. Don’t pour grease or oil into the unit. Check your manual for a full list of materials you should not place in the disposal.
Run cold water into the disposal whenever you use it.
Add food waste to the disposal slowly — don’t overload it.
Once it sounds like the disposal has ground all the waste, let it — as well as the cold water — continue to run for a few seconds to fully clear the grind chamber.
Clean your disposal regularly. Set a weekly schedule if you use the device frequently or plan for monthly cleaning if you only use it occasionally.
Follow all cleaning and maintenance instructions from your manual.

DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaning

A garbage disposal is a convenient appliance for the kitchen and can reduce the amount of food waste that goes into the trash. A good cleaning plan can help keep your disposal working efficiently and prevent problems like odors and clogs. Cleaning a disposal with the steps above is a simple DIY project that won’t just make work in the kitchen easier, it can also give you confidence to take on other DIY projects around the home.

When you decide it’s time for a new disposal, Lowe’s can help you find the right model for your kitchen. You can count on us to install your garbage disposal, or you can follow our steps to help you install a disposal yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning a Garbage Disposal

Cleaning a garbage disposal is a good beginner DIY project and the answers to some of these common disposal cleaning questions can help you get started with the work.

How Do You Deep Clean a Garbage Disposal?

If your garbage disposal stinks, one of the easiest ways to deep clean a garbage disposal is to use a combination of scrubbing and cleaning with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

Disconnect the disposal from power and ensure that the power is off. Use a thin brush and dish detergent to scrub the underside of the splash guard and the interior of the grind chamber. Keep your fingers out of the disposal at all times.

Rinse thoroughly, reconnect the disposal to power and then pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Install the drain stopper loosely and let the solution work for a few minutes. Remove the stopper, turn on the hot water and the disposal for a few seconds. Turn off the disposal and rinse it out for a few more seconds.

What Is the Best Home Remedy for Cleaning a Garbage Disposal?

The best home cleaning solution for a disposal is either using ice and rock salt or baking soda and vinegar. Your choice may depend on what you have on hand and how you want to clean.

For the ice method, add a couple of cups of ice followed by a cup of rock salt to the disposal. Turn on the cold water and start the disposal. Let it grind the mixture and then rinse the disposal.

As an alternative for a deeper cleaning, you can use 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain loosely and let the mixture sit for a few minutes. Then turn on the hot water and disposal to rinse thoroughly.

How Do You Self-Clean a Garbage Disposal?

You can let a disposal do a self-clean with 2 cups of ice and 1 cup rock salt. Run the cold water and turn on the disposal to grind the mixture. The blades will basically clean themselves. Be sure to rinse the disposal thoroughly when it finishes grinding.

Follow this up by turning on the cold water and grinding a few cut-up citrus peels to let the disposal freshen itself up.

How Do I Get Rid of Mold in My Garbage Disposal?

To get rid of mold in a disposal, first make sure there’s no food residue in the grind chamber. Disconnect the disposal from power, ensure the power is off and use needle nose pliers to remove anything in the chamber. Never put your fingers in the disposal.

Once the grind chamber is clear, scrubbing and a treatment of baking soda and vinegar can help get rid of mold. Use a brush and dish detergent to scrub the splash guard and the grind chamber. Reconnect the power and pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar into the chamber. Cover the drain loosely and let the mixture clean for about 10 minutes. Turn on the hot water and the disposal and rinse away the solution and grime.

How to Clean a Garbage Disposal