To clean a garbage disposal, fill the sink with hot, soapy water, then pull the plug and run the disposal to flush it. For odors and buildup, grind two trays of ice cubes (add a cup of rock salt to scour the blades), then drop in lemon wedges for a fresh scent. Once a week keeps it clean; always use cold water during normal use and never put grease, starchy foods, or non-food items down it.
If you’ve got a garbage disposal in your sink, you may notice it sometimes smells, makes a loud grinding noise, or just isn’t working efficiently. Cleaning and maintaining it is important to keep it running properly — a well-maintained disposal can last for years. Follow these tips from our cleaning Pros to get the most out of yours.
Why is it important to clean your garbage disposal regularly?
A smelly disposal is the obvious reason, but not the only one. Consider these facts:
- Small bits of food cling to the sides and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Mold and mildew can grow in disposals that aren’t properly cleaned.
- A dirty disposal can lead to an infestation of drain flies, which are similar to fruit flies and hard to eliminate.
An improperly cleaned drain can harbor multiple pathogens and pests, so make cleaning it part of your regular routine.
How do you clean a garbage disposal?
If you’ve never thought about cleaning your disposal, you’re not alone — it’s in your sink, so doesn’t it get washed every day? How clean it stays depends on what you put down it. The name is a little misleading: you can’t throw just anything down the sink. Some foods clog the machine, others damage the pipes. Here’s what you can and can’t put down a garbage disposal.
CAN GO DOWN GARBAGE DISPOSAL |
DON’T PUT DOWN GARBAGE DISPOSAL |
Most fruit, peel, and rind |
Grease or oil |
Vegetable scraps, corn cobs |
Shellfish shells |
Cooked meat (small amounts) |
Large amounts of peel or rind |
Small bones (poultry, fish) |
Corn husks, potato or banana peel |
Cooked leftovers |
Artichokes |
Clean your disposal weekly as part of your routine, whatever you use it for. An easy way: block the drain with a stopper, fill the sink with hot, soapy water (regular dish soap is fine), then pull the plug and run the disposal to flush it with the hot water.
How do you clean a garbage disposal with ice?
Ice is another quick method — the cold traps debris and grease inside the disposal, which then gets ground up and flushed out.
Step 1: Run cold water down the sink and turn on the disposal.
Step 2: Tip two trays of ice cubes into the disposal — it’ll be loud, don’t worry.
Step 3: When the grinding stops, keep the water and disposal running another minute.
To supercharge the ice, add rock salt or sea salt, which helps scour the blades clean.
Step 1: Fill the disposal with 2 cups of ice.
Step 2: Pour over 1 cup of salt.
Step 3: Run cold water and turn on the disposal.
Step 4: Keep the cold water and disposal running for a minute after the grinding stops.
Pro Tip: Got other problem appliances in your kitchen? Learn how to clean a smelly dishwasher now!
How do you get rid of garbage disposal smell?
If your disposal gives off an unpleasant odor, add a few slices of lemon or lime to either the water or ice method above. The blade handles the rinds and you get a pleasant burst of citrus.
How do you clean a garbage disposal with lemon?
Lemons are great for cleaning — the acidity cuts through grease and grime, and lemon juice even has antibacterial properties, so it fights the bacteria that cause drain smells.
- Cut a lemon into wedges.
- Run cold water and start the disposal.
- Put the wedges in one piece at a time.
- Run the disposal another minute after the grinding stops.
Citrus is loud and might sound like something’s breaking — that’s okay. The rind is tough and can take a couple of minutes per piece. As long as you hear only a loud grinding sound, the disposal is working fine, and the extra work helps clean the blades, leaving everything smelling lemony fresh.
How do you clean a garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar?
Baking soda and white vinegar are another Pro favorite, and it couldn’t be easier.
- Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the disposal.
- Follow with 1 cup white vinegar.
- Let it sit 10-15 minutes — it may fizz, that’s fine.
- Run cold water and turn on the disposal for 1-2 minutes.
The mixture dislodges trapped dirt and grease, the baking soda scours the blades, and the vinegar neutralizes odors. You can swap the vinegar for hydrogen peroxide for the same effect — but don’t mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together.
Can you clean a garbage disposal with bleach?
For a very smelly disposal you can use bleach, but only sparingly — high amounts actually harden grease, making it harder to remove and your problems worse.
Bleach doesn’t unclog drains. Use it only as a disinfectant for odor and bacteria.
Step 1: Add 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon of cold water.
Step 2: Slowly pour it into the disposal, taking care not to splash.
Step 3: Let it sit 1-2 minutes.
Step 4: Run cold water and turn on the disposal.
Step 5: Run it for 4-5 minutes.
How do you maintain a garbage disposal?
The best way to look after your disposal is staying on top of routine maintenance, which keeps it fresh and clean for years.
The most important factor is what you put down it — not just what the blades can process, but what happens in your drain. Starchy foods like pasta and rice swell and block the drain. Stringy foods like corn husks and banana peel tangle in the machinery. And non-food items like fruit stickers or tissues should never go down a drain.
Some foods cause problems too. Coffee grounds are hard to clear out completely and can cause blockages, and eggshell membranes do the same. You can put these down a disposal, but plumbers recommend doing so sparingly.
What are the garbage disposal dos and don’ts?
Cold water keeps fat and grease solid, preventing it from sticking to the disposal or pipes.
- DO use occasional de-greaser treatments
Use treatments designed for garbage disposals. Even with the best care there’s some grease in food waste, so run a treatment every 4-6 months.
- DO run the disposal every few days, even without food
A disposal can seize or rust if you don’t run it regularly. Turning on the water and running it for a minute won’t hurt.
- DO run it an extra minute after each use
No grinding sound doesn’t mean all the waste is gone — let it run another minute to flush thoroughly.
- DO keep the water running 15-20 seconds after turning it off
If you can still hear the blades turning, keep the water running — those extra seconds protect against wear.
- DO use a strong flow of water
The water lubricates the disposal and flushes waste away — it can’t do that on a trickle, so turn the faucet up.
Hot water melts the fat in food, making blockages in your pipes more likely.
- DON’T overfill the disposal
For lots of food waste, feed it in a bit at a time to prevent blockages.
Some cleaners contain toxic chemicals that corrode the disposal and could splash out when it’s on. Stick to natural cleaners and those designed for disposals.
- DON’T put non-food waste down a disposal
Stick to this even for small things like fruit stickers. If it isn’t food waste, it doesn’t belong in your disposal or down your drain.
Final thoughts
Cleaning and maintaining a garbage disposal is simple but easy to overlook. Adding it to your regular routine keeps the unit working properly and stops the buildup of waste and bacteria that causes bad odors. And if it’s been a while, don’t panic — it’s still a quick, easy job to freshen it up and get it running, and smelling, like new.
FAQ
Should I turn the power off before cleaning my garbage disposal?
Yes — always turn off the circuit connected to the disposal first. The blades aren’t sharp enough to sever a finger, but you could still get injured, and it’s not worth the risk. After turning the power off, flip the switch to confirm it won’t turn on before proceeding.1
Will cleaning my garbage disposal get rid of drain flies?
You’ll need a method that kills adult flies and their eggs — ice cubes or baking soda alone won’t do it. Options that work: pouring boiling water down the drain daily for three days, the baking soda and vinegar method above, or a commercial microbial cleaner.2
Can I use regular drain cleaner on my garbage disposal?
No — these are typically corrosive and can damage or destroy the disposal’s interior parts. Use one of the reliable methods outlined here instead.3
Citations
1 Fann-Im, N. (2024, October 24). How to Clean a Garbage Disposal. Retrieved July 18, 2025, from https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/21317716/how-to-clean-garbage-disposal
2 Buiano, M. (2025, April 11). 3 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Drain Flies and Prevent Them From Coming Back. Retrieved July 18, 2025, from https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-get-rid-of-drain-flies-8422697
3 Smith, L. (2024, December 30). How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal. Retrieved July 18, 2025, from https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/how-to-clean-your-garbage-disposal
