Kitchen

[lkcwks]

I have never had to clean my garbage disposal before and I have had one for ages. However, mine is starting to smell at times and I really don't know the best way to clean it. Any ideas for me?

Thanks.

[ID2]

Wow! What an ordeal! I just run ice cubes in it periodically and walla! all nice and clean!

[Imaoldhippie]

Vinegar will do it, also grind some orange and or lemons.  Smell gone!  I also spray mine with household cleaner once in a while.  No problems.

[LonestarBabs]

I use a product called "Plinks" that I buy at Bed Bath Beyond.

[Fressa]

I quarter a lemon (or lime) every so often and run that thru the disposal.  Once a season I will use Fuller Brush foam disposal cleaner. It works great and doesn't have a smell. I think I purchased it at BBB. 

[chickenbutt]

This is an oldie.

I do two different things - I have these packets that you put down there and run it. They are specifically for this purpose.   

I do that from time to time.  Between times I do the baking soda and distilled white vinegar thing.   

I also have this brush, that came in a kit I got from QVC years ago, that is perfect for this.  The top of the brush is round and wider than the neck of the brush.  You push it through and then bring it up to just under that rubber gasket thing.  Move it around and it cleans the bottom side of that rubber thing.  I will put some blue Dawn on the brush part and do that, with some hot water running about halfway through, so that it foams up the soap.

[CAMOGIRL]

I just use baking soda. I do it at night when the sink is not going to be used for awhile. Run some water thru. Sprinkle in the baking soda, I use quite a bit. Let set over night and just start using the sink in the morning. Works for me.

I also heard of people using a container of that real lemon juice. So I have also used extra lemons or limes ( I always have limes around here)  just sitting around - I would chunk them up and run those though it. Also, worked.

Definitely nothing fancy needed. Try them and hopefully that will solve the issue.

[LonestarBabs]

@CAMOGIRL  OOH -- my plumber told me NEVER to use baking soda down drains. It hardens/creates a sludge as it never totally dissolves throughout the length of pipe, and gets caught in the curves and bends. Glad you haven't had any ill effects from its use.

[SarahW]

I hope the OP got her disposal cleaned, since she asked six years ago.      

[sallyann38]

i find it is not the disposal itself but the black gasket.  i take it out every week and wash it out as it is full of gunk.  that is where the smell is coming from.