Your garbage disposal may be a tiny box that you can’t even see, but it’s a big part of your kitchen. It’s the thing that takes all those scraps and cuts them up so they can go down the drain. And it’s probably one of the most used appliances in your kitchen.
But did you know that there are lots of ways to make sure it stays working well and doesn’t stink up your kitchen? It’s true! In fact, we’ve got some tips on how to get rid of smelly garbage disposal!
In this article, we’ll walk through some common causes of garbage disposal odor and go over ways smelly garbage disposal remedy once and for all.
What is a Garbage Disposal?
Let’s start with the basics.
A garbage disposal is a magical kitchen appliance that makes your life easier by taking away the annoying task of cleaning out your kitchen sink. It’s basically a little robot that grinds up anything you put into it—bones, eggshells, even old fruit or vegetables that have gone bad in your refrigerator.
The typical garbage disposal consists of a rotating metal plate with holes in it. The plate is attached to a motor that turns the plate at high speed. As the plate rotates, food scraps drop down through the holes and onto a spinning grinding ring which pulverizes them into tiny pieces. This mixture of water and waste then passes through a small opening in the bottom of the sink and down your drain pipe.
Garbage disposals are commonly used in homes, apartment buildings, and businesses. In many cases, they’re installed by local plumbers during construction or renovation projects on older buildings that don’t have the option of installing a sewage system.
Types of Garbage Disposal
There are two basic types of garbage disposals: continuous feed and batch feed.
Continuous feed
This type of disposal is for people who don’t want to have to stop and grind their food every time they run it. It runs continuously so that it can grind up a lot at once.
Batch feed
This type of disposal is for people who want to be able to control how much waste they are grinding up at any given time. It will only work when you put in more than one piece of food at a time.
What Causes Smelly Garbage Disposal?
The garbage disposal is a key feature of your kitchen. It allows you to get rid of food waste easily, which means you don’t have to throw away your food or deal with the smell that can come from it.
But what if it starts smelling? What if there are other issues with your garbage disposal?
Here are some common causes of smelly garbage disposals:
Food build-up
If you don’t regularly clean out your disposal, it can start to build up with food particles and grease. This will increase the odor in your sink and make it harder for the disposal to do its job efficiently.
Mechanical failure
The motor in your garbage disposal can break down over time due to normal wear and tear or misuse (like putting too much into it). When this happens, it won’t turn on anymore and will just sit there silently until you realize something is wrong!
Blockage
If something gets stuck inside the drain pipe, it could cause a blockage that prevents water from flowing smoothly through the pipes leading into your home’s plumbing system—which means no more running water!
Clogged
A clogged garbage disposal will not be able to break down food and liquids, which can lead to a stinky smell in your kitchen. The best way to avoid this is by keeping your sink clean and checking for debris regularly. You can also try using a drain auger or plumber’s snake if it seems like something is stuck in there (but be careful!).
Bad odors in the drain pipe
If you do not clean your drain pipes regularly, bad smells will come up from the sink. This is because food particles and grease build up in the pipes and cause bad smells to rise to the sink. You can clean the pipe with vinegar or baking soda and water. You can also try using an enzyme-based cleaner to clean out any remaining odor-causing residue.
Grease and oil
Grease and oil are the most common cause of smelly garbage disposals. This is because they don’t break down very well in water. The grease and oil will eventually build up at your disposal, which can lead to clogs. If you regularly use your disposal, this will happen more quickly than if you don’t use it very often.
How to clean a smelly garbage disposal?
You know that smell. The one that makes you wonder how your garbage disposal ever got to be so gross.
It’s a real problem, and we’re here to help. Here are some ways you can clean your smelly garbage disposal:
Turn off the power
Before you do anything to learn how to clean a smelly garbage disposal, make sure you turn off your garbage disposal. This is especially important if you live in an apartment or condo and don’t have access to a sink drain to pour water into. You could run into some issues with electrical shock if you don’t turn it off first!
Use hot water
Next up on our list of “how to fix smelly garbage disposal” is using hot water. While cold water will do the trick, hot water can help loosen up any residue that might be stuck there. Plus, it’ll help get rid of any smells faster than cold water will!
Try baking soda
Baking soda has a natural deodorizing effect that can help eliminate smells from your sink. Sprinkle some on top of the disposal halfway through running water for about 30 seconds, then turn off the water and let it sit for several minutes before flushing again with cold water (and repeat if necessary).
Try the ice cube
Put an ice cube in the disposal and run it for 30 seconds or so. The ice will help scrape off any residue stuck to the blades and make your disposal smell better. You can also try running a lemon or lime through your disposal if you have one of those. The citrus will help deodorize your drain as well as clean it up!
Go natural with citrus
If you don’t have lemons or limes, try squeezing some orange juice down into your disposal. The acidity in the juice should help dissolve any grease or buildup that’s causing your drain to smell bad while also giving it a nice citrus fragrance!
Use vinegar to deodorize your disposal
If all else fails, try pouring some white vinegar into your drain and then running cold water over the top of it for about 30 seconds or so before turning on the faucet again—this should deodorize your drain and keep it smelling fresh until next time!
Scrubbing
This is the most obvious way to clean a smelly garbage disposal, but it’s also the most effective! All you need is a little soap and water. Fill up your sink with water and soap, then run your garbage disposal while plunging it in and out of the soapy water. This should help break up any clumps of food that might be stuck inside your drain, which will reduce odor as well as prevent future clogs from forming.
Clean the rubber splatter-proof flap
If you notice that some food has gotten stuck on or under your rubber flapper (the piece that closes off the drain), make sure to clean it off with a damp cloth before running your dishwasher or washing machine so that no food particles get trapped in there and start smelling up your house again!
8 Tips To Prevent Smelly Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are a wonderful invention, but they can make your kitchen stink. Here are eight tips to keep your disposal of garbage in Paso Robles, CA, smelling fresh!
1. Clean the blades of your disposal on a regular basis with warm water and gentle dish detergent. If your blades are very dirty, use white vinegar instead of detergent.
2. Run cold water while using your Paso Robles, CA disposal of garbage, which will help prevent odors from developing in the drain pipes leading to the septic system.
3. Don’t use too much food waste in one batch, as this can cause the garbage disposal to jam or stall and not work properly (and create an unpleasant smell). The recommended amount is 1/2 cup at a time (or less).
4. Make sure that all food debris is washed away after running your garbage disposal by running hot water down it for several seconds after using it. This will also help prevent odors from developing in the drain pipes leading to the septic system.
5. Consider installing an air-filtration system in your kitchen if these tips don’t work for you—you might even find that running an air purifier 24/7 actually makes it easier to keep things clean!
6. Try turning off your disposal if you’re not using it for a long period of time—for example, if you’re cooking a big meal and then leaving for work or school before cleaning up afterward, wait until after you come back home before turning on your disposal again! This will prevent any smells from lingering too long in your kitchen.
7. Use plenty of soap when cleaning dishes left in the sink for too long. The soap will help break down grease and other foods, which will then flow into your garbage disposal and get washed away.
8. Run ice cubes through your disposal regularly (no more than once every two weeks). This will help keep it clean by breaking down fatty acids that can build up on blades over time. Plus, ice cubes are fun!
Call Today for Professional Garbage Repair and Installation Service in Paso Robles!
If you live in Paso Robles and want to get rid of smelly garbage disposal, call Rocksteady Plumbing. We’re the team you need to fix your garbage disposal problem and make it go away.
Rocksteady Plumbing is a San Luis Obispo County plumbing firm that has been serving the Paso Robles region for over 15 years. We work hard to ensure that our customers are happy with the service we do. We strive to deliver the finest customer service possible since we know that satisfied customers return.
We provide a variety of services, such as disposal of garbage, Paso Robles, repair, and installation. Our garbage disposal technicians are qualified and certified to handle any size task, big or small. We have worked with both residential and business clients, so whatever your requirements are, we can find a solution that works for you.
If you need a new garbage disposal installed or an old one repaired, contact us today at 805-237-7625!
