How to Get Rid of Garbage Disposal Smell
Short answer
A smelly garbage disposal usually has food stuck to the underside of the rubber splash guard and around the grinding chamber. With the power off, scrub the splash guard with a brush and soapy water, then grind a handful of ice cubes with citrus peels or a disposal cleaner while running cold water. Run cold water for about 30 seconds after each use, and keep grease and starchy food out of it.
Quick steps
- Turn the disposal off at the switch and unplug it or turn off its breaker.
- Scrub the underside of the rubber splash guard with a brush and dish soap.
- Turn the power back on and grind a cup of ice with citrus peels or a disposal cleaner.
- Run cold water for about 30 seconds after every use.
- Keep grease, oil, and large amounts of starchy food out of the disposal.
Need supplies? Jump to what to buy
Where the smell is
The rubber flaps you see in the sink drain are the splash guard (or baffle). Food sprays onto its underside every time you run the disposal, and it never gets rinsed. That rotting film is the most common source of disposal smell. The rest usually comes from food stuck to the walls of the grinding chamber.
Safety first: never put your hand into a disposal. Turn it off at the wall switch, then unplug it under the sink or switch off its breaker before you clean anything near the opening.
1. Clean the splash guard
With the power off, push the flaps up and scrub the underside with a stiff brush, warm water, and dish soap. Many splash guards pull straight out; if yours does, scrub it in the sink or put it in the top rack of the dishwasher. Wipe around the inside of the sink flange too.
2. Scrub the grinding chamber with ice
Turn the power back on. Drop in about a cup of ice cubes and run the disposal with cold water until the grinding stops. The ice knocks stuck food off the chamber walls. InSinkErator also suggests grinding citrus wedges for a fresher smell.
A foaming disposal cleaner does the same scrubbing job and reaches the underside of the splash guard as it foams up.
3. Flush it properly every time
Run cold water while the disposal is grinding and for about 30 seconds afterwards, so food is carried past the trap instead of settling in the pipe. Cold water keeps any fat solid so it gets chopped and flushed instead of coating the pipes.
4. Keep the wrong food out
Most clogs and lingering smells start with:
- Grease, oil, and fat, which coat the pipes
- Large amounts of starchy food like rice, pasta, and potato peels, which swell into a paste
- Fibrous scraps such as celery, corn husks, and onion skins
Put those in the trash or compost instead.
If it still smells
If the smell is coming from the drain rather than the disposal, check the trap under the sink and the hose that drains your dishwasher into the disposal. A smell like sewage, or one that comes from several drains at once, is a plumbing problem; see our sewer smell guide.
If the sink drain itself smells, or the dishwasher drains through the disposal, see how to clean a smelly drain and how to get rid of dishwasher smell.
What to buy
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works
Garbage disposal cleaner
Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner (16 packets)
A foaming cleaner that scrubs the grinding chamber and the underside of the rubber splash guard, where rotting food film hides.
Good to know: Ice and citrus peels do a similar job for free. It won't clear a clog or a blocked dishwasher drain line.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Does ice sharpen garbage disposal blades?
No. InSinkErator says its disposals don't have blades; they use spinning impellers that push food against a grind ring. Ice is still useful because it scrubs food off the inside of the chamber.
Should I pour bleach down the disposal?
It isn't needed, and repeated use can be hard on rubber parts. Check your disposal's manual before using any harsh chemical, and never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners.
The disposal is clean but the sink still smells. Why?
The smell may be coming from the drain trap, a dishwasher hose that drains into the disposal, or a partial clog further down the pipe. If it smells like sewage, see our guide to sewer smell in the house.
Why does my garbage disposal smell like sewage?
If the disposal is clean, the smell is probably from the drain beyond it: a slow drain, a dry trap, or a blocked vent. See our smelly drain and sewer smell guides.
Can I put baking soda and vinegar in the garbage disposal?
Yes. They fizz and can loosen a light film, but they won't clean under the splash guard or clear stuck food. Scrub the guard and grind ice with cold water first.