To deodorize and get rid of that stale-kitchen-sink smell, drop citrus peels into the disposal—you might want to use tongs to ensure they are in—then let running water and grinder mash it all up into DIY aromatherapy. This method can be done with cold water.
Alternatively, pour a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar into the sink drain. Make sure to place the stopper over the drain because this mixture will fizz up and try to escape. Turn the hot water faucet on and run the disposal to clear it out. For a seriously smelly clog, use tongs to check if a nonfood item is stuck in the garbage disposal.
For no-fuss cleaning, use disposal cleaners, like Plink or Grab Green mineral-based garbage disposal cleaning pods, both found on Amazon.
What foods can’t go in the garbage disposal?
No matter how much faith you have in the power of your garbage disposal and how diligent you are about keeping it clean, there are certain foods that should never go down it. The below are top clog-causing culprits. But, of course, don’t stress if a few drops of oil or a couple egg shell slivers make it down the drain. Just try to limit what you can.
Oil and grease
Though it may start off as a liquid, the leftover oil or residual grease from your frying pan can congeal in the drain and cause major clogging later on. The right way to dispose of oil and grease is in the trash can. But to avoid burning a hole in the bag, let the grease cool first by pouring it into an old soup can or similar container and placing it in the fridge to solidify. Then simply throw the whole can in the trash.
Coffee grounds
The leftovers from your brew can easily clump together and cause an unpleasant smell in addition to blockage. Instead, toss your coffee grounds in the trash can, add them to your compost pile, or sprinkle them around your garden as a natural fertilizer.
Fibrous veggies
Celery, artichokes, rhubarb, corn husks, edamame pods, and kale are all no-go foods for a garbage disposal. They have stringy bits that can get wrapped around the garbage disposal blades and cause a jam.
Eggshells
It’s a myth that tossing eggshells down the disposal helps sharpen blades. In fact, they shouldn’t go down there at all. Eggshells have a thin membrane that can get wrapped around the blades and cause a clog. Toss them in the trash can instead.
Chicken bones
After you’ve polished off a plate of wings, toss the bones in the trash rather than the disposal. Bones are an incredibly tough material that can damage the blades. Same goes for the bones from your barbecued ribs or rack of lamb.
Pasta or rice
Both foods expand when soaked in water—rice, for example, can grow up to four times in size. So dumping large amounts of pasta or rice down a drain isn’t a great idea.
Any non-food item
It might sound obvious, but anything that’s not a food scrap should definitely not go down the disposal. While scraping dinner plates it can be easy to overlook a stray utensil that then falls down the drain. A fork or spoon in the disposal can get stuck in the blades, not only causing damage, but also creating a jam. If you hear noisy grinding, that’s your first clue that a stowaway piece of silverware is with your food scraps. Immediately turn off the disposal and don’t run it again until the utensil is removed. If you can see the fork, spoon, or knife, use pliers or tongs to remove it (never your fingers). If you can’t see it, you may need to call a plumber for help.
How else should you care for your garbage disposal?
Beyond regular cleaning—once a week for a quick wash and monthly for a deep clean, as mentioned above—you should also run your garbage disposal regularly to keep it working. Even if you don’t have food particles to grind, run the disposal once or twice a week to prevent rusting or corrosion due to lack of movement.
