Why does my garbage disposal smell so bad?

A smelly garbage disposal is a common issue, but it’s usually easy to fix. The smell is typically caused by food particles that get stuck in the disposal and begin to decay. Here are some steps you can take to eliminate the odor:

Clean the Disposal: Turn off the disposal and use a brush or scrubber to clean the inside of the disposal. You can also use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or a commercial disposal cleaner. Pour the cleaner down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with cold water.
Run Ice Cubes: Drop a handful of ice cubes into the disposal and run it with cold water for about 30 seconds. The ice helps to dislodge any food particles stuck on the blades.

Use Citrus Peels: Citrus peels, like from lemons, limes, or oranges, can help freshen up the disposal. Simply grind them in the disposal while running cold water.

Boiling Water and Dish Soap: Pour a pot of boiling water mixed with a few drops of dish soap down the drain. This can help dissolve grease and food residue.

Maintain Regularly: To prevent future smells, run the disposal regularly and always with plenty of cold water. Avoid putting fibrous or greasy foods, like potato peels or cooking oil, down the disposal.

Check the Trap: Sometimes, food particles can get trapped in the disposal’s trap, located below the sink. If cleaning the disposal doesn’t eliminate the smell, you might need to remove the trap and clean it out.

Of course, it is best not to allow this to develop into an unpleasant odor and it is better to initially apply preventive measures, but if an unpleasant odor has already occurred, then by following these tips you will be able to avoid it. We also advise you to contact a professional plumber and do regular checks.

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