How To Clean a Garbage Disposal Easily

If you own a garbage disposal, you know that cleaning it is a tedious, but essential, part of keeping it running. Homeownership can be a never-ending to-do list, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. We’ve created this all-in-one guide for garbage disposal cleaning, so you have an easy reference and some new tricks, whether it’s the first or the hundredth time you’ve done it. 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal Safely

You’re not born knowing how to clean a garbage disposal, so it doesn’t hurt to analyze the play-by-play. We’ve broken down an easy cleaning regimen for your garbage disposal you can do yourself at home. 

Step 1: Shut Off the Power

Safety is paramount when cleaning out a garbage disposal. It’s a powerful appliance with sharp blades that can easily remove a finger or cause other serious injuries if you’re not careful. Before sticking anything in your garbage disposal, go to your breaker box and shut off the power supply. You can double-check that the power is fully shut off by attempting to turn it on. If it’s unresponsive, you can safely proceed, but be sure to put the switch back in the off position as an extra precaution. 

Step 2: Inspect the Splash Guard

Your garbage disposal will have a rubber gasket or seal at the opening. Pull it out, invert it, and carefully inspect it for evidence of debris. We recommend thoroughly cleaning it with a toothbrush or wire bristle brush. For stubborn debris, you can soak the splash guard in warm water and dish soap, then follow up with the brush.

Step 3: Flush Out Food Debris

At this point, you can restore the power supply. Next, you can fill your sink with cool water. When it’s two-thirds of the way full, you can remove the stopper and turn on the garbage disposal. Run it until the water drains completely. Alternatively, you flush water for 2–3 minutes while running your garbage disposal. 

Step 4: Try Baking Soda and Vinegar

If you’re still concerned about food debris, you can go the extra mile with a baking soda and vinegar rinse. Apply a few tablespoons to a half cup of baking soda to your garbage disposal and let it sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, you can pour a cup of vinegar down the drain. You’ll notice a fizzy reaction, which should break up grease and push particulates to the surface.

Step 5: Loosen Build Up

Grease is among the toughest clogs to dislodge from your garbage disposal, but you have a fair chance if you use a combination of coarse salt and ice. For this step, pour ice and salt down your sink, then run your garbage disposal with the faucet on. The salt and ice become an exfoliator, dislodging tough grease and fat build-up. 

Step 6: Freshen With Citrus

Finally, you can restore good smells to your kitchen by freshening the appliance with citrus. Pick any citrus of your choice––oranges, limes, and lemons work great!––and put small pieces in your garbage disposal. Grind until you’re content the foul odors are behind you. 

Why Regular Cleaning of Your Garbage Disposal Matters

If you own a garbage disposal, cleaning it regularly is essential to maintaining its functionality. Proper maintenance will reduce odors, discourage pest issues, prevent clogs, and extend its lifespan. Before installation, many garbage disposals cost between $150 and $500, which isn’t an insignificant amount of money. Repairs can cost as much as half that, typically between $75 and $250. 

Simply put, cleaning your garbage disposal regularly protects your investment and reduces the financial liability of recurring repairs.

What Tools and Materials Do You Need to Clean Your Garbage Disposal?

The tools and materials you need to clean your garbage disposal largely depend on your desired cleaning method. There are several ready-made cleaning products sold online and in stores, but they’re not always necessary. Garbage disposal maintenance is one of a few DIY-friendly home maintenance tasks, making it an easy and affordable prevention tool. 

Here are a few basic recipes for cleaning your garbage disposal:

• 2 cups ice cubes, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and a lemon slice
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar
• Enough cool water to fill two-thirds of the sink, then run your garbage disposal while it drains

If these methods aren’t enough to remedy your problem, you may need pliers, a hex wrench, a flashlight, or a plunger to manually remove a clog. Never stick your hand in a garbage disposal without cutting off the power. 

Routine Garbage Disposal Maintenance and Care Tips

Here are a few routine maintenance tips to keep your garbage disposal running smoothly.

1. Turn off the garbage disposal power supply at your breaker box and avoid wearing anything, like rings, long necklaces, or loose fabrics, that could fall off or get snagged during cleaning. 
2. Run your garbage disposal once per day to break up any remaining debris before it settles.
3. Be cautious about the items you put down it––more on this in the next section. 
4. Don’t overload it. Instead, cut up larger scraps into smaller pieces and feed them in slowly to avoid jamming the blades and motor.
5. Run cool water every time you use it to flush debris down the drain pipe.
6. Set a schedule to ensure you deep clean your appliance once every two weeks, at a minimum.
7. Add cut-up citrus whenever you have it to keep your disposal smelling fresh. 

When in doubt, review your user manual for the manufacturer’s instructions on how to remove your garbage disposal and other troubleshooting tips. Home warranties are a great resource for repair and replacements when your appliances break down to normal wear and tear, but they won’t be much use if you haven’t kept up with routine maintenance.  

Items to Avoid Putting In Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are heavy-duty appliances, but they can’t handle everything. To preserve the longevity of your garbage disposal, avoid putting the following items in your garbage disposal:

• Grease, fat, and oil
• Seeds
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds
• Animal bones
• Shellfish
• High-starch-content foods, like bread, rice, or pasta
• Fibrous fruits and vegetables, including broccoli and banana peels
• Any large volume of food waste
• Non-food items, including caustic chemicals

Caustic chemicals can leave residue on the blades, contributing to rust, degradation, and plumbing concerns. They can also splash out of the disposal when you run it, leaving you vulnerable to skin and eye irritation. 

Mistakes can happen, especially if you have kids or frequent guests. If your sink isn’t draining, you may need to unclog your garbage disposal.

Signs That Your Garbage Disposal Needs Professional Attention

While sink disposal cleaning is definitely a DIY-friendly task, some issues require a professional opinion. If you notice recurring issues with your garbage disposal that cleaning fails to resolve, it may be time for a service call.

Here are some circumstances that necessitate an experienced appliance repair technician:

• Unusual sounds, especially banging, grinding, or squeaking noises
• Recurring clogs or jams
• Electrical issues, such as the disposal shutting off during use or not responding
• Odors that don’t go away after cleaning
• Water backups into your sink
• Leaking water underneath the sink
• Failure to grind even small volumes of food

Save Time and Energy With A Liberty Home Guard Home Warranty

Liberty Home Guard’s Appliance Home Guard and Total Home Guard plans will cover up to $2,000 toward garbage disposal repairs and replacements, including the cost to diagnose the issue and order the parts. 

When you purchase a home warranty plan, your home repair costs are split into management monthly payments, plus a manageable service call fee when you file a claim. It’s similar to an insurance policy. It doesn’t fully protect you from out-of-pocket costs, but it reduces the burdens when the unexpected happens. 

Home warranties also have the added benefit of previously vetted, local contractors, who can respond to your claim faster than you can vet and schedule an independent technician. 

At Liberty Home Guard, we pride ourselves on personable customer service, responsive, highly qualified technicians, competitive prices, and easy-to-understand terms. Our sample contract explains our coverage terms.

Interested in learning more about your coverage options? Request a free quote today!