{"id":791,"date":"2021-09-28T13:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T20:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/?p=791"},"modified":"2026-07-14T07:46:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:46:57","slug":"how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process.  In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_aviaLayoutBuilderCleanData":"[av_image src='https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom-1500x630.png' attachment='22011' attachment_size='featured_large' copyright='' caption='' styling='' align='center' font_size='' overlay_opacity='0.4' overlay_color='#000000' overlay_text_color='#ffffff' animation='no-animation' hover='' appearance='' link='' target='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' lazy_loading='disabled' id='' custom_class='' av_element_hidden_in_editor='0' av_uid='av-ku608i4d' admin_preview_bg=''][\/av_image]\r\n\r\n[av_textblock size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' av_uid='av-ku60bd7h' admin_preview_bg='']\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oh no. The kitchen stinks. You\u2019ve cleared out the fridge, checked pantries, and taken out the trash and yet still those smells persist. What\u2019s left? Well, take a whiff. Do the odors seem centralized over the sink? It might be the garbage disposal giving you grief. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t worry! Fixing a smelly garbage disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. You may not even need to buy any specialty soaps or tabs to do the job. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to fix a garbage disposal that\u2019s not smelling fresh.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n[\/av_textblock]\r\n\r\n[av_hr class='default' icon_select='yes' icon='ue808' position='center' shadow='no-shadow' height='50' custom_border='av-border-thin' custom_width='50px' custom_margin_top='30px' custom_margin_bottom='30px' custom_border_color='' custom_icon_color='' av-desktop-hide='' av-medium-hide='' av-small-hide='' av-mini-hide='' id='' custom_class='' av_uid='av-7f87j']\r\n\r\n[av_textblock size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' av_uid='av-ku60my3r' admin_preview_bg='']\r\nIn the market to fix an appliance after you clean your disposal? <strong>Search below using your specific appliance model number to identify the exact part needed:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n[search]\r\n[\/av_textblock]\r\n\r\n[av_textblock size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' av_uid='av-ku61g753' admin_preview_bg='']\r\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;margin:14px 0;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif\"><a href=\"#app-safety-notes\">Full safety notes below<\/a><\/p>\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Does My Garbage Disposal Stink?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your disposal grinds up food matter with impellers (not blades), turning all that material into paste. While a disposal is generally pretty great at self-cleaning, it\u2019s still possible that food remnants may not make it all the way through the disposal or your pipes. Lingering food matter will eventually start to rot, leading to some pretty nasty smells.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rancid food smells<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the most common, and are caused by the remnants of food debris. Grease and other fats can also adhere to the sides of the disposal and pipes, even if you aren\u2019t running the disposal at the time, which is why you should never dispose of grease or oil in this way.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\n<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mold or mildew smells<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are also common. Your pipes are cool, dark, and damp, a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. We\u2019ll give you some tips on how to get rid of these smells below.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you\u2019re doing everything right, unpleasant smells can still sneak up on you. You\u2019re going to have to clean that disposal eventually. Let\u2019s take a look at how to rescue your kitchen from rancid odors.<\/span>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Fix A Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning your garbage disposal is a simple process that you can complete with materials you probably already have on hand! It should only take a few minutes, too. Just make sure you don\u2019t use any harsh chemical cleaners. <\/span><b>Chemicals like bleach can cause food debris to harden, exacerbating your problems.<\/b>\r\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Materials<\/span><\/h4>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dish soap<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scrub wand or cleaning toothbrush<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tongs or needle-nosed pliers (optional)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 cup of ice cubes<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd cup of kosher or rock salt<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baking soda & vinegar, if the smell is <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">really <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">persistent<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some fresh citrus peels (optional)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal in 8 Steps<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cut the power to the disposal completely before beginning. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You do not want to risk serious injury, so make sure that the disposal is unplugged before you start poking around. You can probably unplug it from an outlet beneath the sink, but you may need to go to your house\u2019s circuit breaker to turn it off completely.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\n<\/span><b>Remember to confirm that the disposal is off before proceeding.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Try flipping it on and see if it starts up.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>With the disposal off, clean around the drain and the visible part of the disposal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a scrub brush and some dish soap. Grab a flashlight to help you better see everything. You may be able to get rid of surface gunk this way, or at least remove any large chunks you find.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\r\n<\/span><b>Only do this while the disposal is unpowered<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and never stick your hand down the sink. Use a scrubber wand or toothbrush for cleaning and tongs or needle-nosed pliers to remove bits of food.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Restore power to the disposal.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For this next part, you\u2019re going to be running the disposal, so go ahead and plug it back in or flip the breaker back on.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stopper the drain and fill the sink with warm soapy water.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Once you\u2019ve collected enough water that your sink is about halfway full, unplug the drain and run the disposal. By completely flooding the disposal with soapy water while it\u2019s running, you\u2019re ensuring that all the nooks and crannies get soaped up and cleaned.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use ice and salt to do some abrasive cleaning.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Put a cup of ice and then a half cup of salt down the disposal while both the disposal and the cold water are running. Let that go for about a minute. The ice being crushed up will loosen up food while the salt acts as a scrub for the impellers and sides of the disposal.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optionally, you may also want to make a vinegar and baking soda paste to scrub at the visible parts of the disposal. As with above <\/span><b>you should only do this while the disposal is totally unpowered, and never stick your hands in the garbage disposal.<\/b>\r\n\r\n<b>If you\u2019ve still got troubles, it\u2019s time for baking soda and vinegar.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For this step, you don\u2019t need to run the disposal until after the cleaning agents have done their thing. Start with a half cup of baking soda, then add a cup of vinegar. The two will react, foaming up and fizzling to help clean and kill bacteria. Give this combination about 15 minutes to go to work.<\/span>This method is particularly useful if what you\u2019re smelling is a moldy or mildew-y odor.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Do one final soap and water flush.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Repeat step 4 for one final flush of soapy water to get everything out.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Optionally, finish up with a bit of citrus.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you\u2019ve got a lemon, lime, or orange handy, you can toss the peels down the disposal, let it run for about 5 to 10 seconds after you\u2019re sure the peel has been completely ground up. This should create a pleasant citrus scent, good for masking the smell of vinegar.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preventing Smells From Taking Over Your Garbage Disposal<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best offense is a good defense! Stop bad smells from permeating your kitchen by making sure you\u2019re using your garbage disposal correctly.<\/span>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Make sure you\u2019re running the disposal long enough. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once it sounds like the food debris has been ground up, let the garbage disposal continue to run for another 5 seconds with the faucet on. This should ensure that any food remnants have been flushed through.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Always run the faucet when you\u2019re using the disposal.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This ensures that food matter is getting flushed through.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Avoid putting certain things in the disposal.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Potato peels, banana peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, and stringy veggies like celery and corn husks can all potentially get stuck to the garbage disposal impellers (those are the things that grind up the food) or the pipe itself, causing clogs and -- yep! -- bad smells. Luckily, many of these items make for pretty decent additions to your garden\u2019s compost pile. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lot of places claim that certain foods mentioned above will sharpen your disposal\u2019s \u201cblades.\u201d There are no blades in a garbage disposal, so this is untrue. In a disposal, food is ground up using impellers and a grinding ring. There\u2019s nothing to actually sharpen. By loading coffee grounds and eggshells into your disposal, you only risk gumming up the works.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Don\u2019t run hard items like fruit pits or bones through your disposal. <\/b>Not only could chunks get caught and cause clogs, hard items could splinter and damage parts of the machinery. If the disposal doesn\u2019t break outright, it could make it less effective.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Don\u2019t pour grease or fats down the drain.<\/b> Make sure you properly dispose of grease and oils and don\u2019t ever pour them down the drain. Fats will stick to your pipes, clog, and smell awful as they turn rancid. If some grease does wind up going down your drain, run some hot water to keep it moving down the line.<\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Clean the disposal regularly.<\/b> You don\u2019t need to do a full multi-step clean every time, but doing just one of the steps above regularly will help you to avoid having to do all three methods at once.<\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners.<\/b> Aside from the fact that harsh chemical cleaners can potentially damage your pipes or your disposal, certain chemicals could react with fats or other food debris still stuck in there, hardening them and making them more difficult to remove.<\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Remember, citrus alone will only mask odors. It doesn\u2019t actually clean anything. <\/b>If you run lemon peels through the disposal, you\u2019ll mask smells for a time, but if you haven\u2019t also taken steps to clean your disposal, those smells will come right back.<\/li>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>You may just need to replace your disposal. <\/b>Garbage disposals typically last around 10 years. Within that time, parts can start to wear down, leading to bigger chunks of food getting through, causing clogs. If your disposal is more than 10 years old and bad smells are just one symptom alongside other issues like frequent clogging or unusual noises, it may be time to replace your disposal.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrapping Up<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need to let a smelly sink put a damper on dinnertime. With this guide, your kitchen should be back to smelling lemony fresh, lickety-split! Now that you have the tools to avoid unwanted odors in the future, keep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AppliancePartsPros.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in mind for other tips, tutorials, and guides on how to keep your home in tip-top shape. If you ever have any questions about how to replace appliance parts, we\u2019re happy to lend a hand through our site LiveChat or give us a call!<\/span>\n\n<div id=\"app-safety-notes\" style=\"border:1px solid #E6E6E6;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden;margin:22px 0;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif\"><div style=\"background:#1C437C;color:#fff;padding:9px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:15px\">\u26a1&nbsp;Electrical safety \u2014 before you start<\/div><ul style=\"margin:0;padding:14px 20px 14px 38px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;background:#fff\"><li style=\"margin:6px 0\"><b>Disconnect power<\/b> before you start \u2014 unplug it or switch off the breaker, and <b>confirm it's dead<\/b>.<\/li><li style=\"margin:6px 0\">Follow your <b>local electrical code<\/b>.<\/li><li style=\"margin:6px 0\">Anything involving <b>household wiring, outlets, or the breaker panel<\/b> itself is <b>licensed-electrician territory<\/b>.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n[\/av_textblock]\r\n\r\n","_aviaLayoutBuilder_active":"active","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AppliancePartsPros Blog\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/appliancepartspros\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-28T20:59:00+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-14T14:46:57+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"APP Expert\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"APP Expert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/\",\"name\":\"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-28T20:59:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-14T14:46:57+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/4bebbabe2491595854b4a12ca30f766a\"},\"description\":\"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":640},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"APP Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Home Maintenance\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/category\/home-maintenance\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/\",\"name\":\"AppliancePartsPros Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/4bebbabe2491595854b4a12ca30f766a\",\"name\":\"APP Expert\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/15f0d9f4f4a490f7293e05cf962cc59c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/15f0d9f4f4a490f7293e05cf962cc59c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"APP Expert\"},\"description\":\"Hi! I'm Matt H., and I'm thrilled to be your guide through the world of appliance repair with over 25 years of invaluable experience in the industry. From the early days of my career, I have been deeply passionate about appliances and their inner workings. Over the years, I've seen it all \u2013 from vintage models to the latest cutting-edge technology \u2013 and I've dedicated myself to mastering the art of repair. With a toolbox in one hand and a wealth of knowledge in the other, I've tackled every challenge that has come my way, learning and growing with each repair. Join me as we dive into the intricacies of appliance repair. From step-by-step repair guides to explanations of common problems and their solutions, I'll be here to simplify the repair process and empower you with the knowledge you need to keep your appliances running smoothly. Feel free to explore our blog, ask questions, and leave comments \u2013 this platform is a space for learning, sharing, and growing together. Let's work together to ensure that your appliances continue to serve you for years to come. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to being your go-to resource for all things related to appliance repair!\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/appliancepartspros\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnMCOX6qSbTUQPyJJzRwPcg\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/author\/wordpress_user\/\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog","description":"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog","og_description":"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/","og_site_name":"AppliancePartsPros Blog","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/appliancepartspros","article_published_time":"2021-09-28T20:59:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-14T14:46:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"APP Expert","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"APP Expert","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/","url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/","name":"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad - AppliancePartsPros Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png","datePublished":"2021-09-28T20:59:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-14T14:46:57+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/4bebbabe2491595854b4a12ca30f766a"},"description":"Dealing with a smelly garbage disposal? Fixing a stinky disposal is a quick, easy, and affordable process. In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through how to get your disposal smelling great in just a few steps.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/57_how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad_bottom.png","width":1536,"height":640},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal-that-smells-bad\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"APP Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Home Maintenance","item":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/category\/home-maintenance\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Clean a Garbage Disposal That Smells Bad"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/","name":"AppliancePartsPros Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/4bebbabe2491595854b4a12ca30f766a","name":"APP Expert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/15f0d9f4f4a490f7293e05cf962cc59c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/15f0d9f4f4a490f7293e05cf962cc59c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"APP Expert"},"description":"Hi! I'm Matt H., and I'm thrilled to be your guide through the world of appliance repair with over 25 years of invaluable experience in the industry. From the early days of my career, I have been deeply passionate about appliances and their inner workings. Over the years, I've seen it all \u2013 from vintage models to the latest cutting-edge technology \u2013 and I've dedicated myself to mastering the art of repair. With a toolbox in one hand and a wealth of knowledge in the other, I've tackled every challenge that has come my way, learning and growing with each repair. Join me as we dive into the intricacies of appliance repair. From step-by-step repair guides to explanations of common problems and their solutions, I'll be here to simplify the repair process and empower you with the knowledge you need to keep your appliances running smoothly. Feel free to explore our blog, ask questions, and leave comments \u2013 this platform is a space for learning, sharing, and growing together. Let's work together to ensure that your appliances continue to serve you for years to come. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to being your go-to resource for all things related to appliance repair!","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/appliancepartspros","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnMCOX6qSbTUQPyJJzRwPcg"],"url":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/author\/wordpress_user\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/791"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=791"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22714,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/791\/revisions\/22714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appliancepartspros.com\/b\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}