How To Clean A Garbage Disposal And How Often To Do It - Today Show

The garbage disposal is handy, but cleaning it isn't much fun. The thought of putting your hands into that smelly no man’s land sounds terrifying (mainly because you shouldn't ever put your hands down there!), but there's no need to abandon this cleaning chore.

Green cleaning expert Leslie Riechert and Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, shared their best tips with us for cleaning garbage disposals safely.

How often to clean a garbage disposal | Signs it's time to clean | How to clean your garbage disposal | How to clean a garbage disposal trap | How we chose | Meet the experts

How often should you clean your garbage disposal?

Your garbage disposal works really hard (and can easily get stinky), so aim to clean it on a weekly basis.

Signs that you should clean your garbage disposal

It's not too hard to tell when your garbage disposal is ready to be cleaned. Mock says some telltale signs are bad odors, unusual noises when you run it and when it's generally not performing at its best.

How to clean your garbage disposal

When it comes to cleaning your disposal the first thing to know is that you should never, ever put your hands in the disposal, advises Mock. "Also never use chemical drain cleaners to clear a clog, which can damage your disposal and splash back onto you."

You'll always want to start by removing any food buildup on the blades before you get into the nitty gritty. An easy way to do that is to place frozen orange and lemon peels in the disposal and grind them up. The oil from the citrus peels will help remove buildup while leaving behind a clean, fresh fragrance. No peels on hand? “You can also use a tray of ice cubes and 1/2 cup of baking soda to clear buildup from the blades,” Reichert suggests.

For maintaining the performance of your garbage disposal, Mock also recommends running it on a regular basis.

By hand

1. First make sure you disconnect power to the unit. This will prevent any accidents and make you less nervous so you can clean the disposal thoroughly!
2. Next, throw on a pair of rubber gloves and spray a paper towel with an all-purpose cleaner. Continue to wipe and replace with a clean towel until all debris is removed.

With baking soda and vinegar

1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into your garbage disposal.
2. Then, pour 1 cup of vinegar in.
3. Allow the mixture to bubble and sit for five to 10 minutes.
4. Turn on the disposal with cold water and allow the mixture to flush through.

The best products to clean your garbage disposal

Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda

$1.59

Target

$1.99

Grove Collaborative

Happy Belly Distilled White Vinegar

$3.59

Amazon

Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner

$3.78

Walmart

$3.78

$3.67

Home Depot

$5.89

Office Depot

Rubber Gloves (Set of 2)

$6.99

Amazon

How do you clean a garbage disposal trap?

Need to clear out your garbage disposal trap? It may seem daunting, but you can definitely do it on your own! Here are Mock's tips to unclog and clean out your trap.

1. Find your trap. Look for the P- or S-shaped pipe beneath your disposal’s drain trap.
2. Determine the style of your trap. If your P-trap doesn’t have a quick disconnect, you may need some channel-type pliers or channel locks. Similar to regular pliers, they include an extended adjustment section and angled jaw that allows them to grip pipes and plumbing parts of various sizes.
3. Grab a bucket, towel and tools. It’s not uncommon for water to spill out of the sink pipes when they’re disconnected, so it is best to make sure you are prepared to prevent a bigger mess. Then, place the bucket under the trap and, using your channel locks, disconnect the slip-nut fitting on the drain trap.
4. Remove the trap and check the pipe for clogs/obstructions, which are typically found in the bends of the trap. You may need a small scrub brush to dig out debris. (In the absence of a brush, a wire coat hanger may work.) If you don’t find a clog in the trap, it may be in the part of the pipe that disappears into the wall, or even in the pipes inside the wall. Clearing these pipes will require a drain auger, which is kind of like a snake but meant more for forcing out/breaking up debris.
5. Reassemble the trap and run water through the disposal system for several minutes to clear any remaining debris through the pipes.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to empty a garbage disposal?

"Yes, no matter what, food will get stuck in the garbage disposal," says Mock.

Garbage disposals can typically grind down foods on their own, however, it may help to cut large foods into smaller pieces before putting them in the garbage disposal.

What foods should you avoid putting in a garbage disposal?

Mock says to steer clear of fat, grease, oil, starchy foods like pasta, potatoes and oats; seafood shells, meat, bones and fruit pits.

How do you get rid of garbage disposal smells?

Cleaning the rubber splash guard takes a bit more work, but it’s worth the effort. Slime and gunk that accumulate on the underside of the splash guard are a major source of odors and a breeding place for germs. To tackle the chore, you’ll need rubber gloves, an old toothbrush and hot, soapy water.

For removable splash guards: While wearing gloves, remove the splash guard, then scrub the top and bottom of the rubber guard with a toothbrush and soapy water. Rinse and replace.

For non-removable splash guards: While wearing gloves, first scrub the top side of the guard. Rinse. Then, lifting up the rubber guard a section at a time, scrub the underside of the splash guard until all slime and gunk are gone. Rinse!

How we chose

TODAY.com spoke to experts about the best practices for cleaning your garbage disposal. Based on the guidance they provided, we found affordable, editor-loved and fan-favorite products to help you get the job done.

Meet the experts

• Leslie Reichert, also known as the “Green Cleaning Coach,” is an author, TV personality and cleaning expert. She has previously spoken with TODAY.com about how to clean washing machines, pillows and microwaves.
• Marla Mock is the president of Molly Maid, a professional home cleaning service. She has previously spoken to TODAY.com about how to clean your stovetop, sponges, freezer and more.