How to Clean a Mold Smell in a Sink Disposal

Smelly kitchen sinks

Garbage disposals are great inventions, eliminating the need to scrape dishes over the garbage can before washing or worrying about vegetable peelings or coffee grounds clogging the sink. On occasion, you may notice an unpleasant moldy odor wafting up from the disposal. No matter how long you run the disposal that smell seems to stick around.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• White vinegar
• Bottle brush cleaner
• Baking soda
• Fresh lemon
• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Unplug the disposal. The plug is most likely underneath the sink in the back.

2. Saturate a sponge with white vinegar. Disposals have a vinyl sleeve that blocks water from splashing back up into the sink while it's running. That vinyl sleeve is right at the top above the drain and easy to see. Wipe the vinyl on the front and on the underside. Try to wipe the rim where the vinyl is attached on the underside.

3. Dip a bottle brush cleaner in white vinegar and scrub the sides and bottom of the disposal. Plug the disposal back in.

4. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the disposal. If you have a double sink, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the other drain as well. Turn on the disposal.

5. Pour a steady stream of white vinegar down the drain on the disposal side and then the other sink's drain, then back down the disposal side. The vinegar will start to foam up when it contacts the baking soda. Use a quart of vinegar over 15 to 30 seconds.

6. Flush the disposal with cool water for about 30 seconds. Drop a half lemon down the disposal. When the grinding stops drop in the other half. Turn off the disposal.

7. Place 2 cups of ice cubes into the disposal. Turn on the disposal and run cold water until the grinding from the ice cubes stops. Turn off the disposal.

8. Fill the sink with the disposal with cool water. Fill the other side as well. When both sides are full, remove the drains and immediately turn on the disposal. This last flood of water will clean out anything that remains.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the disposal smelling sweet by dropping in a half a lemon or orange every week.

• Always unplug the disposal when cleaning the plastic sleeve or scrubbing the inside with a brush.

• Bleach is very caustic, so only use it as a last resort.

References

• Versatile Vinegar: Uses and Tips