Does your garbage disposal stink? There can be many causes why does my garbage disposal smell? Luckily, you won’t have to be hurt by stinky garbage disposal for a long time. Here is the list of the main reasons for garbage disposal’s bad smell and ways to get rid of foul odors. Let’s go deep into it.
Why does my garbage disposal stink?
If your garbage disposal has a foul smell, the first thing you should do is found out the prime reason for the stink.
The way your garbage disposal smells can be a mark of whether the issue is the only food that hasn’t been properly disposed of and drained, or if a more critical issue is to accuse of. Here is the list of the main reasons your garbage disposal smells.
Food decomposing under the impellers
When your garbage disposal smells like rotten food, then this rotten food is just probable the reason.
Although garbage disposals have a self-cleaning function, some food scraps may remain and cause clogged drains. This happens when the blades of the system become dull, or someone tries to dispose of waste that is not meant to be disposed of.
Also, if you don’t run your disposal for a long time, or if warm water is not running while the disposal is running to help move to refuse through your plumbing system, food, and pickings can gather just beneath your shell or in your pipes.
If they are not drained within a few days, waste will start to decompose and emit awful odors. Regularly cleaning your disposal should remove foul odors.
A buildup of mold
If your garbage disposal smells like mold, the likely cause of this is an accumulation of mold in your sink and drain.
A humid and warm environment is a hotbed for mold and bacteria. Because garbage disposals consist of dark, moist parts, building up mold is a frequent thing for them. The decay causes the rotting smell which appears in your drain.
You may be able to get rid of the smell by cleaning the underside of the garbage disposal’s rubber flange. It’s recommended to use for cleaning a mix of vinegar, warm water, and baking soda.
Hydrogen sulfide gas
Many homeowners have had this question at one time or another: “Why does my garbage disposal smell like rotten eggs?“
The origin of this awful smell is hydrogen sulfide gas. It can occur due to issues with the drain line or the plumbing system generally – not just with your disposal. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs because of the chemicals added and the presence of microbes under definite conditions. It is denser than air, so it settles into pits, such as your garbage disposal.
Possible causes of smelling your garbage disposal like rotten eggs
- Your drain line is clogged and needs to be purified, which allows the gas to output safely.
- The seal on the bottom of your garbage disposal unit is not working correctly and gas with horrible smell leaks into your house. You can fix this by changing the seal with a new one or regulating its position to have better contact with the sink flange (the round detail around your drain).
- Also, the problem can appear with your plumbing system because hydrogen sulfide gas occurs naturally due to decomposition (organic material transforms into the soil) and when water mixes with definite types of minerals like sulfates.
Leaky or clogged pipes
You may have asked a question: “Why does my garbage disposal smell like a sewer?“
If so, then the reason for this may be clogging somewhere in the line. Your garbage disposal is jointed with the pipes deflecting the water and food waste, or grease from your sink. When the disposal tries to send this waste down the drain, but one of these pipes starts leaking or the drain vent becomes clogged, the waste backs up and sewage odors can appear in your kitchen.
For this reason, it is worth calling the plumber. You should hurry up to eliminate this serious issue before extensive water damage occurs. By the way, temporal fixes help you to conceal the smell.
Ways to eliminate garbage disposal smells
Now that you find out why your garbage disposal stinks, you might be asking: “How do I get rid of the odor in my garbage disposal?“
Once you have defined the prime reason for your garbage disposal’s foul odor, you can take the following ways to get rid of unpleasant smells in your garbage disposal.
Garbage disposal cleaning pods
Many grocery stores and large retailers sell garbage disposal cleaning pods that both mask unpleasant smells and help unclog your drain to help prevent the buildup of food particles that can lead to unpleasant odors and broken disposal systems. Just throw a pod or two in the sink, switch on the water and the disposal, and the cleaning pods will go to work.
Ice cubes and salt for the garbage disposal
Pour two cups of ice cubes into the garbage disposal, followed by one cup of table salt. Run cold water through the garbage disposal for 5-10 seconds while it breaks the ice. When broken, the ice will clear the blades of any slimy residue that has stuck to the blade, and the salt will help deodorize it.
Citrus as a natural deodorizer
You can use lemon or another citrus fruit. Slice a couple of lemons and throw them in the disposal for 5-10 seconds while running cold water. The acid in the citrus will help break the dirty mucus and naturally deodorize your whole kitchen.
Baking soda and vinegar cleaning solution
A mix of equal parts baking soda and white vinegar is a natural, non-poisonous cleaner that can help dispel odors and break down leftover food particles in your garbage disposal and drains. You should simply let the mix sit for at least 10 minutes. After that, run both the garbage disposal and cold water to drain the residue.
Why does my garbage disposal stink even after cleaning?
If your garbage disposal smells even after you have cleaned it, there are several things you can do to eliminate the foul odor.
First, try passing citrus peelings through the disposal. This will help to move away any long odors.
Second, you can try using a plumber’s snake to clean any clogs that may be causing the smell. If neither of these options works, you may need to call a professional to remedy the issue.
Final thoughts
Garbage disposals are a great and convenient possibility to get rid of food waste. However, they can also cause unpleasant odors.
So if you have to be hurt by a smelly garbage disposal, you know what to do to eliminate odors. By following the ways and tips above, you can bring your kitchen back to its previous freshness.