Funky odor in garbage disposal - help

[faithfulFrank]

As today's winner I'll say congrats on a good job.

When using, letting it run longer each time, doing the "Ice thing" every so often, along with the baking soda/vinegar thing, with an occasional paper towel wipe should keep things from smelling.

I also like grinding up orange and lemon rinds every so often....smells nice. It took awhile to get that bad........normal upkeep will keep that from happening.

Frank

[catfancier]

Thanks,Frank. I will for sure stay on top of it from now on.

I thought I read somewhere once though that grinding lemon and orange rinds leaves an oil issue? Or maybe that's where the extended rinsing comes in....

I would have liked to just pulled up the splash guard (AKA "rubber thingy") to wash it, but I was afraid my non-handy self would not be able to get it back ON.

[QIS]

Cleaning the rubber flapper and the top of the disposal basin( the slanted top walls) is going to eliminate some pretty gross smelling deposits. If you have a dishwasher airgap hose connected to the side of the disposal; stuff is being deposited into that nipple and tube and boy does it stink! I "invented" a brush which is basically a brush that you clean fishtank air tubes with, I connected it to a flexible rod and I run it down the air gap into the disposal and it pushed that stuff into the disposal( not running at the time!) and then cleans the inside of that discharge hose. If you don't want to make one of those, you can simply disconnect that hose and clean it( yuck!). The disposal can be cleaned,but, I'm afraid there are no shortcuts as the stinky material is predominantly deposited in the higher, hard to reach areas of the disposal.

[Ohiogirl81]

This is making me want to get rid of my disposal! LOL

[T. Damon]

Now it should be time for you to check the rubber gasket that lines the dishwasher, especially at the bottom hinge area- guess what you are gonna find? Oh Yeah!

Same cleaning tips will suffice though.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Foaming Disposal Cleaner:

Summit Brands - Specialty Cleaning Products Homepage

They also make a dishwasher cleaner that great for vinyl and SS tubs

[BigJon3475]

I run the water till it gets hot then I cut the water off fill it up with ice, to the brim, and insert the closest dish detergent and turn it on and after a few seconds of running cut the hot water back on. The ice also helps keep the teeth sharp. Contrary to popular belief it's not the teeth in the bottom of the disposal that chops the debris up it's the centrifugal force of the debris being pushed to the walls, where the actual teeth are (like a cheese shredder), of the disposal that breaks it down.