DIY Home Improvement >> Series 3: Beginner Plumbing Fixes >> Part 4: Garbage Disposal Maintenance: Cleaning, Unjamming, and Care



A garbage disposal is one of the most convenient appliances in the modern kitchen, grinding up organic food waste and making post-meal cleanup effortless. However, when it begins emitting foul odors, humming without spinning, or jamming completely, it can quickly bring kitchen operations to a halt.

Many common disposal failures—and the foul smells that accompany them—are completely preventable with basic routine maintenance. Even better, if your unit gets jammed, you almost never need to call a plumber or buy a replacement.

Here is your essential guide to deep cleaning, safely unjamming, and properly maintaining your garbage disposal.

Safety First: The Golden Rule

CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING: Never stick your hand or fingers inside a garbage disposal chamber. Always unplug the unit under the sink or shut off its breaker switch at your main electrical panel before inspecting or clearing jams. Use long tongs or pliers to retrieve foreign objects. 

     [ DISPOSAL CARE & MAINTENANCE ]

  Phase 1: Deep Cleaning & Odor Removal  
  Phase 2: Unjamming a Stuck Disposal   
  Phase 3: The Reset Button Fix          
  Phase 4: Golden Rules of Daily Care

1. How to Deep Clean a Smelly Disposal

Over time, food bits, grease film, and soap scum accumulate beneath the rubber splash guard and along the grinding turntable, causing unpleasant smells.

Step 1: Scrub the Rubber Splash Guard

The underside of the black rubber splash guard sitting in your drain is the #1 source of odor.

  • Unplug the disposal.

  • Dip an old toothbrush into grease-cutting dish soap or baking soda paste.

  • Scrub the underside folds of the rubber flaps thoroughly to remove built-up sludge.

Step 2: The Ice, Rock Salt & Citrus Scrub

This natural cleaning combination scours internal impellers while sharpening the grinding components and leaving a fresh aroma.

           NATURAL DISPOSAL SCRUB
           
      1. Dump 2 cups of Ice Cubes down drain
      2. Add 1 cup of Rock Salt (or coarse salt)
      3. Run cold water & flip switch for 20s
      4. Toss in fresh Citrus Peels (Lemon/LIME)

  1. Dump 2 cups of ice cubes and 1 cup of rock salt (or coarse kosher salt) directly down the disposal drain.

  2. Turn on a steady stream of cold water and switch on the disposal for 15 to 20 seconds. The ice and salt crush together to strip away stubborn buildup clinging to the impellers and grind ring.

  3. Finish by dropping in sliced lemon, lime, or orange peels while running cold water to sanitize and deodorize the unit.

2. How to Safely Unjam a Stuck Disposal

If you turn on your disposal and hear a low humming sound (or absolute silence) while the blades refuse to spin, the turntable is mechanically jammed by a hard object.

Follow this 5-minute unjamming process:

          [ UNJAMMING PROCEDURE ]

  [1] Turn off switch & unplug power      
  [2] Shine flashlight & extract debris   
  [3] Insert 1/4" Allen Wrench at bottom 
  [4] Crank back & forth to break jam    
  [5] Push red Reset Button at base

  1. Disconnect Power: Turn off the wall switch and unplug the disposal from the electrical outlet beneath the sink (or flip the circuit breaker off).

  2. Inspect with a Flashlight: Look down the drain opening. If you see a foreign object (e.g., a cherry pit, bone fragment, or fallen utensil), extract it using long needle-nose pliers or kitchen tongs.

  3. Use the Under-Unit Allen Wrench (Hex Key):

    • Crawl under the sink and locate the small hexagonal hole in the center of the disposal’s bottom underside.

    • Insert a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench (or the jam-clearing wrench provided with your unit) into the hole.

    • Crank the wrench back and forth in both directions until the motor shaft rotates a full 360 degrees freely.

3. The Red Reset Button Fix

If your disposal is completely silent when you flip the wall switch, its built-in thermal overload breaker has tripped to protect the motor from burning out.

  1. Ensure the wall switch is turned OFF.

  2. Locate the small red reset button on the bottom or lower side of the disposal housing.

  3. If the red button is popped out, press it firmly back in until it clicks. (Note: If the unit is hot, wait 5 minutes for the motor to cool before pressing reset).

  4. Plug the unit back in, run cold tap water, and test the switch.

4. What CAN and CANNOT Go Down Your Disposal

To prevent future jams and drain line clogs, follow these strict food guidelines:

DO Grind (With Cold Water)NEVER Put Down the Disposal
Soft fruit & vegetable scrapsFats, Oils & Grease (FOG): Congeals inside pipes
Citrus peels (in small pieces)Fibrous Veggies: Celery, corn husks, artichokes (tangle blades)
Small poultry bones (chicken wings)Starchy Foods: Pasta, rice, potato peels (expand into paste)
Ice cubes & dish soapHard Objects: Coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit pits, seafood shells

Final Thoughts

A garbage disposal is a tough appliance, but it relies on proper habits to stay clean and functional. By running cold water during usage, avoiding starchy or fibrous foods, and using the bottom hex wrench trick whenever jams happen, you'll keep your unit running smoothly and odor-free for years to come.

Disclaimer: Safety first! Always ensure power is completely cut off before inspecting a disposal. Never pour harsh chemical drain openers down a garbage disposal, as caustic chemicals can splash back up or damage internal rubber seals.

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