How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal Easily

How to clean garbage disposal

Homemade Garbage Disposal Freshener

Garbage disposals are convenient and a great way to clean up dishes faster. However, if yours is used as much as mine is, you know it can start to get a little smelly.

This is because we are regularly putting food waste down there and it doesn’t always break up all the way and go down the drain. That means we have decomposed organic matter in our garbage disposal. Yep, I said it. That’s the odor you smell coming from your garbage disposal every once in a while!

No worries, we’ll show you how to clean garbage disposal in an easy, affordable way, so you can finally get rid of that smell! All you need to do is make these frugal DIY cleaner bombs:

DIY garbage disposal cleaner ingredients

DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner Ingredients

I prefer Dawn dish soap because it works well and smells great too, but you can use any kind.

Lemon oil is one of my favorite essential oils for a lot of reasons – not just because it smells so fresh and happy. I chose to use lemon oil for the garbage disposal bombs because this oil is known to cleanse and purify – just what we need here!

How To Make a DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Step 1.

First things first, gather up all of your ingredients and grab a small or medium bowl, along with a tablespoon and measuring cups.

Making the DIY garbage disposal cleaner

Step 2.

Stir together the baking soda and salt in the mixing bowl. Then add 1 tablespoon of dish soap and stir until combined.

You may need to drizzle on some more soap if your mixture is too dry. What you want is the consistency of wet sand. This is important because you don’t want it too dry or it won’t set up and hold together correctly.

Adding essential oil to the DIY garbage disposal cleaner

Step 3.

Add 10 drops of the essential oil of your choice. I chose lemon for mine but any essential oil will work. Stir the oil into the mixture.

Once everything is all mixed together and you have the consistency of wet sand, it’s time to shape your bombs. I used my measuring tablespoon to scoop up the mixture and form the shape I desired. Super easy!

Garbage disposal freshener

Step 4.

Place your little garbage disposal bombs onto parchment paper or wax paper and let them sit for 24 hours to harden. After they harden, place them in an airtight container!

DIY garbage disposal cleaner

How to Use Your DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Use two of these DIY garbage disposal cleaner bombs in your garbage disposal each week and you won’t have to worry about a stinky kitchen sink again! When you do the dishes, just throw two of these into the disposal, sit back and relax! All the work will be done for you and you will enjoy the smell!

Want to know how to clean your garbage disposal when you’re in a hurry and have no bombs on hand? Simply fill your disposal with 1 cup of ice cubes and run it until they are all chopped up. Then run some hot water. This helps break particles off the walls and blades!

You can use this natural drain cleaner on your garbage disposal as well to break up and wash away any leftover gunk! Also, now that you have our garbage disposal freshener recipe, make sure your sink stays clean as well with our stainless steel sink cleaner recipe.

If you want to learn more about the essential oils we use and recommend read this essential oils blog post, email us at seekingwellness@fabulesslyfrugal.com or text us at 208-907-OILS.

How to clean garbage disposal for pennies

Now that you know how to clean a garbage disposal, check out these other DIY cleaners:

Find more DIY cleaners!

Homemade garbage disposal bombs

How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal Easily

Ingredients

  • 10 drops of essential oil
  • 1 tablespoon of dish soap
  • 1/2 cup of salt
  • 3/4 cup baking soda

Instructions

  1. Stir together baking soda and salt in mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Stir until combined.
  2. Add 10 drops of the essential oil of your choice.
  3. Place garbage disposal bombs onto parchment paper or wax paper and let them sit for 24 hours to harden. Once hardened, place them in an airtight container.
  4. To Use:

  5. Place garbage disposal cleaner into your garbage disposal, add some water, and turn your garbage disposal on.
Types: Cleaning, Adult
Categories: Essential Oils, Inside The House, Natural, #StayHome, Spring

Comments

  • Do you drop it in there and turn the disposal on or just the water on and let it dissolve?

  • Hey Cathy!
    Thanks for the information provided in this article. I do have a question.
    After you run water on the “bombs” does it need to be hot water or cold water?
    Thank you!

  • Hi! I like the recipe for the garbage disposal bombs. The issue I have, is my disposal is a non-working one (soon to be converted back to a regular sink). In the meantime, I am using it as a sink, but only for water to be run into it…no washing dishes or anything along those lines. But it gets smelly from the washing soapy water and all from the sink next to it. Also it takes a long time for water to drain out of it when I do use it to rinse only. So can I still use the DYI bombs with the vinegar and still use the hot water to “rinse” and drain it, due to non working blades and slow drainage? I’m open for any ideas. Right now I put a solution of Lysol Cleaner and water in that sink drain to help with the smelll. Thanks in, advance for your help.

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