A clean kitchen is about more than just what’s visible on the surface. Your counters may be spotless and your dishes sparkling, but if there’s buildup inside your sink, all that effort can go down the drain. If your food disposal stinks, you’re not alone. That mystery smell is often the result of trapped food particles, grease, and residue hiding deep inside the disposal.
Here’s the good news: learning how to clean your food disposal is simpler than you might think. With Glisten® Garbage Disposer Cleaner, it’s easy to eliminate odors, remove grime, and keep your disposal running at its best.
Why Does Your Food Disposal Smell So Bad?
Garbage disposals do a lot of dirty work. Leftover scraps, food grease, and whatever mystery bits get washed off your plate all get chopped up in the disposal. Over time, that gunk can build up on the blades, in the chamber, and especially around the rubber splash guard. All that buildup can start to rot and smell, which is why even clean kitchens sometimes have a not-so-fresh aroma.
What Parts Actually Need Cleaning?
You might be surprised by how many places food can hide inside your disposal. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Grinding Chamber: The main section where food is broken down. Residue often lingers here longer than expected.
- Splash Guard (Baffle): The rubber flaps at the top of the disposal trap grease and food bits but don’t rinse clean with water alone.
- Drain Line Connection: Residue can build up at the connection point, creating a hidden source of odor.
How to Clean a Sink Food Disposal
Although you could try some home remedies like ice cubes, vinegar, and lemon peels, those methods don’t always get deep enough to handle the real grime. For a more effective and reliable clean, we recommend using Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner. Glisten is specially formulated to clean the entire disposal unit, including the splash guard and drain, where odors typically develop.
Here’s how it works:
- Run hot water through the disposal for about a minute.
- Reduce the water to about a pencil-thin stream.
- Drop in a Glisten packet and turn on the disposal.
- Let it foam in the disposal for 1-2 minutes, then give it a quick rinse and turn the disposal off again once the foaming subsides.
No need to grab a toothbrush or dismantle anything. Glisten’s foaming action reaches all those hard-to-reach areas, flushing away food particles, grease, and odor-causing gunk. That’s what makes it more than just a freshener — it’s a real food disposal cleaner.
How Often Should You Clean the Disposal?
Let’s keep it simple: if you use your disposal daily, plan to deep clean it about once a week. If it’s more of an occasional helper, aim for at least once or twice a month. Regular cleanings help prevent messes and keep your sink smelling fresh.
Between deep cleans with Glisten® Garbage Disposer Cleaner, use Glisten® Disposer Freshener or Plink® Garbage Disposal Freshener & Cleaner, a quick solution that freshens up your disposal in seconds. It doesn’t replace a full clean, but it’s a great way to keep things smelling good between Glisten uses.
Tips to Keep Your Disposal in Good Shape
A little maintenance goes a long way. Here are a few habits that keep odors and buildup in check:
- Run cold water during and after using the disposal to help flush debris.
- Never pour grease or oil down the drain.
- Avoid dumping fibrous scraps, such as celery or corn husks, that can tangle up in the disposal.
- Toss in a Glisten packet weekly to keep things clean and working right.
The Simple Solution to a Cleaner, Fresher Kitchen
Knowing how to clean food disposal in sink setups can make a noticeable difference in your kitchen’s cleanliness. Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner makes the job easy, with no guesswork, no mess, and no lingering odors. It’s an effective, convenient way to remove grime and freshen your disposal without having to get your hands dirty. Made with natural ingredients and a bleach alternative, Glisten is safe for use in all disposals and drains.
When used regularly, Glisten helps maintain your disposal’s performance and hygiene. And with Plink on hand to handle quick odor control between cleanings, your sink will stay fresh day after day.
For additional product details, visit summitbrands.com or look for Glisten at a retailer near you.