Your sink disposal plays a key behind-the-scenes role in keeping your kitchen clean. It handles scraps, rinses, and the occasional mess with minimal effort… until buildup starts catching up. If you’ve noticed lingering odors or slower drainage, it’s likely time to give it the attention it deserves.
Learning how to clean a sink disposal doesn’t have to be a complicated or messy chore. With the right tools and a regular routine, you can keep your disposal performing its best and smelling fresh.
What Gets Dirty in a Sink Disposal?
Though it’s mostly hidden from view, the inside of your sink disposal collects food particles, grease, and grime with regular use. The splash guard, grinding chamber, and upper drainpipe all tend to trap residue over time.
Even with hot water and soap running through the unit, some of that buildup sticks — especially on the rubber splash guard and the sidewalls of the chamber. Left unchecked, these areas can develop strong odors and cause clogs.
The Safe Way to Deep Clean a Disposal
If you’re wondering whether you can put drain cleaner in a garbage disposal, the short answer is no. Most drain cleaners are too harsh for the internal parts of a disposal and can damage both the unit and your pipes. Plus, they rarely clean the full interior or eliminate the smell.
The better option is to use a sink disposal cleaner specifically formulated for these appliances. Glisten® Garbage Disposer Cleaner is designed to tackle the food residue and grease that water alone can’t remove.
Using Glisten is simple:
- Run a thin stream of hot water.
- Drop in a Glisten packet.
- Turn on the disposal.
- Let the foaming action go to work, scrubbing the blades, sidewalls, under the splash guard, and deep into the drain — places home remedies can’t reach.
This deep-cleaning foam reaches beyond where basic methods can, including under the splash guard and around the disposal walls. Once the foaming action subsides, you’re ready to give everything a quick rinse and let your sink disposal get back to work.
The Best Way to Clean a Sink Disposal: Regularly
A clean sink disposal is also about function, not just smell. With a simple routine, you can extend the life of your unit and keep your kitchen more sanitary.
Here’s a suggested cleaning rhythm:
- Deep clean with Glisten once a week to remove buildup and neutralize odors at the source.
- Use Plink between deep cleans to keep things fresh with a quick burst of citrus scent.
Plink capsules don’t replace the need for deeper cleaning, but they’re a great tool for in-between moments when your sink could use a little refresh.
How to Clean a Smelly Sink Disposal Between Deep Cleans
If you’re wondering how to clean a smelly sink disposal quickly, especially when you don’t have a full cleaner on hand, try this:
- Flush with hot water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Use citrus peels to mask mild odors.
- Add a Plink capsule for instant freshness.
But if odors keep coming back, it means the residue is still there. That’s when Glisten becomes essential. Its foaming action lifts and breaks down the actual source of the smell, rather than covering it up.
Why Choose a Product Like Glisten?
There’s no shortage of advice on how to clean a disposal, from ice cubes to baking soda to lemon rinds, but DIY methods only go so far. Glisten offers a complete clean because it:
- Reaches hidden buildup under the splash guard
- Is safe for sink disposals and plumbing
- Cleans in minutes with zero scrubbing
Not only is this the best way to clean sink disposal systems, but it’s also the easiest.
The Takeaway
The next time you’re thinking about how to clean sink garbage disposal units, think beyond quick tricks. A clean disposal means a cleaner kitchen, and keeping up with it doesn’t have to take much time or effort.
Choose a sink disposal cleaner like Glisten for regular maintenance, and rely on Plink to keep things smelling great between deep cleans. With this simple combination, your sink will stay fresh, clean, and ready for whatever you throw at (or in) it.
For additional product details, visit summitbrands.com or look for Glisten at a retailer near you.