The claim
Grind a few lemon peels in the disposal and the smell disappears. Some people say the peels clean the inside or sharpen the blades too.
What actually happens
The oil in lemon peel smells great, so the sink smells fresh for a few hours. The smell usually comes back, because the peel covers it up without removing what causes it. Most of that funk lives on the underside of the rubber splash guard, the floppy flaps at the top of the drain. Food bits stick there and rot where water never rinses them. Disposals don't have blades to sharpen either. They use blunt metal lugs that throw food against a grinding ring, so nothing gets sharper.
A quick fresh smell after you've cleaned the splash guard, or before guests come over.
How to do it right
- 1
Turn off the disposal at the wall switch.
- 2
Unplug it under the sink, or switch off its breaker if it's wired in.
- 3
Lift each rubber flap with an old toothbrush and a little dish soap.
- 4
Scrub the underside of the flaps until the brush comes away clean.
- 5
Turn the power back on and run cold water.
- 6
Drop in 2 cups of ice and run the disposal until the grinding noise stops.
- 7
Toss in a few lemon peels last, for the nice smell.
Questions
Why does my disposal still stink after lemon peels?
The smell is coming from gunk the peels never touch. Check the underside of the rubber splash guard first. That's where most of it hides.
Does ice really sharpen disposal blades?
No. A disposal has blunt lugs, so there's nothing to sharpen. Ice does help knock buildup off the walls of the grinding chamber, which is why it's worth doing.
Can I pour bleach down the disposal to kill the smell?
Skip it. Bleach can react badly with other cleaners already in the drain, and it doesn't remove the gunk anyway. Dish soap, a brush and ice do the job.
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