The Best Garbage Disposal Cleaners

It’s not good when bacteria and disgusting gunk set up shop in your kitchen garbage disposal. Sometimes, at-home remedies don’t do the trick. Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent garbage disposal cleaners on the market to help restore your garbage disposal’s scent and sanitation to its former glory. That being said, with so many choices out there, it is imperative to do your research in order to find the perfect product for your kitchen sink.

Buying Guide for Garbage Disposal Cleaners

Why buy a garbage disposal cleaner?

Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal is a great way to improve your kitchen’s sanitation and prevent unwelcome odors from killing the vibe at your kitchen sink. However, most people are ill-equipped to take their garbage disposal apart or attack under their splash guard with their favorite scrubber. Thankfully, great garbage disposal cleaners make sanitizing and deodorizing your garbage disposal a simple task. Just administer the product, run a bit of water, and watch the accumulated grime in your garbage disposal get washed away.

What should you look for in a garbage disposal cleaner?

• Cleaning Power: A garbage disposal cleaner’s cleaning power will determine how much scrubbing you will have to do in order to achieve a pristine garbage disposal. Some products require little to no scrubbing thanks to their powerful formula, whereas others may require some elbow grease to achieve the results you want.
• Deodorization: While some garbage disposal cleaners are excellent at removing accumulated grime from your garbage disposal, some are subpar at eliminating odors. Be sure to do your research and select a product that can wipe out foul smells. Most garbage disposal cleaners come in scented varieties, so be sure to choose a scent that suits your needs.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Garbage disposal cleaners are pretty affordable, especially when compared to other kitchen cleaning products. However, for especially dirty garbage disposals, some products may require more than a single application. Additionally, if you routinely clean your garbage disposal, some products recommend a monthly application, whereas others are made for a weekly cleaning.

Are garbage disposal cleaners ideal for deep cleaning your garbage disposal?

Most high-quality garbage disposal cleaners will yield great results after only a single application. Also, if you choose a product that creates a thick foam, you will likely be able to see much of the gunk in your garbage disposal being removed. However, for a true deep clean, it will likely be necessary to scrub your garbage disposal a bit after applying the cleaner. Just like when you clean your shower or tile grout, immaculate results will likely call for a bit of vigorous scrubbing.

Our Picks for the Best Garbage Disposal Cleaners

Pros: If you are cleaning years of accumulated grime from your garbage disposal, the Glisten Cleaner and Odor Eliminator is the best product for the job. Featuring a subtle lemon scent and heavy-duty cleaning action, this garbage disposal cleaner gets the best results with the least amount of elbow grease. While its lemon scent is fairly subtle compared to other brands, it also does well to deodorize stinky garbage disposals.

Cons: While this is a very highly rated product overall, some users have reported having difficulty following the instructions to achieve a thick, cleansing foam. This is possibly because the instructions ask for a slight trickle of water after administering the product. If you ignore this guideline, it is possible to miss out on this product’s next-level cleaning power.

Bottom Line: Due to this product’s unmatched effectiveness at cleaning dirty garbage disposals, it’s an excellent choice for those tackling neglected garbage disposals that have not been cleaned in many years. However, there is a slight learning curve involved that is bound to cause issues for some. That being said, those who are patient and follow instructions are unlikely to be disappointed with the results.

 

Pros: If you’re more concerned about the smell of your garbage disposal than getting it sparkling clean, the Affresh Garbage Disposal Cleaner is an excellent product to try. This garbage disposal cleaner works faster than similar products and is especially adept at eliminating strong, unpleasant odors. That being said, it’s also no slouch in the cleaning department, but it requires some scrubbing if your goal is restoring your grinding chamber to a “like new” condition.

Cons: While this is an excellent choice for monthly garbage disposal cleanings or deodorizing a stinky garbage disposal, it’s not the most potent garbage disposal cleaner listed in this guide. For this reason, those seeking a product for heavy-duty cleaning jobs should probably look elsewhere.

Bottom Line: Thanks to its impressive deodorization and easy-to-use formula, the Affresh Garbage Disposal Cleaner is a product that will appeal to many. Compared to other top products, it really leaves less room for error when trying to achieve a thick, sudsy foam, making it a great pick for those seeking something simple and efficient.

 

Pros: If you’re seeking something that not only deodorizes but also helps prevent unpleasant garbage disposal odors from occurring in the first place, Green Gobbler BIO-Flow Drain Strips is a product to consider. These cleaning strips are quite effective for their low price and are fairly adept at fixing light clogs thanks to their fat- and scum-eating enzymes. Additionally, this product can be used in garbage disposals, sinks, and septic systems, making it a versatile option that is well worth the price.

Cons: It’s safe to say that this product is better suited for routine garbage disposal cleanings than it is for tackling a garbage disposal that hasn’t been cleaned in years. Additionally, these drain strips can be fairly tricky to install on sinks with drain stoppers, but those who are purchasing them for a quick garbage disposal cleaning shouldn’t have problems.

Bottom Line: If you’ve recently given your garbage disposal a thorough cleaning, these cleaning strips are a great way to keep it that way for the lowest cost and the least amount of hassle. Additionally, seeing as how they’re safe for just about any pipe or septic system you can throw them in, most people will be able to get a lot of mileage out of this product.

 

Pros: Featuring a light and pleasant lavender scent, the Rejuvenate Garbage Disposal and Drain Pipe Cleaner is adept at deodorizing nasty garbage disposals without the use of an overpowering aroma. Its thick foam cleaning agent also impresses and is a safe option for both deep cleanings and weekly touch-ups. To sweeten the deal, this garbage disposal cleaner is incredibly easy to get right the first time, so you likely won’t waste a pod when following the product’s simple instructions.

Cons: While most reviewers love this product’s faint lavender scent, others were disappointed that it wasn’t more powerful. That being the case, those looking for a product that will fill their entire kitchen with a fresh, clean scent should look elsewhere.

Bottom Line: Thanks to its impressive cleaning power and light, inviting aroma, this garbage disposal cleaner from Rejuvenate will appeal to a wide variety of people. However, it is slightly more expensive than other top options. Either way, it works as advertised and is even capable of providing the legwork when cleaning a garbage disposal that hasn’t been cleaned in years.

 

Pros: These garbage disposal cleaners from Arm & Hammer separate themselves from the pack thanks to their fairly strong citrus scent, which lasts a good deal longer than other top products. They are also very affordable, with a lower cost per capsule than most other similar products. Thankfully, they are also incredibly simple to use and come with easy-to-understand instructions that leave very little room for user error.

Cons: Based on this product’s ability to quickly neutralize unpleasant garbage disposal odors, it’s safe to say that it does some effective cleaning. However, since it lacks the thick foaming action of other products, you won’t be able to witness the gunk being washed away for yourself. That being the case, these cleaning capsules are probably a step below the top tier of foaming garbage disposal cleaners.

Bottom Line: If you’re in the market for a garbage disposal deodorizer that will leave your entire kitchen smelling clean and inviting, these are an excellent choice. While these might not be an ideal product for deep cleanings, they are certainly an affordable way to keep your garbage disposal smelling clean if used every few days.

Final Thoughts

While most garbage disposal cleaners are pretty similar in terms of form and function, it’s still important to do your research in order to find a product that’s right for you. Whether you’re looking for a product to quickly deodorize your garbage disposal or something that provides a deep cleaning, there a quite a few effective products to check out.