How to Clean a Garburator (Garbage Disposal) Safely, Step by Step

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Where the gunk hides in a garburator

A garburator (the Canadian name for a garbage disposal) has three places that get dirty, and only two of them are within reach of a brush.

• The sink flange. The metal rim of the drain opening. A brown film builds up on it and just below it.
• The splash guard (baffle). The rubber collar with flaps in the drain opening. InSinkErator says food waste can build up under it, and a Moen product manager told Consumer Reports that most odours come from food on the splash guard.
• The grinding chamber. Under the splash guard: a spinning turntable with two lugs pushes food against a fixed grind ring (there are no blades to sharpen, InSinkErator says). Food particles build up here over time, and InSinkErator says a smell is usually the sign. You can't reach it by hand, and you shouldn't try.

Garbage disposal safety: before you clean anything

InSinkErator's safety rules, plus one of ours, for every clean, even a quick wipe:

• Power off first. Turn the switch off before you clear a jam, remove an object or press reset. To clean by hand, Moen says to unplug the unit or, if it's hardwired, turn off the power at the panel.
• Never put your fingers or hand inside. Use long-handled tongs or pliers to pick out anything that fell in.
• Keep the stopper in when you're not using it, so nothing falls into the chamber.
• Don't use that sink for anything but food prep. InSinkErator's examples: bathing a baby or washing hair.
• One product at a time (our rule). Never mix cleaners, and never use a chemical drain cleaner: InSinkErator rules them out (more below).

How to clean a garburator, step by step

You need: tongs, a flashlight, dish soap, baking soda, a scouring pad or old toothbrush, a long-handled dish brush and a BLITZ Disposal Cleaner tablet. Time: about 10 minutes.

1. Cut the power. Switch it off, then unplug it under the sink or turn off its breaker. Shine a flashlight in and take out anything that doesn't belong (a spoon, a bottle cap) with tongs.
2. Scrub the splash guard. If yours lifts out, pull it straight up. Moen says to scrub the underside with baking soda and warm water and rinse it; InSinkErator says a scouring pad works. Both say theirs can go in the dishwasher. Some splash guards are built in: brush those in place, flaps up.
3. Brush the flange and the throat. Dish soap and a long-handled brush on the rim and as far down the opening as the brush goes. GE says to scrub the upper part of the disposal, including the rubber splash guard. Then put the splash guard back: InSinkErator's manual says not to run the unit without its splash guard in place.
4. Foam the grinding chamber. Power back on. Run a thin stream of hot water, drop in a BLITZ tablet, turn the garburator on and let the foam work through the chamber. Dose by motor size, from the label on the unit under the sink: one tablet for 1/3 HP, one or two for 1/2 HP, two for 3/4 and 1 HP.
5. Rinse. Keep the water running for a few seconds after you switch it off.

Get 24 tablets, about a year of cleanings

Ice cubes, lemon peels or vinegar instead? They freshen but don't do the same job: see ice, lemon peels or vinegar: what actually cleans a garburator.

How often should you clean a garbage disposal?

InSinkErator calls garburators very low-maintenance, and GE says regular use helps prevent rust and corrosion. Our suggested routine:

Why does my garburator still smell?

Still smells after a clean? Check these three things first:

• The underside of the splash guard was missed. Look there first.
• Too little water. KitchenAid traces odours to too little water during and after use: keep cold water running 15 seconds after grinding.
• The sink drains slowly. Moen notes that a clogged or slow-draining unit can smell on its own. Cleaning won't fix that: see when to call a plumber.

Grease is the other common source: for grease odours, InSinkErator's manual suggests a disposer cleaner, degreaser or deodorizer, which is what a BLITZ tablet is.

What not to put down a garbage disposal

These lists come from InSinkErator's manual and Canadian FAQ, and from GE.

• Grease, fat and cooking oil. They build up in pipes and cause blockages (InSinkErator). Pour grease into a jar or can, then into the trash.
• Stringy and fibrous scraps. InSinkErator names corn husks and artichokes, and says its Standard Series can't handle banana peels, celery or rhubarb. GE adds nuts, coffee grounds and large bones.
• Big batches. No large amounts of eggshells, and no sink full of peels at once: water and unit on first, then feed them in gradually.
• Anything that isn't food. Glass, china, plastic, metal (bottle caps, utensils), clam or oyster shells, hot grease or other hot liquids.
• Chemicals. InSinkErator rules out caustic drain cleaners, paints, solvents and household chemicals. GE warns that lye and drain cleaners can corrode metal parts.

Small bones, fruit pits and ice are fine: InSinkErator says hard bits like these scour the chamber.

In Québec: check your bylaw, and think twice on a septic tank

• On a city sewer, your municipality may limit garburators. In Greater Montréal, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal's sewer bylaw (2008-47) bans them on sewer-connected plumbing, except units of 1/2 HP or less in residential buildings. Other towns use similar wording, so check your own bylaw before you buy a bigger motor.
• On a septic tank, Québec's environment ministry doesn't recommend a garburator at all: it sends more solids to the tank, adds sludge and can mean more frequent pumping. It suggests composting scraps or putting them in the trash. More in our septic tank guide.

Garbage disposal jammed or humming? The reset button and hex key

If the motor hums but nothing spins, the turntable is stuck. If it's silent, the overload protector has probably tripped. A cleaner won't fix either one. Here's InSinkErator's procedure for most of its units:

1. Turn off the garburator and the water. Bail out standing water if the sink is full.
2. Free the turntable from below. Put the Jam-Buster wrench that came with the unit (or a standard 1/4-inch hex key, also called an Allen key) in the hole in the centre of the bottom of the unit, under the sink. Work it back and forth until it turns freely in full circles. InSinkErator says it's OK to use some force.
3. Take out the cause. Shine a flashlight into the chamber and remove the object with tongs or pliers, never your fingers.
4. Press the reset button. Let the motor cool for 3 to 5 minutes, then gently press the small red button on the bottom of the unit. When it has tripped, it sits about 5 mm (1/4 inch) lower. If it won't stay up, wait ten minutes and try again.
5. Test it. Cold water on first, then the garburator. If it jams again, repeat. If it still won't run, check the breaker or fuse panel.

Other brands work a little differently. On a Moen, with the power off, the wrench goes in from above and lies flat on the turntable against the swivel impellers (the lugs); turn it until it spins freely for at least two full turns.

Moen's reset button is at the bottom, on the side opposite the power cord, and may be recessed (a screwdriver helps). No socket under yours? On some InSinkErator models (Builder Series, Amana, ES), InSinkErator says to turn the turntable from the top with a wooden spoon instead.

When to call a plumber

Cleaning handles smells and residue. Call a plumber, or the maker's service line, when:

• The sink drains slowly or water stands in it. That's a clog in the drain line. Don't pour in a drain cleaner: InSinkErator says not to put caustic drain cleaners in its units. The difference between the two products is in garbage disposal cleaner vs drain cleaner.
• There's water under the sink. InSinkErator's leak guide covers the mounting at the top and the discharge pipe. If it drips from the bottom and isn't running down from the mounting, it says to contact the company.
• It keeps jamming or tripping, or the turntable turns freely with the hex key and it still won't run after a reset and a breaker check.

The maker's service line is in your manual. Moen's, for example, is 1-800-BUY-MOEN (U.S. and Canada).

Why BLITZ for the part you can't reach

The grinding chamber needs something that gets there on its own. That's the job of BLITZ Disposal Cleaner & Deodorizer:

• It foams through the grinding chamber to clean food residue and grease off the walls, and leaves a light citrus scent.
• One tablet. Twice a month, a box of 24 lasts about a year at one tablet a clean, or six months at two (3/4 and 1 HP motors).
• About $1.04 a clean: $24.95 for 24 tablets (price on October 19, 2026).
• Septic-safe. Like every BLITZ product.
• From a Québec company in Laval, with service in French and English. Free shipping in Canada from $40 ($7.95 under), most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit on goblitzclean.com, and a 30-day money-back guarantee (refund policy). Also on Amazon.ca.

Rated 4.7 out of 5 (12 reviews) on goblitzclean.com

"Honestly, I was skeptical, but these tablets cleared out the bad smell in my disposal right away." Reza, review on goblitzclean.com, August 2026

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean a garbage disposal without putting your hand in it?

Cut the power, scrub the splash guard and brush the flange with a long-handled brush. For the grinding chamber, use a foaming disposal cleaner tablet with the water and the unit running. Pick out objects with tongs or pliers.

How often should you clean a garburator?

We suggest scrubbing the splash guard every week or two, or as soon as it smells, and a BLITZ tablet in the grinding chamber twice a month. Run cold water every time you grind.

Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?

On the bottom of the unit, under the sink. On an InSinkErator it's a small red button that drops about 5 mm when it trips; on a Moen it's opposite the power cord. Power off, let the motor cool 3 to 5 minutes, then press.

Why is my garbage disposal humming but not working?

The turntable is jammed. Power off, turn the 1/4-inch hex key in the hole under the unit until it spins freely, lift out the object with tongs, then press the reset button.

Can you have a garburator with a septic tank?

Québec's environment ministry doesn't recommend it: a garburator sends more solids to the tank, which adds sludge and can mean more frequent pumping. If you already have one on a septic system, grind less, scrape most scraps into the compost, and use septic-safe cleaners. Every BLITZ product is septic-safe.

Can I put drain cleaner down a garbage disposal?

No. InSinkErator says not to put caustic drain cleaners in its units, and GE warns they can corrode metal parts. A slow drain is a job for a plumber; see disposal cleaner vs drain cleaner.

Read next: Ice, Lemon Peels or Vinegar: What Actually Cleans a Garburator? · Septic Tank Cleaning Products: What to Avoid and What to Use

Sources: InSinkErator care and use manual, InSinkErator Canada FAQ, InSinkErator jam guide, InSinkErator disposal myths, Moen jam guide and odour guide, GE Appliances, KitchenAid, Consumer Reports, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal's bylaw 2008-47 (copy posted by Vaudreuil-Dorion), and the Québec environment ministry's septic guide, checked October 19, 2026. InSinkErator, Moen, GE, KitchenAid and Jam-Buster are trademarks of their owners. BLITZ is not affiliated with them.