The $10 Cleaning Solution That Finally Got Rid of That Disgusting Smell in My Garbage Disposal

I pride myself on maintaining an extremely clean kitchen (I won’t take all the credit, I’ve learned a few awesome tips from my Kitchn coworkers). In fact, there’s only one area of my kitchen that I am ashamed of opening up to scrutiny. Between daily sessions with my favorite wet/dry vac, weekly cabinet check-ins with chic organizers, and my once-a-month deep-cleaning duties, you’d be hard-pressed to find the secret spot I never really knew how to tackle. It’s essential to everyday cooking activity (especially if you’re an avid cook like myself) and often a culprit source of mystery odors… yep, I’m talking about the garbage disposal.

Now, all embarrassment aside (TBH, I think lots of people have trouble with disposal cleanliness), I’ll admit, I’ve tried lots of cleaning methods; from the somewhat newfound ice + salt method to baking soda with vinegar to Bar Keeper’s Friend, you name it and I’ve tried it. The main problem with my disposal? It’s decades old and doesn’t work quite as well as it once did. After two years with this never-quite-clean, somewhat smelly, secret section of my kitchen tainting my otherwise spotless space, I have finally found a solution that works: Duracare Disposal Tablets.

Using the tablets is super simple. All you do is run hot water down the side of the sink (not directly into the drain, but alongside it), drop a tablet in, keep the water on, and run your disposal. I keep the disposal going until I hear only water — no crunching sounds — coming from below. That’s right, if you hear the sounds of scraping and smashing for the first 30 seconds, don’t be alarmed; that’s the Duracare doing its magic. The tablets are purposefully designed with a rough and porous texture that scrubs the insides of the disposal, making the process extremely effective (albeit a little noisy).

After two months of semi-regular use, I can confidently say that the odor that used to faintly waft from the sink is finally gone. In fact, I find that my sink smells fresh and clean even weeks after I use the tablets, which leads to one satisfying conclusion: Duracare really works. Since using these little cleaning miracles, my disposal works more efficiently than before and hasn’t clogged once. The food that finds its way down the drain actually gets ground up like it’s supposed to — at long last, no more lemon halves rattling around down there!

Whether you struggle with an old, grumpy disposal like I do or have a brand-spanking-new sink, these little tablets are a must. For only $10, you’ll avoid those funky, yucky smells and give yourself the gift of a completely clean kitchen.

Buy: Duracare Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer Tablets, $9.99