All kinds of materials get put down a garbage disposal to be churned up and diced into small pieces, then pushed down the drain. Over time debris will collect along the underside of the disposal blades, which can cause the blades to stick. When this happens, water will begin to pool into the garbage disposal and flood up into the sink. This not only causes a problem with the water not draining properly but it may also cause the sink to smell because of the caught food that is lingering in water. When this happens, follow these tips for unclogging your garbage disposal. However, if you aren’t successful in unclogging the disposal, don’t hesitate to call professionals like the Team at Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric.


Ice is a surprising fix for freeing up the debris stuck in your garbage disposal. When attempting to run your disposal while it’s clogged, you’ll likely hear a “whirring” sound, but the blades will not move. The ice will melt and stick to the food particles. Once you engage the disposal enough of the food debris will free up and become unclogged as it sticks to the ice. Perform this a few times to clear out the disposal. 

When the disposal has cleared out, you should let the water run and flush out remaining debris that is sticking. This works if the sink isn’t completely full of water. As long as the water can flow somewhat, let the water drain out of the disposal before doing this. If the water isn’t draining, follow the other tips. 

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar might also do the trick. This combination is one of the best cleaning solutions around.  You won’t use any chemicals and it is completely safe on the plumbing system within your house. 

First, mix the baking soda with just enough water to make a thick sludge. You need to be able to pour it but it should be thick. Once you have the sludge made, pour it into the drain. After you have poured the baking soda mixture in, pour in white distilled vinegar. The sink will bubble up as the two come in contact with one another. Allow the two to mix and bubble down for a good five minutes. During this time, take a tea kettle and bring it to a boil on the stove.

Once the tea kettle boils, remove it from the heat and pour the contents down the garbage disposal. This will help free up any food particles and clogs that may have loosened up with the baking soda and vinegar. You may need to do this two or three times (if you’re seeing improvements continue to do so until the improvements stop). 

Unclogging Chemicals

Ideally, you will be able to avoid using an unclogging chemical purchased from the store. Typically, you don’t want to pour a ton of chemicals down your sink but as long as you’re not doing it on a regular basis it will be fine. Make sure to purchase a chemical cleaner that is made for food particles. Follow the instructions and pour it down the drain. You may want to perform the hot water pour following the chemical to help wash everything out. 

If you’re still having problems with your garbage disposal, take advantage of the plumbing services offered by Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric.

There are several things you can try on your own to unclog your garbage disposal.  Try ice, baking soda and vinegar, or a store-bought solution to see if you can get through the situation on your own.  However, if you still can’t get the garbage disposal to work, call the professionals at Paschal for fast and convenient service.