You do your best to keep your kitchen clean, including having a garbage disposal to help you manage food waste in a sanitary manner. But when you find gnats hovering over your sink, it can feel frustrating and a little gross.
These tiny pests appear out of nowhere, taking over the space where you prep food, wash dishes, and pour your morning coffee. The good news? With some know-how and a few easy steps, you can eliminate gnats from your garbage disposal and get your kitchen feeling fresh again.
Why Do Gnats Infest Garbage Disposals?
Garbage disposals can become a hotspot for gnats, especially fruit flies and drain flies. These pests are drawn to decomposing food particles, moisture, and grime that build up in and around your sink drain. Even a small amount of food residue can provide enough nourishment for gnats to multiply quickly.
Fruit flies are usually attracted to sugary substances and rotting produce. You’ll often find them buzzing around fruit bowls, open trash cans, and even garbage disposals. Drain flies, on the other hand, prefer damp, slimy environments like the film that forms in pipes, drains, and disposal units. Both flies can breed rapidly and be difficult to eliminate without a thorough cleaning.
Step-By-Step Guide To Eliminate Them
Getting rid of gnats in your garbage disposal requires a mix of cleaning, disinfecting, and preventing re-infestation. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Clear Out Food Waste
Run cold water and turn on your disposal to flush out any remaining food particles. Cold water helps solidify grease and oils so they can be chopped up and washed away more easily.
Step 2: Scrub the Rubber Flaps & Sink Drain
Gnats often lay eggs on the underside of the rubber splash guard. Use an old toothbrush or scrub brush with dish soap to thoroughly clean around and under the rubber flaps and inside the upper drain.
Step 3: Deodorize with Baking Soda & Vinegar
Pour half a cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz and work its way through the drain for about 10 minutes. Then, rinse with hot water to flush out loosened grime and odors.
Step 4: Use Ice Cubes & Citrus Peels
Toss a few ice cubes and citrus peels, like lemon or orange, into the disposal and run it with cold water. The ice helps knock off residue from the blades, and the citrus peels leave behind a fresh scent.
Step 5: Set a Trap
If gnats are still lingering in the area, fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Leave it near the sink overnight to catch any remaining flies.
Step 6: Keep the Area Dry
Wipe down the sink and counters regularly to reduce moisture. Consider running your disposal with water after each use to help prevent buildup and discourage gnat activity.
Keeping Your Garbage Disposal Fresh & Odor-Free
A clean garbage disposal keeps gnats at bay and prevents unpleasant kitchen odors. To maintain freshness:
- Run cold water while using the disposal and for a few seconds afterward.
- Avoid putting grease, coffee grounds, or fibrous food scraps down the drain.
- Clean the disposal weekly using baking soda and vinegar or a disposal-safe cleaning pod.
- Periodically grind ice and citrus peels to freshen the blades and clear the residue.
Routine care can go a long way toward keeping your disposal clean and pest-free.
Maintain Your Garbage Disposal With AP Plumbing
If your garbage disposal has become a recurring gnat magnet — or if it’s clogged, noisy, or leaking — it may be time for professional garbage disposal services. AP Plumbing has served homeowners in Rochester and Syracuse since 1986.
Our background-checked, licensed, and insured plumbers can diagnose and fix any disposal issue quickly and cleanly. With upfront pricing, same-day service, and no overtime charges, you can count on us to keep your kitchen running smoothly.
Schedule garbage disposal service in Rochester & Syracuse with AP Plumbing today — Always Plumbing, Always Professional.
