"Nonny" wrote

My concern is that in the ones I've tried, there is quite a bit of
clearance between the button itself and the housing. The resulting void
around the button would surely become a mess when a soapy finger would
press the button. Have any of you used this type of on/off switch for
your disposal and how do you keep it clean and not let it get gunked up?
Are they reliable?

If you are doing a new install, get the model disposal with integrated
switch. No special wiring needed, nothing to get gunked up.