If your kitchen has started to have a somewhat off-odor recently, there’s a good chance that it’s coming from your garbage disposal. Fortunately, there are several very easy ways to clean out your disposal, making the smell go away and preventing bacteria and mold from building up in your system. Here are a few quick tips to help get you started.
1. Clean Out the Housing
Though you may run the water when operating your disposal, sometimes small bits of food and debris may get caught in the housing, where the blades are. To clean this area, simply put a plug in your sink drain, fill the sink a bit over halfway with soapy water and a dash of vinegar, then pull the plug and run the disposal while the sink drains. This will get soapy water into the nooks and crannies of the housing, helping to clean it more thoroughly.
2. Get Rid of Slime
Sometimes it’s difficult to get rid of slimy messes that have developed in your disposal, but the solution is actually pretty easy. Put a large cup of ice cubes and a half-cup of coarse kosher salt to the garbage disposal, then turn it on to grind away any remaining odorous residues. In a pinch, baking soda can be used in place of the salt.
3. Add a Touch of Sunshine
In addition to working as a deodorizer and drain clearer, citrus fruit peels actually add a wonderful scent to your kitchen. Take a few peels and grind them in your disposal, which leaves the blades and disposal walls while the oils in the peels help to keep your disposal fresh. Then take a deep breath and enjoy that fresh citrus scent.
4. Preventative Flushing
To keep your disposal from becoming a problem in the first place, flush it regularly. This is a relatively simple bit of preventative maintenance, as you simply need to turn your hot water on fully and run the disposal for at least a full minute after every time you use it. This allows any particles to be pushed through the drains in your home.
5. Deodorizing the Disposal
Still not getting results? Add a half cup of baking soda to your garbage disposal, then add a half cup of vinegar and allow it to sit for about an hour. Don’t be alarmed if it starts bubbling up – that’s a natural reaction between these two common household ingredients and helps with the cleaning process. After an hour, turn on your disposal and run cold water down it for at least a minute.
6. Remove Large or Hard Material
Has something caused a clog in your disposal? If a fork or spoon has fallen in and is trapping food, this is the best way to take care of it, but it must be done safely. Turn off the breaker that runs your garbage disposal. Shine a light down the disposal and use a pair or tongs or pliers to remove the object, then rinse your disposal thoroughly to see if it’s fixed the problem. Don’t forget to turn the breaker back on!
7. Follow the Rules
The best way to eliminate garbage disposal odors is by preventing them in the first place. Don’t run fibrous vegetables, like celery, or starch-based foods like pasta or potatoes in your disposal. Run your disposal for about five to ten seconds longer than you think is needed, as it will help remove persistent food particles from the housing.
Still having disposal problems? Ford’s Plumbing & Heating can help! Please feel free to contact us today with questions or to schedule service.
