Natural Ways to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Have you noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your garbage disposal?

Did you know that your home’s garbage disposal needs to be cleaned regularly?

During use, food particles and residue can be left behind 
and cause it to have that nasty odor.

None of us want any stinky smells in our homes.

Here's a few tips on how to keep your garbage disposal clean and odor free.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy any special products to do the job. Your disposal can be cleaned with common items that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Ice cubes

One of the easiest and best ways to clean the disposal is with ice cubes from your freezer. Simply put a few handfuls of ice into the disposal, then turn it on and run some cold water while the cubes grind. You’ll definitely hear the cubes working!

Citrus

Any type of citrus peel is a good disposal deodorizer. Lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit peels will all help refresh your sink and system. Be sure to cut the peels into small enough pieces for the disposal to handle, then turn it on and run water while the peels grind. This leaves your disposal smelling fresh and clean!

Baking soda and vinegar

A simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar is also a good cleaning method. Sprinkle about a 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture bubble up and sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then turn on the disposal and run water to distribute the mixture throughout the disposal.

Hot water and dish soap

Another way of cleaning requires only hot water and dish soap. This can be particularly helpful if you have noticed an unpleasant odor coming from your unit. Using the sink stopper, plug the disposal drain and add a generous squirt of dish detergent to the sink. Run hot water into the sink until it is at least halfway full. As you release the sink stopper, turn on the disposal and let the entire sink contents drain while it runs. This helps fill the disposal with soapy water to reach the upper portions of the disposal, which often don’t get cleaned by other ways. It also helps clean the disposal drain line, which can harbor food residue and odors.

Boiling water

Pouring boiling water into the disposal, by itself or following some of these other methods, can help loosen stubborn food particles.

 Dish soap and baking soda

It’s important to clean the drain crevices around the disposal as well as the rubber splash guard around the drain. You can use dish soap or baking soda to do this. Use a dish brush or toothbrush to scrub underneath the splash guard flaps. 

Taking the time to clean your disposal will help keep your sink and kitchen smelling fresh and inviting. Remember to use caution when operating your disposal and when cleaning it with any of these methods. Never put your hand into the unit for any reason, even if the unit is off.

Happy Spring Cleaning!