Easy Steps to Clean Your Garbage Disposal Safely

If you smell an odor coming from your kitchen sink, it’s possible you need to clean your garbage disposal. This item can get dirty and requires regular cleaning.

A garbage disposal is a fantastic took for grinding up some food scraps to small enough pieces they can go down the sink with the water. If you’ve ever lived without this item after having one, it can be a big change in your life. Unfortunately, your disposal can sometimes get clogged or begin to smell, which are signs it needs to be cleaned.

Here are some steps to follow to clean your garbage disposal.

Cut the power

Before you begin to do anything with your disposal, ensure the power is completely off or disconnected. Some disposals are hard-wired into your home’s electrical system, but most are simply plugged into a 120-volt outlet. Unplug the disposal or switch off the circuit breaker before cleaning.

Don’t ever put your hand or any tools in the disposal while it has power running to it. This could lead to injuries or damage to the unit.

Clean the Right Way

Don’t put drain cleaner in your garbage disposal. These items are highly acidic and caustic and can damage the metal components of your garbage disposal. When it’s time to clean your garbage disposal, you should do so using natural cleaning products that have effective ingredients that are proven to work well for your system.

Flush with water

Run hot water through your disposal for about a minute to flush out any loose debris. Using hot, soapy water can clean the drain of food residue and oil that’s built up over time. This might be enough to get rid of the smell at your disposal.

Scrub a dub dub

Using a cleaning brush, and after ensuring the power is off, reach in the garbage disposal, clean the grinding chamber, and rubber splash guard. Be gentle, you don’t want to damage any of the components, especially the rubber splash guard.

Ice and sale are great

Next, pour a cup of ice cubes and a half cup of rock salt into the disposal. Once you’ve poured them in, reconnect the power and turn on the disposal. The ice and sale combine to scrub the grinding elements and remove trapped debris. This is an important step when it’s time to clean your garbage disposal.

Use baking soda and vinegar

You probably have baking soda and vinegar in your kitchen, and these items work to kill the odors and provide a deep clean. Pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of white vinegar into your disposal. It will begin to fizz, which will loosen the grime and buildup in the disposal. Let this sit for 15 minutes, and then flush it thoroughly.

Citrus for a fresh smell

The final step is to grind some orange or lemon peels to leave your disposal smelling fresh. The peels will help clean the blades and leave a wonderful smell to make it nice and clean. The citrus peels contain a de-greasing agent, which ensures you have an extremely clean disposal.

How to make your garbage disposal last a long time

If you want to ensure your disposal lasts a long time, you’ll need to clean it but also maintain it by preventing problems that would require you to replace the unit. This means you should:

• Avoid Hard Objects:Meat bones, fruit pits, celery stalks, and other fibrous materials will damage the blades and cause you to replace your disposal prematurely. Don’t put these items into this appliance.
• Use It Regularly: Your disposal is designed to be used regularly to avoid corrosion and work its best. Run it at least every couple of days to keep it in top working order.
• Cold Water:Always use cold water when running your disposal. This helps solidify grease and oils. Continue to run cold water through the system for at least 30 seconds after you’ve turned off your garbage disposal.
• Proper Items:Avoid non-food items and other substances that could break the blades of your disposal. These items could be a serious problem for your system.

If you regularly clean your garbage disposal and only put the approved items in it, this appliance will last a long time.