Tips to Clean a Garbage Disposal

Most of the food you throw out gets ground up and vanishes from your life forever. However, small bits can get trapped in the splash guard and grinding chamber and gradually decay.

Furthermore, grease and stringy vegetables can leave a sticky residue that the disposal cannot pulverize, and this residue might stimulate the growth of bacteria.

A regular garbage disposal can prevent the buildup of food particles and odor-causing germs. And the best part is that it only takes a few minutes and can be easily accomplished with natural ingredients you own at home.

Try the method below, at least once a month, to clean your garbage disposal and maintain it odor-free.

Step 1-Turn Off the Power

The most important step in cleaning your garbage disposal is turning off its power. Failure to do so could turn a mundane household task into a horror movie scene!

Pull the plug, which is usually linked to an outlet under the sink, or turn off the electricity at the breaker box to disconnect the power. Before cleaning the garbage disposal, always double-check that you severed the correct circuit by turning it on.

Step 2-Clean the Baffle

The rubber splash guard (also called a gasket or Baffle), with its many crevices and grooves, is likely to have a lot of small food particles and oil trapped behind it.

Pull it from the drain and scrub it thoroughly with an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush and plenty of dish soap. Pay special attention to the underside and scrub vigorously to remove any slime or debris.

Step 3-Swipe Clean the Grinder Chamber

Remove the splash shield and shine a flashlight into the disposal to check for any food particles that may have escaped the grinder. Use pliers or tongs to get in the disposal and remove the food fragments. Never use your fingers to do this; the blades are still quite sharp even when they aren’t moving.

Your sink will most likely be in excellent condition if you only clean these two important places. If you want to cleanse the drain of the disposal and drainpipe, then proceed to the next step of adding baking soda and vinegar.

Step 4-Add Baking Soda and Vinegar

Here is how you can clean garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar:

Pour half a cup of baking soda into the garbage disposal. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes to work its deodorizing magic. Then pour one cup of vinegar into the sink, which will produce a foamy liquid to bubble up.

Allow three minutes for this chemical reaction to zap the gunk out of your disposal, then rinse with hot water from the tap or a pot of boiling water.

Step 5-Mix Ice and Salt in a Blender

Reinstall the splash guard and reconnect the power, then pour in two cups of ice to clean the disposal blades and dislodge any buildup. On top of that, pour in a cup of salt, run cold water, and turn on the garbage disposal. Allow it to run until all of the ice has been crushed. The salt and ice combine to create a powerful scrub.

At HomePlus, we believe in striking the perfect balance between environmental protection and keeping your house clean and healthy. Our house cleaning service in Lexington, MA, prioritizes the use of natural solutions that are free of pollutants, ammonia, petroleum, and alcohol to help you maintain a healthy indoor environment.

Step 6-Flush the Disposal

Finally, flush the disposal with hot water While running the garbage disposal. If the sink has two basins, cleaning both sides at the same time will yield the best results. Use the same baking soda and vinegar solution in the other sink drain. Repeat all steps, if necessary.

Step 7- Deodorize the Garbage Disposal

The final step to cleaning your garbage disposal is to add a fresh scent to it.

You can use a diluted bleach solution of two parts warm water and one-part bleach if the disposal is really stinky or if you’ve tried other cleansers and still get a bad stench. When pouring bleach down the drain, don’t use more than 1/3 cup and wear gloves. Run warm (not boiling) water down the drain for several seconds after dumping the bleach solution down the drain.

Another popular method for freshening up smelly garbage disposal is to use citrus peels. Simply put one citrus fruit peel in the disposal, run cold water through it, and turn on the power. The citrus peel will leave a nice fruity scent that will revitalize the entire sink.

Certain smells desire nothing more than to linger, no matter what you do. If one of them is the odor from your garbage disposal, and you’re tired of giving it all of your free time, it’s time to sit down, relax, and let HomePlus let take care of it!

Our house cleaning service in Lexington, MA, uses the safest products and practices to get rid of nasty garbage disposal odor. We recognize the importance of using eco-friendly products and practices to protect our planet and our valued customers. Our professional house cleaners can work with you to create a cleaning routine that is good for the environment and your home.

For booking, Press here!