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The Best Garbage Disposal Cleaning Tips for Your Home


Do you clean your garbage disposal often enough? If not, you could be putting this appliance’s functionality and longevity at risk. Not to mention, a smelly garbage disposal is a problem no homeowner wants to have!

When you properly clean a garbage disposal along with the rubber flaps at the drain opening, you can get rid of any food scraps left behind during use. Keeping the garbage disposal clean will help control odors plus maintain the unit so it works correctly in your home for as long as possible.

Today, Williams Comfort Air gives you some tips on how to clean your garbage disposal and keep it in good condition. Learn how to clean a garbage disposal with items you have around the house, such as ice cubes, citrus peels, grease-cutting dish soap, along with vinegar, and baking soda. These cleaning methods tackle stuck-on debris, gunk, and built-up grime to eliminate odors and deep clean your kitchen sink appliance.

Parts of Your Garbage Disposal

A kitchen garbage disposal is a handy appliance that helps to keep your kitchen clean. It consists of three main parts: the grinding chamber, the motor, and the disposal mount. The grinding chamber is where the action happens. It’s fitted with a spinning blade that chops up food waste into small pieces. The motor powers the grinder blades and is usually located underneath the sink. The disposal mount connects the disposal to the sink and ensures that water and food waste are properly drained away. By understanding how these three parts work together, you can keep your garbage disposal in top working condition.

If you have a garbage disposal in your sink, you may have noticed a couple of small rubber parts called baffles. These baffles serve an important purpose – to keep food waste inside the disposal and to cut down on noise during operation. Without baffles, food could easily escape the disposal and end up clogging your pipes. And we’ve all experienced the loud, jarring sound of a food particle hitting the blades of a garbage disposal. Baffles help to deflect these particles away from the blades, resulting in a quieter operation. So next time you’re doing some cleanup under your sink, take a moment to appreciate your baffles – they may be small, but they play a big role in keeping your plumbing running smoothly.

Garbage Disposal Cleaning Tips

If your garbage disposal starts to smell, it’s time to give it a good cleaning. One of the tricky things about garbage disposals is that they’re prone to getting smelly. This is because they’re constantly exposed to water and food scraps, which can start to rot and produce an unpleasant odor.

Use Ice and Cold Water

You can use ice and cold water to clean your disposal and get rid of any lingering odors. First, fill a bag or large container with ice and empty it into the disposal. Then, run cold water through the disposal for 30 seconds. The ice will help to sharpen the blades and remove any trapped food particles.

Use Ice and Salt

If your garbage disposal starts to smell bad or gets clogged, one way to clean it is to use ice and rock salt. Just add a cup of rock salt to some ice cubes and put them down the disposal. Then, turn on the cold water and run the disposal. The ice will help to break up any clogs and the rock salt will scrub away any buildup. Remember to do this regularly to keep your disposal smelling fresh and running smoothly.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

If your garbage disposal is starting to smell a little bit like last night’s leftovers, it’s time for a cleaning. You don’t need any harsh chemicals – only natural ingredients! Just a little bit of baking soda and vinegar is all it takes!

First, pour half a cup of baking soda down the disposal. Then, add half a cup of vinegar. The mixture will start to foam, so let it sit for a few minutes before running hot water down the drain. Finally, turn on the garbage disposal and let it run for 30 seconds to flush out the cleaner. And that’s it! You’ve now got a clean garbage disposal that smells fresh and works like new.

Use Citrus Peels

If your garbage disposal starts to emit an unpleasant odor, there’s an easy way to freshen it up using citrus peel. First, cut the peel into small pieces using a knife or kitchen scissors. Then, turn on the disposal and drop in the peel while the cold water runs. Let the disposal run for a few seconds to grind up the peel. You can also add a few drops of citrus-scented dish soap for extra freshening power. Finally, run some cold water down the drain for 20-30 seconds extra to flush away any lingering bits of peel. This simple trick will leave your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean.

Use Borax

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to clean a garbage disposal using borax. Simply sprinkle powdered borax into the disposal. Turn on the disposal and let it run for a few minutes while flushing it with hot water. The borax will help to kill any bacteria that are causing the bad smell, leaving your disposal fresh and clean.

Use Hot Water and Dish Soap 

As any homeowner knows, keeping the kitchen clean is essential for a happy home. And one of the most important parts of the kitchen is the garbage disposal. Unfortunately, garbage disposals can quickly become full of food residue and odors. Luckily, there is an easy way to clean them. Simply fill the sink with hot water and dish soap and let the mixture drain into the disposal while it runs. This will help to clean the entire unit, including the hard-to-reach upper portions. Additionally, it will help to clean the disposal drain line, which sometimes holds food residue and odors. So if you have noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your garbage disposal, be sure to try this simple cleaning method.

Use Boiling Water

If your garbage disposal starts to smell or if food is not grinding up as it should, it is time to clean it. First, pour some boiling water into the disposal. This will help to loosen any tough food particles. You can use this technique alone or with another cleaning method. Finally, run cold water through the disposal for a few minutes to flush out any remaining particles. By following these simple steps, you can keep your garbage disposal clean and operating smoothly.

Use Dish Soap and Baking Soda 

The garbage disposal is one of the most used appliances in the kitchen, so it’s important to keep it clean and free of any build-up. Luckily, cleaning a garbage disposal is easy and only requires a few household ingredients. All you need is baking soda and dish soap.

First, disconnect the power to the garbage disposal. Then, mix together some baking soda and dish soap to form a paste. Use an old toothbrush or small cleaning brush to scrub the paste into the garbage disposal splash guard, blades, and canister. Once you’re finished scrubbing, reconnect the power and run hot water through the garbage disposal while it’s on. This will rinse away any residue and leave your appliance sparkling clean.

Advice for Using Your Garbage Disposal Properly

A garbage disposal can be a handy addition to any kitchen, but it’s important to use it properly in order to avoid clogs and other problems. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Only put biodegradable materials down the disposal. This means no plastic, metal, or glass.
  • Avoid putting stringy or fibrous items like celery or banana peels down the disposal, as these can wrap around the blades and cause a jam.
  • Always run cold water when using the disposal for food waste, as hot water can melt grease and cause clogs.
  • Don’t overuse the disposal – if you find yourself using it multiple times a day, you may be better off composting instead.

By following these simple tips, you can help keep your garbage disposal in good working condition for years to come.

Professional Garbage Disposal Help

We hope you found these garbage disposal cleaning tips helpful. If your disposal is still not working after trying these tips, please contact us to make an appointment for garbage disposal repair services. The Williams Comfort Air plumbing team will help you sort out your garbage disposal’s issues right away!

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