Garbage disposal cleaning can help prevent and remove foul odors, and some cleaning methods can also assist keep the drain in your kitchen sink clear. When the sink begins to smell terrible, it's a solid sign that the garbage disposal and drain need to be cleaned.
All you need is some lemon peels, vinegar, ice, baking soda, and table salt. The best approach to clean your garbage disposal is using natural substances because chemical cleansers can corrode the metal components.
HOW OFTEN TO CLEAN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Garbage disposals perform a good job of cleaning themselves by effectively breaking up food particles and sending them down the drain, keeping the chamber inside the disposal relatively clean.
Over time, a foul-smelling slime forms on the parts of the disposal that aren't cleansed by the grinding process. The smooth, sloped area at the top of the grinding chamber, as well as the undersides of the rubber baffle at the drain entrance.
Garbage disposals can be kept clean and odor-free with weekly cleaning.
How to Clean a Garbage Disposal DIY
- Turn off the power
Even though your hand should not be near the grinding "teeth" at the bottom of the chamber, switch off the power to prevent the disposal from being accidently turned on while you are cleaning. Turn off the disposal's breaker at your home's service panel, or unplug it from the socket under the sink (breaker box).
- The Baffle should be cleaned.
Scrub all of the folds and creases under the baffle using dish soap and an abrasive kitchen sponge. To get rid of all the filth, rinse the sponge frequently.
- Clean the Grinding Chamber
Swipe around the grinding chamber's top. Rinse the sponge often once more. Rep until the sponge no longer picks up any debris and the disposal's surfaces feel clean.
Your sink will most likely be in excellent condition if you only clean these two important places. Continue to the following step of adding baking soda and vinegar if you want to refresh the disposal and drainpipe while you're at it (or read on for the ice, and either rock salt, or vinegar technique).
- Add the Baking Soda and Vinegar
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the garbage disposal, then 1/2 cup vinegar into the disposal slowly and cautiously.
- Cover the Drain
Cover the drain opening with the sink stopper. The baking soda and vinegar mixture will froth up like a volcano in a kids' science lesson (it's the same "lava" mixture). The fizzing baking soda is trapped inside the disposal by the sink stopper.
- Flush the Disposal
Remove the plug and flush the disposal with hot water while running the garbage disposal after a few minutes. If the sink has two basins, cleaning both sides at the same time will yield the best results. In the other sink drain, use the same amounts of baking soda and vinegar. If necessary, repeat all procedures.
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