How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal in your kitchen sink probably gets a lot of use. Scraps of food and leftover liquids are able to be pulverized and whisked away to a waste treatment facility, keeping your kitchen free of food waste and nasty odors, and landfills free of additional bags of trash.

However, all of this use means that your garbage disposal will inevitably get a little dirty and in need of cleaning once in a while. If you’re really cramming things into it, it might even get clogged and require drain cleaning in Las Vegas, NV.

Cleaning your garbage disposal may seem complicated or dangerous, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, routine garbage disposal cleaning is necessary for the longevity of the appliance and to cut down on offensive odors. Here’s what you should do to get it working and smelling great once again.

Flush it out

First, plug your sink and garbage disposal and run warm to hot water until there are a few inches standing in the sink. Then, unplug the sink and let all of the water drain through the pipes.

This helps to dislodge grease and food particles that might be clogging up the blades and pipe interiors. Adding a little dish soap to the water before draining may also help break down fats and grease that would normally solidify on the sides of pipes. A routine flushing with water might be all your garbage disposal needs to unclog itself or whisk away a nasty smell.

Dislodge grime with ice

Sometimes, you need to do a little more work to really get rid of grime inside the pipes. Dump two cups of ice and one cup of rock salt into your garbage disposal, then turn the system on. Run warm water down the drain as the garbage disposal runs.

This process helps to dislodge grime from the interior walls of the garbage disposal. The ice will also help sharpen your disposal blades, making it more effective at churning up food waste.

Clean with baking soda and vinegar

Another way to remove grime from inside the garbage disposal pipes is to add half a cup of baking soda to the disposal, followed by a cup of vinegar. This combination will fizz up as it dislodges the food waste built up along the walls and on the blades.

Let the mixture sit and do its work for about 15 minutes, then turn on the garbage disposal and run the tap for a minute to let everything flush through.

Scrub the splash guard and interior

In order to get the walls of the pipes inside your disposal squeaky clean, use a long-handled scrub brush coated with water and dish soap. Make sure you also scrub the rubber flaps at the top of the disposal, where food particles may get stuck.

It’s crucial to remember to never stick your hand or any other body part inside your garbage disposal, even when it is turned off. While you do this, make sure all jewelry, hair and clothing is pulled back and do not turn on the disposal. After you’re done scrubbing, rinse the pipes with warm water again to flush it all away.

Add a citrus scent

Toss a few citrus fruit peels into the garbage disposal immediately after cleaning it and run the disposal to help fill the pipes and your kitchen with a fresh, citrusy scent. This can help eliminate or cover up any remaining food waste odors.

Turn to a plumber for additional garbage disposal help

If your garbage disposal is malfunctioning, smells terrible despite regular cleaning or is completely clogged, call Orchard Plumbing. We offer comprehensive residential and commercial plumbing services, including fixture installation and repair and drain cleaning in Las Vegas, NV. you can count on us for plumbing assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call now!