Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal is one way to prevent it from breaking down. Learn how to clean a garbage disposal here.
Over 50% of homes in the United States have garbage disposals, but most people don’t know how to properly take care of them.
Garbage disposals are designed to efficiently eliminate food waste, but like anything else, they aren’t perfect. Think of all of the various foods that go down your drain every day. It’s not hard to see why garbage disposals can end up getting smelly quickly.
Do you find yourself noticing a lingering smell near your kitchen sink? Did you recently move into a home with a garbage disposal, and you’re not used to using one?
Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal is one way to prevent it from breaking down. Read on to learn how to properly clean your garbage disposal.
How to Clean your Garbage Disposal
Step #1: Check the Drain for Foreign Objects
Before doing anything, it’s a good idea to make sure that there isn’t anything stuck in the drain first. It’s common for silverware and other small items to fall down there, and it can be hard to see without checking.
You can use a flashlight to check for any random objects. If you find them, instead of reaching your hands in to grab them, try using tongs or pliers to grab the item first.
Step #2: How to Clean a Garbage Disposal—Start Simple
There are several ways to clean out a garbage disposal, so try starting with the most simple method first: using hot water and dish soap.
To do this properly, fill your sink with a few inches of hot water (at a minimum). If you can, fill it as close to the top as possible. Next, add a few drops of dish soap and mix it in.
Remove the stopper from the drain, and turn the garbage disposal on. The water should dislodge any debris that was stuck, and the soap will pick up any oil or grime that was left behind.
Step #3: Use Ice, Lemon Peels, and Salt
If hot water and soap didn’t do the trick, move on to this step. Make sure your garbage disposal is off first, and then add some ice cubes and a generous handful of coarse grain salt.
Now it’s time to turn on the disposal. Let it run for a bit, and then toss in some lemon peels. The salt and ice work together to get rid of physical residue, and the lemon peels help to eliminate odors and replace them with a fresh scent.
Step #4: Move On to Baking Soda and Vinegar
If the previous steps didn’t quite take care of the issue, it’s time to try baking soda and vinegar.
To begin, bring water to a boil on the stove. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, measure out one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar and pour them down the drain.
Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes. At this time, your water should be fully boiling, and you can now flush the drain with it.
Finally, finish by turning your sink tap on cold and letting the water run down the drain. At this point, you should be able to tell if the odor is gone or not.
Step #5: Break Out the Plunger
If you’re still having issues with your garbage disposal, you might be ready to turn to a drain cleaner. This is a bad idea. Drain cleaners are made using harsh chemicals that can damage the inside of your pipes and cause way worse issues for you down the line than a stinky drain.
A safer alternative is to try plunging the sink. This method will help get rid of any small items that are stuck and may be causing the smell. It will also help unclog the disposal itself if that’s actually an issue.
Make sure to use a wet rag or sink plunger because a toilet plunger won’t work properly and is not sanitary to use outside the bathroom.
Fit the rag or plunger over the opening to the pipes securely and fill the sink with a few inches of water to help you get even more suction.
Now it’s time to plunge for a few minutes. Be sure to apply adequate pressure and plunge vigorously for the best results.
Step #6: Know When to Call a Plumber
Everyone prefers to try fixing problems themselves first, but there comes a point when someone with expertise is required.
If you’ve tried several different methods and you’re still at a loss, it’s time to call a plumber. They will be able to properly assess the situation and will likely have better tools to handle the job safely as well.
Step #7: Be Proactive
The best way to ensure you won’t have major problems with your garbage disposal is to take care of it properly.
Read the manual and see what can and can’t be put down the drain. Never put grease down the drain because even though it’s liquid when it goes down, as it cools, it solidifies and this can create a clog.
Run your garbage disposal every few days to get rid of any food that’s been sitting and keep waste from piling up.
Use a drain catcher to prevent things from falling into the drain in the first place, and try using one of these methods to clean even if you aren’t noticing a bad smell.
Keep These Seven Steps Handy
If you’re having issues with your garbage disposal now, remember to check the drain for foreign objects before trying any of the above methods.
Start simple with soap and hot water, and move onto ice, lemon peels, and salt next. If these two methods fall short, take out your baking soda and vinegar. Finally, then try a plunger if all else fails.
At the end of the day, if none of these do-it-yourself steps are working, contact a plumber to help you clean your drain properly. If you need help taking care of your garbage disposal, save yourself the headache, and call Eyman Plumbing, Heating, and Air at (402) 731-2727.