Say Goodbye to Funky Odors: The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal
Are there funky and unusual odors lingering in your kitchen? Do they seem to be emanating from your sink area? Chances are, your garbage disposal needs a thorough cleaning. While these devices are incredibly useful for grinding up unwanted food items, they do require regular cleaning to eliminate built-up debris and bacteria. In this blog post, we will provide you with three effective options for alleviating bad odors in your disposal’s interior, along with valuable tips for cleaning both the interior and exterior of your disposal.
What is a Garbage Disposal Used For?
To understand the importance of cleaning your garbage disposal, it’s essential to know its purpose. However, it’s crucial to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable food waste to maintain the optimal functioning of your disposal.
What Items Can Go Down a Garbage Disposal?
Determining which food waste items are safe for your disposal is essential to prevent any issues. While the list of safe items is relatively short, it’s important to prioritize biodegradable scraps. Citrus rinds, fruit scraps, cooked meat scraps, and most vegetable scraps are generally safe to put down your disposal. These items not only help eliminate odors but can also leave a refreshing scent in your kitchen.
What Items Cannot Go Down a Garbage Disposal?
It’s equally important to be aware of the items that should never find their way into your garbage disposal. Items such as celery and glass should be disposed of in the trash. Avoiding these items will prevent frequent clogs and keep your pipes clear.
How Long Does a Garbage Disposal Last?
Understanding the lifespan of a garbage disposal is essential for its proper maintenance. On average, a disposal can last anywhere from eight to fifteen years, with newer models potentially lasting longer. The key to extending the life of your disposal lies in being mindful of what you put down it. Treating it with care and following the do’s and don’ts mentioned above will significantly contribute to its longevity.
Effective Tips for Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal
To combat bad odors and keep your garbage disposal clean, we present you with some effective cleaning techniques. These methods require simple ingredients that you likely already have at home.
- Crush Odors with Ice: Pour two cups of ice into the disposal and turn it on. The ice helps clean the disposal, eliminate odors, and sharpen the blades.
- Get Citrusy: Cut citrus fruit into wedges and put them in the disposal, running cool water as you turn it on. The citrus rinds clean the grinders and leave a fresh citrus scent.
- Bleach It: Use a mild or diluted bleach solution to kill bacteria and odors.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: Create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, sprinkle it into the disposal, let it bubble, and sit for a few minutes, then turn on the disposal and run water to distribute the mixture.
- Citrus: Any type of citrus peel can serve as a disposal deodorizer. Cut the peels into small pieces, put them in the disposal
