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How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean and Odor Free

May 26, 2022

How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean and Odor Free

If you’ve been noticing a bad odor when you use your kitchen sink, chances are it’s coming from your garbage disposal. A garbage disposal is an important kitchen appliance that shreds waste food materials so they can be washed down the drain. Like any other appliance, wear and tear can affect the efficiency of a garbage disposal. It needs regular maintenance and cleaning to prevent clogs and other problems, such as bad odors.

Hot Water Flush

There are several things you can do to keep your disposal smelling fresh and clean. The simplest is a hot water flush. Fill your sink with hot water, add a few drops of dish soap, then release the water so it can flow down the drain. This is often all it takes to dislodge some of the materials that are causing the bad smells.

Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are another way to clean the disposal. Place some ice cubes in the disposal with a bit of soap or other cleaning solution. Salt works well too. Turn on the cold water tap and then activate the disposal. As the ice is crushed, it will scrape against the sides of the disposal, clearing away any food particles. Don’t use this method more than once a week; any more than that could dull your disposal’s blades.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Pour a half cup of baking soda down the disposal. Then add a cup of vinegar. The foam that forms as a result of the reaction serves as a natural cleanser and deodorizer. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes, then wash it down the drain.

Citrus Fruit Peels

The peel from a citrus fruit can leave your disposal smelling fresh and clean. Place the peel of any citrus fruit – oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, etc. into your disposal. (Make sure you removed any seeds)

Watch What You Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Bones, cooking oils and grease, eggshells, coffee grounds, broken glass, coffee grounds, fruit pits, seeds, rice, and corn husks are just a few of the food items you should avoid placing in your garbage disposal. These foods can lead to clogs. In addition, hard materials like bones, fruit pits, and corn husks can damage your disposal’s blades.

Alternatives to Using the Disposal

One of the best ways to avoid odors and other problems is to avoid placing food products down the drain. Put food waste in the garbage, or add the material to a garden mulch.

You’re First Choice for Plumbers in Oceanside, CA

If you just can’t get rid of the annoying clog or odor, maybe you need professional help. 1st Choice Plumbing Heating and Air has been providing outstanding plumbing services to home and business owners in Oceanside, CA, and surrounding communities since 2012. Our team of licensed plumbing professionals has the experience and equipment to deal with just about any plumbing problem you may experience, from a clogged drain or leaking water pipe to a hot water heater that isn’t heating.

Have a plumbing emergency? 1st Choice Plumbing Heating and Air’s emergency plumbing services are available 24/7. In most cases, we can have a plumber on-site within an hour of your call.

You can contact 1st Choice Plumbing Heating and Air through our website, or call us at 866-437-0205 to schedule a visit with one of our Oceanside, CA plumbers.