Even in the cleanest of homes, where there is old food there is usually a bit of a stink. And although it`s perfectly normal, it can also be pretty unpleasant! A stinky garbage disposal can be off-putting to everyone, so how can you keep it clean and stink-free but without using harsh or expensive chemicals?
Here are some natural cleaning tips which you can use to ensure that your garbage disposal doesn`t get too smelly, deodorizing as you go along…
Sharpen the blades
Firstly, make sure that you sharpen your garbage disposal blades so that the pieces get chopped up as fine as possible, with no sticking, meaning that the garbage goes through the system properly. The smoother the process of chopping and disposal, the less likely you are to get bits of garbage stuck and going rotten or leaving a stench.
Salt and Ice
Put some salt and ice in the plug. This is a great way to get rid of smelly foods which have been caught up, the ice helps to sharpen the blades, and the salt helps to disinfect. You can use any type of salt that you can get your hands on.
Vinegar and Ice
Vinegar works in a similar way to the salt above, working as a natural disinfectant, killing the bacteria, mold and germs which make your garbage disposal stinky.
Citrus Fruits
Using citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are another excellent tip to deodorizing your garbage disposal. Add some peel – even if the fruit is going off, and you will be de-stinked in no time!
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common cleaner and deodorizer – so much so that it is often used in fridges, ovens and even in toothpaste and to deodorize under the arms. So you can also use it in your garbage disposal to get rid of those nasty stenches.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
If it is a really bad smell, try adding a cup of vinegar into the disposal after the baking powder It will cause a strong chemical reaction which can remove even those most stubborn of stenches. Make sure that you leave it for about 5 - 15 minutes to let the chemical reaction take place, and to get it really clean before rinsing through with hot water.
Freeze Vinegar
You can freeze vinegar into ice cubes, which, when used will not only deodorize when you add the baking soda, but will also help to keep the blades sharp.
While these tips are all effective in the de-stinking of your garbage disposal, prevention is better than cure, as they say. So to avoid getting food stuck and build-up in pipes, try to avoid flushing grease through the disposal – as it can clog your pipes, and other bits can get caught in it.
Try to avoid flushing through bigger items as well as `mushy items like egg and fish, and ground coffee, as these are also all prone to getting stuck and clogging up garbage disposal pipes.
Will a little care and attention, as well as using these natural garbage disposal cleaning tips, you can find that you completely get rid of nasty smells which come from your garbage disposal. Need some help with your garbage disposal? A. McKenna Plumbing can help, contact us today!