The kitchen is the heart of the home…until it drives everyone away with unpleasant odors. The garbage disposal is a common culprit! Luckily, there are several techniques to try and stop the stench from overtaking your home. In this blog, Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C discusses how to clean a smelly garbage disposal.
Garbage Disposal 101: How to Clean a Smelly Garbage Disposal
Keeping it Natural: There are a few “natural” ways to deal with garbage disposal odor, and it doesn’t hurt to see if they can clear up the problem.
- Baking soda and vinegar breaks down food particles and may be the solution to mild odor problems. Sprinkle about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. When the fizzing dies down, run the garbage disposal while flushing it with hot water.
- Ice cubes can help knock gunk off the blades. Run cold water and quickly feed 2-4 trays of ice cubes into the garbage disposal. After the last cube, let the water keep running for another minute.
- Cut a lemon into very small pieces and grind them up in the garbage disposal with cold water. The citrus can help freshen the blades.
Cleaners, Chemicals, and Bleach, Oh My! If you prefer a store-bought cleaner, there are plenty of options in the cleaning aisle. Different drain cleaners work in different ways and target different kinds of odor-causing gunk. Using the wrong cleaner may not be effective against the cause of your garbage disposal odor, and might even harm your pipes. Read our last blog if you’re wondering how drain cleaner works and what kind of cleaner to buy.
It’s Time For A Pro. If other methods just don’t do the trick to get rid of awful odors, you might consider calling a professional. It’s possible that the culprit of the odor could be beneath the garbage disposal or jammed in the gears of the disposal, and professional plumber will be able to give you the best diagnosis.
It’s a good idea to clean and freshen your garbage disposal on a regular basis to prevent smells from building up in the first place. It’s also good to know what NOT to put down your garbage disposal. Following these simple tips will help keep your disposal fresh and clog-free.
Solutions For Your Disposal Problems
At Solution Based Plumbing, Heating, and A/C, we know that smelly pipes and garbage disposals can be a huge pain. Now that you know how to clean a smelly garbage disposal, contact us anytime for tough odors and other plumbing and HVAC problems.