How To Clean Garbage Disposal

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If you have a clogged garbage disposal, don’t fret. There are many ways in which you can clean it up. In this article, we will discuss a few of those methods, including how to clean garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar.  Keep reading to learn more.

Cleaning your garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar

The following are the steps needed to successfully clean your garbage disposal with this method. 

Step 1: Turn off the power to the disposal

Before you start cleaning your garbage disposal, you need to make sure that the power is turned off. Starting with this step makes it much safer, especially if someone turns on the sink by mistake. If this happens, they will run the risk of getting an electric shock.

Turning off the power also prevents accidents from occurring. For instance, if someone turns on the disposal without realizing that it’s clogged, then they might break it in some way or cause other problems.

The switch which controls electricity to your garbage disposal should be located near your sink. Turning off the circuit breaker is another option for those who do not have an electrical switch next to their disposal unit. However, for most people, simply turning off the switch at the wall will be the best option.

Step 2: Put a drain stopper in your sink

Putting a drain stopper is another step that should not be skipped when cleaning your garbage disposal. This helps prevent any debris from getting down your pipes which can lead to clogs. You could also pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain without putting a plug in it, but this would result in a mess since you’ll have all of these chemicals going everywhere. For this reason, we recommend using a drain plug instead of pouring the baking soda and vinegar directly down the disposal’s drains.

It’s important to note that there are two different types of plugs for sinks – lift-and-wedge and double grids. 

Step 3: Pour a cup of baking soda and vinegar down the garbage disposal

Baking soda and vinegar make a great cleaner for your garbage disposal. This is because both ingredients can break down any gunk which is in this appliance. Even more importantly, they will eliminate any foul odors that might be coming from it. In addition to getting rid of bad scents, these two ingredients also prevent anything from growing in the unit over time. If you want an even stronger solution when cleaning your garbage disposal, then you could add lemon juice or another essential oil to your mix too.

How to Clean a Garbage Disposal
Image Credit: http://thespruce.com

Step 4: Turn on the power to the disposal for about 30 seconds, then turn it off again

After you’ve poured baking soda and vinegar down your garbage disposal, you need to turn on the power for about thirty seconds. This will allow everything that you put in there to get broken up into smaller pieces.

For those who might be concerned about using electricity near water, this step is perfectly safe since both of these ingredients are non-toxic. Even if they do mix while breaking up debris, they won’t create any fumes or other dangerous byproducts. Overall, we recommend turning on the power to your garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar for approximately thirty seconds every time you use this method.

Step 5: Wait five minutes before turning on water from your sink, then run cold water until all debris is gone 

You must allow your sink to sit with baking soda and vinegar in it for at least five minutes before running any water through it. This is because these two ingredients need time to break up whatever gunk might be stuck in the unit. After giving this mixture enough time, run cold water from your faucet until everything has been completely flushed out.

Step 6: Flush with hot water for two or three minutes to ensure that everything is removed

After allowing the garbage disposal to sit with baking soda and vinegar inside of it, you can then use hot water from your sink instead of cold. Run the faucet until everything has been cleared out. We recommend doing it for approximately two or three minutes to be safe.

Adding hot water ensures that there isn’t any gunk left over at the bottom of the unit.

Overall, this is a very simple process for cleaning your garbage disposal. Just remember to use hot water when initially turning this appliance on. 

You should also let the disposal sit for at least five minutes with baking soda and vinegar in it before running any water through it.

By using these steps when cleaning your garbage disposal, you will eliminate any odors coming from it in addition to getting rid of debris. Also, continuously doing so every month or so will help remove additional food particles which might get stuck inside.

What ingredients can I add to make garbage disposal smell good?

Several ingredients can help to make garbage disposal smell good. Lemon, lime, and orange peels act as natural deodorizers. It should be noted however, that citrus fruits should not be used too frequently because they may damage the unit or corrode your water pipes. Garlic cloves and other spices such as cayenne pepper can also help to eliminate bad odors in the garbage disposal while leaving behind its distinct scent.

How do you clean garbage disposal with vinegar?

Vinegar is a common household product that can be used to clean garbage disposal. First, remove all the food remnants from inside the unit. Fill up half of a sink with cold water and pour in two cups of vinegar. Run the garbage disposal for about 5 seconds, then turn off the unit and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse out the disposal with tap water until it runs clear. This will remove the vinegar smell left behind by this cleaning agent.

How do you clean garbage disposal with baking soda?

Baking soda works as an excellent natural cleanser because it has some slight abrasive qualities without being too sharp on blades. Additionally, baking soda neutralizes bad odors found in trash disposals and acts as a natural deodorizer. To clean the unit, fill up half of a sink with cold water and pour in two cups of baking soda. Run the unit for about 5 seconds, then turn off the unit and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse with tap water until it runs clear.

How do you reset garbage disposal?

If your appliances are not running or seem jammed, you can usually fix your garbage disposal by pressing down on the reset button located underneath the unit. The reset button will quickly cause an electric signal that should kick start your garbage disposal back into working order.

How to Clean a Garbage Disposal to Eliminate Stinky Odors
Image Credit: http://bhg.com

If this does not solve your problem, it may be necessary to remove the unit and give the bottom of the unit a good cleaning.

How do I fix the humming noise my garbage disposal is making?

If you want to never hear your garbage disposal make another humming noise, then it is important to avoid putting hard items down the unit, such as bones or fruit pits. Additionally, do not put too much food in the unit at once, and remember to always run water when using your disposal. This will help prevent jams in the machine and reduce the noise made by the unit when in use.

Final thoughts on how to clean garbage disposal

In conclusion, there are many ways to clean garbage disposal. The best way will most likely come down to what you have available and your personal preferences regarding how the final results look like.

No matter which of these methods you choose, it is important to be careful when using chemical products around your kitchen sink. They can be hazardous if used improperly. Never mix different chemicals either, as they might create hazardous fumes or react in some unwanted way that could cause more harm than it does good. 

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