The kitchen is where you go to cook savory dishes and bake delectable pastries. Don’t let your kitchen’s delicious aromas become compromised by the unpleasant odors of your garbage disposal. Old shredded food and a cool, moist environment make garbage disposals prime targets for smelly bacteria growth. To avoid this unappetizing experience, here is a simple guide on how to clean a garbage disposal.
Disconnect Power
Before you attempt to clear out any solids that may be stuck in the disposal, you must always disconnect its power. You can do this by unplugging the appliance from the wall behind your sink or by going to your home’s electrical panel and cutting the electricity to the circuit that powers the disposal. Then, try running the garbage disposal to make sure it is off.
Inspect the Garbage Disposal
Using a flashlight, check the drain for objects like bottle caps or vegetable bits that might be impeding the disposal’s impellers. If you find anything, carefully remove the items with some tongs or needle-nose pliers. Even when the power is off, you should never insert your hand into the disposal.
Clean the Disposal
Drop around a dozen ice cubes and a half-cup of rock salt into the garbage disposal. Turn the disposal’s power back on, and have it work for about a minute while running water down the drain to clear out any old food bits that have built-up on the disposal’s blades.
Next, take a cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda, and pour them into the disposal. Allow the acidic mixture to fizz for roughly 15 minutes to kill any bacteria inside the disposal. During that time, create a paste using the baking soda and vinegar. Apply the paste to an old toothbrush, and scrub the flaps around the disposal’s neck.
After the 15 minutes are up, plug the drain and fill the sink with water until it is three-quarters full. Add a teaspoon of dish soap, remove the plug and drain the water as the disposal runs. Once the water is drained, you can also run some citrus peels through the disposal to give it an extra refreshing smell.
Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement
The average garbage disposal lasts around 9-15 years. If your disposal doesn’t perform as well as it used to or if you start to notice signs like frequent clogging, unusual smells and strange noises, you may need to have it serviced or replaced.
If you’re in need of garbage disposal repair, contact Gotelli Plumbing today for a quick, hassle-free experience at a fair price.
