How To Clean a Garbage Disposal

Does your garbage disposal stink? Can you remember the last time you cleaned it? If the answers are yes and no, congratulations — you’ve clicked on the right story. Don’t worry, this is a judgment-free zone and we’re here to help.

Here’s how to get that garbage disposal squeaky-clean and odor-free.

Here’s the thing about garbage disposals: You put yucky, smelly food down them, so they’re going to stink if you don’t clean them on a regular basis. The good news is that regular cleaning isn’t very difficult.

First, a word of caution: Don’t put the wrong things down the disposal. No bones or pits, grease, celery or other fibrous foods, coffee grinds, egg shells, potatoes, pasta, or any other super-starchy things. Most fruit and veggie scraps, especially citrus (rind included), and scraps of meat are all OK.

Second, when you use your disposal, keep it going while running hot water for about a minute. This should keep your pipes clean and clear of residual food and your sink from stinking.

But, let’s be honest, you’re here because your sink is already less-than-fresh and you want to know how to fix it. Here’s how.

• Dish soap
• Sponge or scrub brush
• Ice cubes
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Vinegar

1. Fill your sink with warm, soapy water: Stop the sink drain, fill the sink with warm water and a bit of dish soap, then unstop the drain and run the disposal.
2. Clean the visible part of the disposal: With the disposal not running, use a sponge or scrub brush and a bit of dish soap to make sure the outside of the disposal, the part you can see, is clean and clear of gunk around the edges. Clean all around the drain.
3. Put ice and salt down the disposal: Put about a cup of ice followed by 1/2 cup of salt down the disposal. You can use your hands to shove it down; just make sure the disposal is off. Once your hands are out, run the disposal.
4. Add baking soda: Put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the disposal and let it sit for about an hour.
5. Then some vinegar: Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar in the disposal. It should cause a mild reaction that will bubble up.
6. Turn your tap to cold and run your disposal: With the cold water running, turn your disposal on and let it run for about a minute.

• If you’ve done the above, your disposal should be clean and clear and ready to tackle its next job, but if you want it to smell extra-nice, chop up half a lemon and run it through the disposal with the tap on. Instant aromatherapy!