Tips for Cleaning a Garbage Disposal

Garbage

Taking proper care of home appliances like garbage disposal is a good way to stay healthy and ensure that your kitchen does become unhygienic and a cause for health concerns. When you start to get an unpleasant smell around your kitchen or household environment, your garbage disposal may be to blame. It’s essential to take the time necessary to regularly clean out your garbage disposal, as just flushing water down the drain is not enough to keep it clean and free of bacteria and germs. You may need to set aside a dedicated time and clean the garbage disposal out thoroughly.

Cleaning your garbage disposal out won’t just help remove or prevent unpleasant smells – it can also keep your kitchen sink drain pipe clean and free of obstructions, which can prevent clogging and delay the buildup of excessive deposits of foodstuffs. Frequent cleaning can also keep the garbage disposal clean and free of harmful bacteria and mold. Here are some helpful tips that break down how a garbage disposal works and how to clean it out properly.

What is a garbage disposal?

A Garbage disposal is an electronic appliance placed between the sink and the trap, which helps collect solid food waste in the grinding chamber.

Like other appliances, the garbage disposal needs thorough cleaning once in a while, or it will eventually breed harmful bacteria and mold. When a bad odor starts coming out of the sink, it is a great sign that the garbage disposal should be cleaned properly. If you cannot do this yourself, contact a professional company like Diamondback for proper cleaning.

Tips on how to clean your garbage disposal

There are some basic guidelines that you should follow to properly clean out your garbage disposal. Following them, ensure that you clean the system properly and avoid any potential injuries.

Always ensure that the appliance is off

The first tip is ensuring that the garbage disposal is completely turned off, and if possible, disconnected from power. If possible, disable the electrical connection at your main breaker to ensure no issues when cleaning around it. Also take time to check it and ensure that all connecting plugs are pulled out. This is important as cleaning a garbage disposal without disconnecting the power is a safety hazard and not recommended.

Do not clean the garbage disposal with your hand

No matter what you do, ensure that you do not clean the appliance with your hand. Garbage disposal features a grinder that can injure your hand. Ensure that you do the cleaning with a brush and plier.

Get the right equipment/material for cleaning garbage disposal

Cleaning garbage disposal requires some equipment you may already have at home. You do not need to have all of these items, but it’s important to ensure that you have the right equipment for your preferred cleaning method. Disposable nitrile gloves are an important part of safe, healthy practices across many industries.

  • Sink stopper
  • Kitchen sponge
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Dishwashing soap
  • Bleach solution
  • Rock salt
  • Ice
  • Lemon peel
  • Citrus peel
  • Hot water
  • Rubber gloves (optional)
  • Brush

Follow efficient cleaning steps

Cleaning garbage disposal can get tricky, especially if you want to do it correctly and efficiently. Note that for fast and cleaning,you should ensure that you are following an efficient cleaning guide like those contained in this article.

The main reason for this is to ensure minimal use of resources, so they can be used towards future cleaning, which saves you on costs as well. The other reason is to ensure that you’re getting the best possible results for your efforts, as cleaning will not mean much if your garbage disposal is still smelling afterwards.

Guide 1

Step one: Disconnect all power leading to the garbage disposal

The first most important step is disconnecting all power supplies leading to your garbage disposal; you can ensure your safety as you clean.

To disconnect the power, you have to pull out the plug connected to the outlet from electricity. Recheck to make sure the plug is already disconnected from electricity.

Step two: Clean the gasket/baffle

Find the gasket with many food particles and grease underneath it. Pull it out of the drain and clean it properly with a brush and enough detergent. Scrub thoroughly, paying special attention to the underside, to remove the slime

Step three: Remove all visible food particles

Look down in the garbage disposal using a flashlight to check if food particles are in the grinder. Use a plier to get rid of the particles.

Step four: Pour in baking soda and vinegar

Combine vinegar and baking soda in a container and pour it into the disposal. Leave it for an hour for an efficient deodorizing effect. Now rinse with hot water.

Step five: Add ice and salt

Reinstall the power, then add two cups of ice. Add a cup of salt and turn on the disposal. Let it run until all the ice has been ground up.

 Step six: Grind up lemon peels

While this step is optional, it will effectively change the feel and atmosphere in the kitchen with a lively citrus fragrance. Just add the citrus peel into the disposal, run water from the tap and turn on the disposal. The citrus peel will bring a pleasant scent that refreshes the whole sink.

Conclusion

Cleaning your garbage disposal is not optional. As simple as it may seem, a garbage disposal can contribute to keeping the kitchen clean and free of waste. Another benefit of frequent cleaning is that you don’t have to spend additional time on thorough cleaning. Hence, it is good to ensure that the garbage disposal is cleaned very frequently.

It is also essential to understand that frequent cleaning does not require you to follow the complete steps contained in the article. For instance, you can choose between using ice and rock salt or vinegar and baking soda in the right proportion. Each takes only a few minutes, and with that, you can be sure to keep your garbage disposal in good condition.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *