Safe way to clean garbage disposal
step 1: Remove any debris stuck in the impellors.
Next, shine a flashlight down the drain to identify objects that may be stuck in or wound around the propellers that are churning out solids sent through the disposal. Look for things like bottle caps, aluminum can pull-tabs, or vegetable fibers. Remove these items if you find any needle nose pliers Or tongs. Never put your hand into the garbage disposal chamber, even if the power is off: the blades of the machine are very sharp!
step 2:Grind ice and rock salt in disposal.
Add about a dozen ice cubes to the trash can, followed by 1/2 cup of rock salt. Restore power to the disposal, so you can turn on the mechanism while the water is flowing down the drain. Keep it running for about a minute, until all the accumulated dirt and debris falls away from the disposal blades. Double-check the drain with a flashlight. If the blades are clean, go ahead and turn the power back off.
step 3: Pour baking soda and vinegar into the disposal.
pour 1/2 baking soda And pour 1 cup vinegar into the disposal. Let the mixture fizz for about 15 minutes. The acidity of the solution kills bacteria including Salmonella e coliStick to the natural cleaners here; Any poisonous chemical should not be used. Just as disposals can leach bacteria, affecting the cleanliness of your kitchen sink, chemical products can do the same.
Tried and True Advice
“I regularly clean my garbage disposal by turning off the disposal unit and pouring some baking soda and distilled vinegar into it. I let that mixture marinate for a while, then I run hot water through the disposal, turn on the unit, and add some citrus peels to the grinder while keeping the water running. The bright, citrusy scent of the peels keeps my kitchen so fresh that I sometimes store old citrus peels in a bag in my freezer so I can use them for cleaning.
-Lauren Landers, Contributing Writer
step 4: Mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar.
While the vinegar and baking soda are busy solidifying inside the disposal, mix the two again – this time outside the appliance, on the counter – to create a thick paste. Put some of that paste on an old toothbrush, and use it to scrub the top and bottom surfaces of the rubber flap along the neck of the disposal. Those flaps are just as likely to be bacteria-ridden as any other component. So while you’re at it, think about giving the rubber parts on your sink stopper a good scrub, if any.
Step 5: Rinse the disposal with water.
Now it’s time to engineer the final flush of the garbage disposal. First, plug the drain opening. Second, pour water into the sink until its basin is about three-fourths full. add a teaspoon of dish soapThen finally remove the drain plug, allowing the water to drain while the disposal is running.
How to Maintain a Fresh Garbage Disposal
You can keep odors in your sink and garbage disposal to a minimum by grating lemon peels into the disposal. Mark a reminder on your calendar to clean out the garbage disposal every 2 weeks. Either method works for routine cleaning, whether it’s ice and rock salt or vinegar and baking soda. Each only takes a few minutes, and if you stay on top of things, you can avoid the more laborious and time-consuming process we’ve detailed here.
