We’ve all been there. You walk over to the kitchen sink and catch a big whiff of something unpleasant. After inspecting the area, you determine that the stench is coming from your beloved garbage disposal. Though very handy, it can certainly become stinky over time. We’ve rounded up 3 ways to get rid of that odor and make the disposal smell fresh and clean.
First things first, run cold water down the disposal and turn the appliance on for a minute or so to make sure you’ve gotten rid of any food residue that could be remaining in the disposal. Next, try one of these methods to clean out the disposal and leave it smelling nice.
Slice up a lemon
No, you won’t be using this lemon to make juicy lemonade. Instead, you’ll use it to clean and deodorize your garbage disposal! Slice the lemon up into small, manageable pieces and run them through the disposal. If you don’t have any lemons lying around, try a grapefruit, a lime, or an orange instead. The strong citrus odor will wipe out the offending smell!
Use baking soda and vinegar
Measure out a cup each of baking soda and vinegar and pour it down the drain. Let the concoction bubble for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, boil some water on the stove. Once the mixture in the drain has fizzled for long enough, rinse it with the boiling water. Voila! No more stinky smell.
Utilize soap, ice, and salt
First, plug the drain with the stopper. Fill up your sink about halfway with water and squirt in a little dish soap. Mix up the water to get it nice and sudsy. Then, unplug the drain and turn the disposal on. The soapy water will clean all the nooks and crannies of your appliance. Finish the job by dropping some kosher salt and a few ice cubes down the drain and run the disposal again. The ice and salt will help get any residue food (aka the culprit causing the stinky smell) off of the blades.
Here’s a bonus tip—to keep your sink smelling fresh, make it a habit to sprinkle baking soda down the drain each time you finish doing the dishes. The baking soda will help neutralize odors and keep the stinky smell at bay!
Your garbage disposal is a great resource to help you keep your kitchen clean and running smoothly. Be sure to properly maintain it and clean it often to keep any issues from cropping up. However, if you are experiencing any problems with your disposal, give us a call today.