<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPlace a sink strainer basket in the kitchen drain to catch bits of food waste and debris. Regularly empty the strainer into the trash can. This helps catch chunks before they have a chance to go down the disposal and clog it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Check\/Replace Splash Guard<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRemove and wash out the rubber splash guard 1-2 times per year. Make sure the inspect the guard for any cracks or damage every time you clean it. Replace the splash guard immediately once it becomes worn or torn. Keeping it in good shape helps block foreign objects falling inside the disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Clean All Drains<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nUse an enzymatic drain cleaning product monthly in the main kitchen sink drain as well as the dishwasher drain line. Pay attention to any debris buildup. Also snake the bathroom shower drain yearly to keep the whole plumbing system clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Avoid Harsh Chemicals<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNever use caustic chemical drain cleaners directly inside the garbage disposal. Acids and corrosive can damage metal components. Stick to natural baking soda and vinegar treatments when cleaning the disposal instead<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>When to Call a Professional<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile regular deep cleaning and maintenance is easy to do yourself at home, some situations do require calling in a professional:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGrease buildup: <\/strong>If thick grease persists despite your best cleaning efforts<\/li>\n\n\n\nLingering odors:<\/strong> Smells remain after multiple deodorizing treatments<\/li>\n\n\n\nRemoving stuck objects: <\/strong>Dangerous to reach hands inside to clear items<\/li>\n\n\n\nReplacing rusted parts: <\/strong>Corroded blades or grinding rings need replacement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nEven if you stay on top of disposal cleaning, occasionally a professional may be needed for tough grease removal, eliminating difficult odors, safely removing jammed items, or replacing corroded parts. Their experience, equipment and stronger chemicals provide solutions. Don’t hesitate to call them for garbage disposal problems your DIY efforts can\u2019t fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Dispose of Food Waste Without Using the Garbage Disposal<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile convenient, overuse of the garbage disposal can lead to more wear and tear. Consider these eco-friendly food waste disposal alternatives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nCompost Vegetable Peels – Egg shells, coffee grounds and produce scraps can create nutrient-rich garden compost instead of overloading your pipes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Freeze Leftovers for Broths – Vegetable ends and meat bones make flavorful bases for future soups and stews.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Donate Edible Foods – Many charities accept leftover packaged and perishable goods to provide meals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Make Your Own Natural Drain Cleaner<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nInstead of using harsh chemical drain cleaners, make this natural DIY treatment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPour 1\/2 cup baking soda down sink drain<\/li>\n\n\n\n Add 1\/2 cup vinegar and let bubble for 5 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n Boil water and pour down drain to rinse<\/li>\n\n\n\n Repeat weekly for maintenance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>FAQs<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/span>How do I clean a smelly garbage disposal?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
Grind up citrus rinds to naturally deodorize the disposal. You can also mix baking soda and vinegar, which will dissolve built-up gunk and neutralize odors. For regular maintenance, use drain cleaner enzyme packets monthly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/span>What is the best thing to use to clean a garbage disposal?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
The best way to clean a disposal is using baking soda, vinegar, citrus fruits, and ice cubes right inside the unit itself. Their natural cleaning and abrasive properties dissolve mess without needing harsh chemical cleaners that can erode and damage components.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/span>How do I clean my deeply smelly garbage disposal?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n
For lingering bad odors even after cleaning, the source could be residue stuck deeper where you can’t scrub manually. Try these aggressive odor-eliminating tips: Pour in drain cleaner enzyme packets and let them work for 8 hours. Run lots of ice cubes through the disposal to scour the inside walls. Sprinkle extra baking soda into the unit before running citrus rinds. If the sink flange collar is very dirty, install a brand new one.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A garbage disposal is an indispensable appliance in most kitchens, making it quick and easy to get rid of food scraps. However, like any frequently used appliance, garbage disposals can get dirty over time. We’ll show you the best way to clean your garbage disposal to ensure it stays fresh and efficient. Summary Getting into the habit of regularly deep cleaning your garbage disposal removes gunk buildup, keeps blades sharp, and prevents jams or failures down the road. This straightforward cleaning guide uses common household ingredients. Follow these key steps: When Should I Clean My Garbage Disposal? Knowing how often <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[21],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/How-to-Deep-Clean-Your-Garbage-Disposal.png","authors":[{"term_id":21,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"trnadmin","display_name":"Keith Rowland","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/faviwhite.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/faviwhite.jpg"},"user_url":"https:\/\/techrene.com","last_name":"Rowland","first_name":"Keith","description":"Keith Rowland is a seasoned electrician who enjoys fixing faults in home appliances and electronics. Being someone who loves writing, he shares on this blog, DIY tips on how to fix various devices within a few minutes. When he's not fixing stuff or writing a new blog post, he's playing with his two cute girls and their mom."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1733"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1738,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1733\/revisions\/1738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1733"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techrene.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}