In order to make sure your garbage disposal unit is running at peak performance, you will need to perform regular maintenance on it. Since this tool is practically doing all the dirty work around the kitchen, it will inevitably develop germs and bacteria as well as clogs along the drainpipes that emit unpleasant odors without proper upholding. In addition to ensuring an optimal performance and keeping the kitchen sanitized and smelling fresh, regular cleaning represent a good method of prolonging the waste disposal’s lifespan.
Best garbage disposal cleaning method
The good news is that cleaning your food waste disposal is very simple and it can be performed with two products that you are very likely to have around the house, namely baking soda and vinegar. Therefore, you should do the following:
- Pour half a cup of baking soda directly into the drain.
- Let it do its magic for approximately 30 minutes.
- Afterwards, discharge one cup of vinegar on top of the baking soda.
- Place the drain stopper and let it act for a few minutes.
- Dispense a medium sized pot of hot water and you are done.
It is necessary to mention that after you will pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda, you will hear some fizzling noises. Do not be alarmed, as these ingredients immediately react on contact; the strident sound entails an indicator that the mixture is working properly and efficiently scrubbing all food residue from the walls of the unit and the drain.
An effective way to deal with unpleasant odors
In the eventuality that you are confronted with repelling odors in spite of the regular maintenance procedures, then the simplest way to get rid of them is with ice. Essentially, placing some cubes of ice in the unit and turning on the grinding process will not only eliminate nasty smells, but also represents a highly proficient method of cleaning the blades. In case you are wondering, regularly grinding ice will remove the food particles and will eliminate any chance of developing mold.
As a side not, if you are aiming for a fresh, mildly aromatic smell in your kitchen, then you can achieve your goal by adding citrus peels, citrus rinds, lemon gross, mint and even aromatherapy oils (geranium, lavender or tea tree) along with the ice cubes. However, don’t forget to dispatch some hot water into the drain after the grinding is over.
Don’t forget about the drain line
Proper maintenance of the food waste disposal unit also entails cleaning the drain line periodically. Ideally, scrubbing the drain line should be performed each time you clean the disposal in order to make certain that the waste and sludge do not get stuck and actually make their way down the drain. This task will not take you more than 2 minutes and entails filling up the sink with 2 to 4 inches of water and then letting it get sucked through the line. It is necessary to mention that it is also a good idea to clean the drain line after you have grinded aliments that are more fibrous.