Regularly cleaning your garbage disposal helps to prevent odor buildup in your kitchen, while also ensuring your kitchen drain stays clear. If your kitchen sink is emitting bad smells, it’s a sign that it’s time to get in there and give your garbage disposal a thorough cleaning. Learn how with the expert team at RCH Cleaning.
How Frequently Should I Clean My Garbage Disposal?
Generally, your garbage disposal will do a good job of cleaning itself as it grinds away any goods that make their way down the drain. However, there are a few areas that remain untouched where stinky slimes can begin to accumulate. The underside of the rubber drain cover and the sides of the disposal that lead to the grinder are notorious for this.
You should clean the drain more often than you think. Consider setting a weekly task to go in and ensure your drain remains clean and free of odors.
What Do I Need to Clean My Disposal?
For general cleaning, you need dish soap and a sponge with an abrasive surface. If it has been a while since you cleaned your drain, you may need to break out stronger cleaners, such as baking soda and vinegar.
What Steps Should I Follow to Clean My Garbage Disposal?
Step 1 – Disconnect the Power
The power service can be found underneath your sink. Most disposals are plugged into a standard outlet, but some are hardwired into the wall and do not have a plug. If possible, unplug the disposal from the outlet. If it is hardwired, turn off the circuit breaker associated with the disposal. Before you start cleaning, always test the switch that turns on the disposal to ensure it is disconnected.
Step 2 – Clean the Drain Cover
The rubber cover inside of your drain is the number one place leftover residue is caught. Scrub the folds with the abrasive side of your sponge after applying dish soap.
Step 3 – Clean the Chamber
Next, use your sponge to swipe around the drain chamber. Remove any leftover garbage that may be stuck to the sides of the chamber.
Step 4 (Optional) – Add Baking Soda and Vinegar Then Cover the Drain
If you want to deep clean your garbage disposal — add a half cup of baking soda before slowly adding a half cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and allow the mix to break up any residue within the grinder.
Step 5 – Flush the Disposal With Warm Water
Lastly, rinse the disposal with warm water for around 30 seconds and you are good to go!
RCH Quick Tip: If you don’t have time to go through this whole process, but you want to quickly freshen up the disposal, you can grind up a citrus peel to help cover up any odors. Just be sure to go back and clean the drain when you have time.
Contact RCH Cleaning Today
Another option is to hire an expert cleaning service like RCH Cleaning to take care of all your home cleaning needs. Simply give our team a call at 417-763-8365 for our Springfield, MO location, or 417-851-7960 to reach our Port Charlotte, FL location.
