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Everything You Need To Know About Proper Garbage Disposal Care

Everything You Need To Know About Proper Garbage Disposal Care

Your garbage disposal is asked to do a pretty challenging job. And when you think about some of the things that you rinse or even stuff down your kitchen sink drain, it can be understandable that a clog occurs from time to time. And that can become an expensive and messy event. However, you can avoid those panicky calls to your trusted plumber and the mess in your sink by showing your disposal just a little bit of TLC from time to time.

Addressing That Awful Odor

Your garbage disposal is supposed to help, not emit a nasty odor into your kitchen. But if it is not adequately cleaned on a regular basis, you are likely to notice a sour or stinky smell coming from the sink drain. The odor is often caused by mold that is growing on waste and food debris stuck inside the disposal. And not only should you be concerned about the smell, but also know that there will soon be hazardous mold spores emanating from the unit.

Garbage Disposal Cleaning Must-Haves

When your kitchen sink is smelling more like a trashcan or dumpster than a sink, it is time for a good garbage disposal cleaning. And the best news is that this process can be completed using household items that will clean the unit and remove any unwanted odors. This is a great way to save some money and save your drain pipes. Never use chemical drain cleaners to clean your disposal as they are likely to damage the components of your disposal and your drain pipes. There are several, much more suitable options, including:

  • Baking soda and vinegar: The acidity of the baking soda and vinegar mixture is perfect for killing odor-causing bacteria and mold. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the same amount of vinegar. Leave it to bubble and fizz for about 15 minutes, then flush with hot water for one minute while running the garbage disposal.
  • Citrus: Putting pieces of citrus peels down the disposal is a great way to eliminate odors. While this does not kill bacteria, it is an excellent way to combat odors between deep cleanings with baking soda and vinegar. And it will provide a great fragrance.
  • Ice and rock salt: Drop a dozen or so ice cubes into the disposal and then add a cup of rock salt. Turn on the cold water and the garbage disposal. Leave the unit and the water running for about one minute to clean and deodorize the inside of your garbage disposal.

Avoiding Future Disposal Issues and Odors

The best way to ensure that your garbage disposal will work well for many years is to be careful about what you are washing down the kitchen sink drain. It is important to remember that the disposal is only designed to dispose of small food particles. It is not meant to take the place of a trash receptacle. Knowing that, there are a few items that should never find their way into your garbage disposal, including:

  • Highly fibrous foods like celery or other vegetables- they wrap around the grinder and can create a nasty clog
  • Expandable foods like dry rice, pasta, or bread- these expand when moistened and can create a clog
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds
  • Animal bones
  • Fat or grease
  • Paper or plastic material

If You Encounter A Clog

If you find that there is a clog in your garbage disposal, never put your hands down the drain. Follow these steps to remove the clog safely.

  1. Unplug the garbage disposal or turn off the power at the breaker.
  2. Insert a sink auger into the drain to break up and remove the clogged food from the drain.
  3. Flush the drain with hot water for several minutes.

If you cannot completely clear the drain clog, call the pros at Drain Surgeon for a professional drain cleaning. We use only pure water and a hydro-jet machine to remove clogs and clean your drains, so there is never any worry of damage to the pipes. Call us at (706) 303-0987, and know that we will get the job done quickly and cost-effectively.