World Construction Symposium

Holidays Are Over! Time To Clean Your Garbage Disposal

12 January 2015 by Wallace Simmons

Your garbage disposal probably saw a lot of use in the weeks leading up to and during the holidays. Knowing how to clean your garbage disposal can flush old food from its parts, prevent it from clogging, ensure efficient performance, and prevent it from smelling. There are a variety of standard household items that can be used to clean your garbage disposal. 

Flush Away Old Food

Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent. Use vinegar to dislodge food from the garbage disposal and the drain. To do this, pour vinegar into the unit, then flush the unit with hot or boiling water. For an added kick, chase the vinegar with baking soda. Baking soda is a natural de-greaser and will remove sticky foodstuffs from the inside of the garbage disposal. It's important to note that baking soda and vinegar will froth when combined, just like a grade school volcano science project. To avoid an overflow, pour baking soda down the drain in small increments of a few spoonfuls at a time. 

Clean the Blades

Ice will clean the blades and remove chunks of food that are clinging to the sides of the unit. Put a few trays of ice cubes down the garbage disposal, then run cold water and turn on the unit. For additional help removing old food from the blades, dump coarse sea salt into the garbage disposal with the ice. The sea salt is coarse enough that it will wipe the blades clean as they rotate. 

Deodorize

Citrus peel is a natural deodorizer. To take advantage of these natural deodorizing properties, cut up citrus peel from a few lemons or grapefruit, then put the peel down the garbage disposal. Flush the disposal with water and turn it on. Note that baking soda is also a natural deodorizer and can be used to supplement the citrus peel to ensure a sweet-smelling garbage disposal. 

When Cleaning Doesn't Work

Over the holidays, you may have noticed that your garbage disposal began draining slowly. This is a relatively common occurrence at this time of year, because so many people prepare large meals for their holiday dinners. A slow moving drain could be indicative that a clog is forming in the pipes. Cleaning the disposal may help clear the clog; however, if the drain continues to function slowly, you may need professional help. For more information about cleaning or unclogging your garbage disposal, contact plumbers like MAC Plumbing & Heating.

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