I think it’s so easy to forget to clean your garbage disposal. It’s all hidden and tucked away, unlike most things that visually let you know when it’s time for a scrub. It’s super easy to clean, though, and if you really think about it {which I prefer not to}, your garbage disposal has a pretty nasty job. Cleaning it seems like the right thing to do.
There’s a few ways to clean your disposal–all of them work pretty well, so it’s really just about preference:
- Use ice and salt. Take a cup of ice cubes and a cup of rock salt. Pour them into the disposal, and add a little bit of cold running water as your turn your disposal on. The ice/salt combo helps to clear any gunk build-up.
- Use lemon peels. {This one is my preference–on account of the fact that I love pretty much everything lemon} Lemon peels naturally disinfect and deodorize. Just dump some peels down the drain, turn on the cold water, and flip the switch. Let the disposal munch on the peels for a few minutes and then flip it off. Once the disposal is OFF, I usually fish out the rest of the peels. {Grapefruit, oranges and lime peels work great too.}
- Get back to basics with vinegar and baking soda. Throw a little of both down the drain, the combo will create a fizzy action. Let it sit for several minutes then turn on the water and disposal and rinse the concoction through.
I try to do this every couple of weeks, but since I am sure you won’t tell anyone, I’ll admit, sometimes it’s more like months. How about YOU, how often do you clean your disposal? What’s your preferred method?
~Mavis
SHARE:
Cathy says
ON cleaning the disposal i do some of the same thing but using ice cubes also helps keep the blades sharp but i place ice cubes in the disposal and turn it on without the water running for about 10 seconds then turn water on for a few seconds more. I do thid about once or twice a month.
Laura says
I don’t have one in my kitchen now, and actually don’t miss it!
But, I used to use pieces of lemon now and again. Not as often as necessary really.
It’s a myth that ice sharpens the blades. It does knock little pieces loose. I read that making special ice cubes with lemon juice is the best yet!
I know I misused mine. Probably why I needed several new ones over the years in my old house! I learned too late that you aren’t supposed to put egg shells or potato peelings in a garbage disposer. Now I put them in the compost pile anyway.
Kathy R. says
At 66 I feel I should know this but…why shouldn’t you put potato peels or egg shells in the disposal? Where I live I can’t have a compost…
If I don’t do my disposal once a week it starts to smell.
Laura says
Apparently potatoes make a gooey starch that can clog them. And egg shells grind to sand that can get into them. I know one other thing that is important too! (This comes from a pro who installs them) Use only cold water. If you have greasy things the cold keeps the grease solid. If you use hot, it melts and is bad for the disposal and going down the sink. Of course, you aren’t supposed to put grease down anyway!
Teckla says
I sometimes squirt some dish soap in while running hot water through the disposal; also use soda and vinegar. It’s yucky, but I occasionally pop out the rubber gasket and scrub it with an old toothbrush I keep for that purpose. That makes a lot of difference! The stuff that sticks to it over a period of time is scary! I’ve never had any trouble with peels, but celery is a no, no for me. It’s too stringy to go through. Good ideas!