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<\/p>\nTo avoid creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria or mold, follow this guide and learn how to easily clean your garbage disposal.<\/p>\n
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Garbage disposals are perfectly concealed under your sink, so it\u2019s easy to forget they\u2019re there. But like any appliance, they need a good cleaning every once in a while\u2014or you could end up with a breeding ground for harmful bacteria or mold. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to clean a garbage disposal to keep it running efficiently.<\/p>\n
Most of the food you send through your garbage disposal is ground up and washed away by water. However, small pieces can get stuck in the splash guard and grinding chamber and eventually decay. This buildup can produce a foul odor and potentially clog your sink.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to deep clean your garbage disposal, and you probably already have the cleaning components in your home. All you need is some baking soda, vinegar, ice, table salt, and lemon peels. Using natural ingredients is the best way to clean your garbage disposal, as chemical cleaners can corrode its metal parts.<\/p>\n
The first step to cleaning your garbage disposal is the most crucial\u2014cut the power leading to it. To disconnect the power, either pull the plug, which is typically connected to an outlet under the sink, or turn off the electricity from the breaker box. Always double-check that you disconnected the right circuit by attempting to turn on the garbage disposal before starting to clean it.<\/p>\n
The rubber splash guard (also known as a gasket or baffle), with its many grooves and crevices, likely has a lot of small food particles and grease trapped underneath it. Pull it out of the drain and thoroughly clean it with an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush and dish detergent. Scrub vigorously, paying particular attention to the underside, to remove any debris or slime.<\/p>\n
While the splash guard is removed, shine a flashlight into the disposal to check for any food particles that may be eluding the grinder. Use tongs or pliers to reach into the disposal and remove the food pieces. Never use your fingers to do this\u2014even when the blades aren\u2019t in motion, they are still very sharp.<\/p>\n
Measure half a cup of baking soda and pour it into the disposal. Let it sit for half an hour so it can work its deodorizing magic. Then, pour in 1 cup of vinegar, which will cause a foamy liquid to bubble up into your sink. Let this chemical reaction zap away the gunk in your disposal for about three minutes, then rinse with hot water from the tap or a pot of boiled water.<\/p>\n
To clean the blades of the disposal and loosen up any buildup, reinstall the splash guard and reconnect the power, then pour in 2 cups of ice. Add 1 cup of salt on top of that, run the cold water, and turn on the disposal. Let it run until all the ice has been ground up. The salt and ice work together to act as an effective scrub.<\/p>\n
The last step to cleaning your garbage disposal is to freshen it up with the smell of citrus. Lemon peel is a popular option, but any citrus will do.<\/p>\n
Stuff the peel of one citrus fruit into the disposal, run cold water from the tap, and turn on the power. The citrus peel will leave behind a pleasantly fruity scent that refreshes the whole sink.<\/p>\n
If you use the garbage disposal every day, consider cleaning it once a week. If you don\u2019t use it as often, you could get away with a monthly cleaning. You\u2019ll know if you need to clean the garbage disposal more often if you notice bad smells or unusual noises when you run it.<\/p>\n
Not everything can go down the garbage disposal. Here are some things you shouldn\u2019t put in your garbage disposal:<\/p>\n
Regularly cleaning and properly using the garbage disposal can keep it running smoothly and reduce buildup and bad odors. Follow these tips to keep your device working efficiently.<\/p>\n
The garbage disposal is an essential kitchen gadget that helps cut back on waste and saves you time. But like any other kitchen appliance, it needs regular cleaning and maintenance. Learning how to clean the garbage disposal can prevent the buildup of food, mold, and bacteria and keep your kitchen smelling fresh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To avoid creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria or mold, follow this guide and learn how to easily clean your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are perfectly concealed under your sink, so it\u2019s easy to forget they\u2019re there. But like any appliance, they need a good cleaning every once in a while\u2014or you could end...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-life-cleaning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n