HOW TO GET RID OF SMELL IN GARBAGE DISPOSAL

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How to get rid of smell in garbage disposal? 

Are you wondering how to eliminate those bad odors coming from your kitchen appliance?

The tips I share in this blog post will get rid of bad smells, and keep your garbage disposal clean and running smoothly for a very long time.

Before calling a professional plumber, there are simple home remedies you could try.

In order to get rid of garbage disposal smells, you will need:

• Ice;
• Baking soda;
• Vinegar;
• Citrus fruits;
• Essential oils (optional);
• Water. 

Read this post to learn how to use those simple kitchen ingredients to clean your smelly garage disposal!

Plus get the FREE RECIPE TO MAKE DIY GARBAGE DISPOSAL REFRESHERS!

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Garbage disposal units are certainly very useful kitchen appliances.

They do all the hard work for you by getting rid of bits of food stuck on your dishes, and more.

Unfortunately, most of us do not give those handy devices the attention they need. And, sooner or later, those foul garbage disposal odors start bothering you.

What cleans a garbage disposal best?

Luckily for you, it is not difficult to clean a garbage disposal, and you can easily do it today only using what you already have at home. 

All you need is just a few common kitchen and pantry ingredients, such as vinegar, baking soda, ice and some lemon slices.

HOW DOES A GARBAGE DISPOSAL WORK?

Although many of us have a general idea of how a garbage disposal works, I thought it best to look for an authoritative and reliable explanation.

From the website insinkerator.emerson.com:

“Many people think a garbage disposal works like a blender, with spinning blades chopping and breaking down the waste. In reality garbage disposals work in a different way – and there are NO blades involved. 

Instead, impellers, or lugs, mounted on a spinning plate use centrifugal force to continuously force food waste particles against a stationary grind ring. 

The grind ring breaks down the food waste into very fine particles, virtually liquefying them. After they’re ground, the running water flushes the particles through the grind ring and out of the disposer and into your waste water pipe. 

From there, it flows to a waste water treatment plant, or your septic tank.”

What is the typical lifespan of a garbage disposal?

According to this website, “A typical kitchen garbage disposer lasts for 12 years. This is an average lifespan calculated by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. The calculation is based upon normal wear and tear of the unit and not neglect, overuse or abuse of the disposer.”

Also, “To get the most out of a garbage disposal, regular preventive maintenance is a must.”

How do you know when it’s time to replace a garbage disposal?

Although many times your garbage disposal can be fixed thanks to a simple repair, there are occasions when it just needs to be replaced.

If you suspect it’s time to replace it, call the original manufacturer and/or installer and ask for their professional advice first.

Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Garbage Disposal

There are some signs to look out for in order to decide whether it’s time to replace your garbage disposal or not.

For example:

• Water is leaking from the unit;
• The unit makes strange noises when in use;
• Despite your best attempts at cleaning it, there are always unpleasant odors coming from it;
• The garbage disposal seems to be always clogged;
• It doesn’t turn on and/or needs resetting frequently; 
• You notice a general poor performance.

Do garbage disposals need to be emptied?

Generally speaking, garbage disposals do not need to emptied.

However there are some occasions when you will need to add a little extra care to them. 

How do you know when garbage disposal is full?

That is the case when the unit seems to be clogged or it is giving out some foul odors.

This is exactly the purpose of this blog post. Here I’ll show you how to look after your garbage disposal naturally, only using pantry ingredients you already have in your kitchen. 

IMPORTANT

Before you even attempt to unclog and clean your garbage disposal, please always refer to the instruction manual. If you don’t have it on hand, you might check the manufacturer’s website. Indeed, sometimes those manuals are available to download.

Furthermore, in some cases the installer might often free periodic checks and maintenance, so it’s always worth checking your original contract.

How do you unclog a garbage disposal naturally?

Let’s see now what are the simple natural remedies you can use to clean and get rid of smell in your garbage disposal.

It is very important you always remember to: 

• Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands;
• Turn off the disposal before starting cleaning it;
• Unplug the unit for added safety.

how to get rid of smell in garbage disposal

The very first thing you should do, is to run cold, clean water into the disposal. This will get rid of possible stuck-on debris in the chamber.

If there are food particles or any large item, insert your hands in the chamber and gently pull it out.

can you use ice to clean a garbage disposal?

Ice can be very effective as a totally natural solution to clean your garbage disposal.

Simply grab 2 cups of ice cubes and place them in the disposal. Open the cold water tap and let the water run. Then turn on the disposal. Leave the tap and the disposal running till after all the ice is gone.

This simple method should be enough to dislodge every possible amount of small foods stuck in the unit.

Furthermore, as ice is 100% natural, you don’t need to worry about any residue left behind.

Will baking soda and vinegar unclog a garbage disposal?

Distilled, white vinegar and baking soda are 2 cleaning staples in my home. I use them for so many different reasons, from cleaning mirrors, to scrubbing the bath tub, to remove stains from the sofa, to clean the carpet!

And they work wonders even to unclog and deodorise your garage disposal naturally!

Simply pour a generous amount of baking soda into the chamber, and follow up with 1/2 cup of vinegar.

The vinegar will make the baking soda start to bubble up. Let the two ingredients work their magic for at least half an hour. After that, turn on the cold water tap and the disposal, and let the water rinse away all residues of baking soda.

IS VINEGAR GOOD FOR GARBAGE DISPOSAL?

Although vinegar is an excellent ingredient to use for many types of cleaning, I would not recommend using it daily in your garbage disposal.

The reason is simply that vinegar is very strong, and in time might damage your unit.

This is the very same advice I provided in this post, when I was talking about how to use vinegar to make an all natural fabric conditioner.

can you use lemons to clean a garbage disposal?

Both fresh limes and fresh lemon peels (or any citrus fruit) work very well to clean and naturally deodorise your unit.

You can simply grab a fruit of your choice, slice it in smaller parts (4 parts should work with most machines) and run the disposal. While grinding the fruit, the natural oils will be released, giving you a pleasant smell.

Furthermore, citrus oils have very powerful degreasing properties, so they will clean your device effectively.

make your own, diy, homemade Garbage Disposal Refreshers

This is a super simple recipe you can make today.

I make this recipe all the time, and I actually use the refreshers also as a natural deodorant in my trash cans, and in the refrigerator!

You can also make a double batch to save time!

Ingredients

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup of salt
• Half cup of water
• One third cup of unscented liquid Castile soap
• 30 drops Lemon essential oil

Instructions

Follow these simple instructions to make your DIY garage disposal refreshers.

• Combine baking soda and salt into bowl.
• Add castile soap and essential oil into mixture.
• Add water, one tablespoon at a time, while stirring with hands until it forms into the consistency of “damp sand”. It should stay together when you press it together. If you add too much water just add some more baking soda and salt until the consistency is right.
• Grab a tablespoon measurement device and scoop packed spoonfuls onto parchment paper.
• Once the mixture has been scooped, let dry for 24 hours or until they are hard. One batch should make about 36 garbage disposal refreshers.
• Put into glass jar and use the next time you do dishes.
• Dispose after 6 months max. 

To use

Just put 1–3 refreshers into the garbage disposal and turn it on. You will immediately smell the refreshing scent of Lemon essential oil.

how to keep the garbage disposal from smelling?

As in most cases, prevention is the best cure!

Thankfully there are a few steps you can follow in order to keep your garbage disposal clean and running smoothly, and odor free, for a very long time.

For example:

• Always run your appliance for an additional minute after finishing using it. This will ensure all debris is gone. In turn, this simple gesture will lessen the chance of lingering odors;
• Use cold water at all times when using the disposal. Cold water prevents clogging due to cooking oils and fats. In addition to that, it is not recommended you use very hot or boiling water in the chamber as it might damage it long term. 
• If you can, place citrus peels in the chamber last, after all the other food scraps. As explained earlier, citrus fruits naturally clean and deodorise.
• Try to clean the garbage disposal splash guard on a regular basis, as gunk and also mould can form around it. Use an old toothbrush dipped in a little dish soap to do that, and scrub vigorously.
• Avoid dropping some food and liquid waste in the disposal. You can indeed clog or, worse, damage your garage disposal if you use it for certain starchy foods (such as rice and pasta), egg shells, coffee grounds, fibrous vegetables (such as celery, for example), bones, large seeds, etc. Best avoid them altogether.
• Before running your disposal, always check that there is nothing in it that should not be there! Accidents happen, and someone could drop a little bottle cap, an elastic band or even kids cutlery in your disposal. It is best to check first, to avoid damaging your unit.

HOW TO GET RID OF SMELL IN GARBAGE DISPOSAL: CONCLUSIONS

A smelly garbage disposal can have an effect on you whole kitchen. Nothing worse in my opinion than waking up in the morning and going downstairs for a much needed cup of coffee and being welcomed by those nasty smells!

If you like me prefer a more natural method, you will find that a little baking soda and vinegar will go a long way to solve most of your cleaning chores at home.

I hope you find the info provided in this post helpful. Feel free to leave a message in the comment section below, as I’d love to hear from you.

IMPORTANT

When using Essential Oils, make sure to use only CPTG Certified, Pure, Tested Grade ones, like Doterra Essential Oils. The content of this blog post and any information provided here has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), any government entity or medical practitioner. It is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or condition. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical counselling. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any medical condition or illness or injury, you SHOULD consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any product.