If your garbage disposal smells like it’s filled with rotting food, then you’re not alone. A bad smell is a common complaint from people who have garbage disposals. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the smell and make your disposal work like new again. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of that pesky garbage disposal smell for good!
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What Is A Garbage Disposal?
If you’re like most people, you probably take your garbage disposal for granted. After all, it’s just a simple appliance that grinds up your food waste, right? Wrong! Your garbage disposal is actually a complex machine that performs a vital role in your kitchen. In fact, without a properly functioning garbage disposal, your kitchen would be a very different place.
So what exactly is a garbage disposal? A garbage disposal is a device that is installed under your kitchen sink. It is connected to the kitchen faucet drain pipe and has a rotating blade that grinds up food waste. When you turn on the garbage disposal, the blade starts spinning and pulverizes any food that goes down the drain. The resulting pulp is then flushed away through the sewer system.
What Does A Garbage Disposal Look Like?
A garbage disposal is a device that helps grind up food waste so it can be flushed down the drain. It typically looks like a small, metal cylinder with a hole in the center. The disposal is connected to the sink’s plumbing and turns on and off with a switch. When you turn on the disposal, the grinding blades inside shred the food waste into small pieces. This makes it easier for the food waste to be flushed away and keeps your drains from getting clogged.
How To Maintain A Garbage Disposal
Maintaining your garbage disposal is important in keeping your kitchen clean and preventing clogs. Here are some tips on how to maintain your garbage disposal:
- Run cold water through the disposal for 30 seconds before and after using it. This will help keep food particles from sticking to the blades and sides of the disposal.
- Avoid putting hard-to-grind items, such as chicken bones, coffee grounds, or fruit pits, down the disposal. These can damage the blades or get stuck in the disposal, causing it to clog.
- Never put your hand down the garbage disposal. If something is stuck in it, use a plunger or pliers to remove it. Putting your hand down there could result in a serious injury.
- Clean the disposal regularly by grinding up ice cubes and citrus peels. This will help remove any built-up gunk and keep the blades sharp.
Following these tips will help you maintain a clean and functioning garbage disposal.
How Often To Clean The Garbage Disposal?
We all know that a clean home is a happy home. But when it comes to keeping our homes clean, we often overlook one important area: the garbage disposal.
Most of us use our garbage disposals on a daily basis, yet we seldom think about cleaning them. This is a mistake because a dirty garbage disposal can lead to all sorts of problems, from foul odors to clogged drains.
So how often should you clean your garbage disposal? The answer may surprise you – it’s actually much more often than you think!
Ideally, you should clean your garbage disposal once a week. This may seem like a lot, but it’s really not that difficult to do.
A weekly cleaning will help to prevent build-up and keep your disposal working properly.
If you’re not up for a weekly cleaning, then aim for at least once a month. This will help to keep your disposal smelling fresh and decrease the likelihood of clogs.
A clean disposal is a happy disposal!
How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal
To avoid a smelly garbage disposal, it needs to be cleaned at least once a week. Fortunately, cleaning a garbage disposal is easy to do and only takes a few minutes.
Here’s how to clean a garbage disposal:
- Unplug the garbage disposal for your safety.
- Start by running cold water down the drain for 30 seconds to flush out any food particles.
- Next, use a stiff brush or a toothpick to remove any gunk or buildup around the blades.
- Finally, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before flushing with hot water.
- This will help deodorize the disposal and keep it smelling fresh.
- Repeat this process every week or so to keep your garbage disposal clean and fresh-smelling.
What Can You Put Down A Garbage Disposal?
A garbage disposal is a convenient way to get rid of food waste, but it’s important to remember that it should not be used as a replacement for your trash can. Food scraps that are too large or hard should be thrown in the trash instead of being put down the drain.
And, even though the blade is very sharp, it is not designed to grind up glass or metal. So if you accidentally drop something like a spoon or plate into the garbage disposal, don’t try to fish it out with your hand!
There are many things that you can put down a garbage disposal, but there are also many things that you should avoid putting down the drain. Here is a list of some common items that can go down the disposal, and some that should be avoided:
Things That Can Go Down The Disposal
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Cooked meat scraps
Things To Avoid Putting Down The Disposal
- Grease or oil
- Stringy or tough fibrous vegetables (celery, onion skins)
- Hard pits from fruits (cherry, olive)
- Bones
- Eggshells
- Glass, metal, or plastic
If you use your garbage disposal correctly, it can be a great asset in your kitchen. But if you abuse it, it can quickly become a liability. So treat your garbage disposal with care and it will treat you well in return.
How To Unclog A Garbage Disposal
If your sink has a garbage disposal unit attached to it, you know how convenient they are for getting rid of food waste quickly and easily. But what happens when your garbage disposal gets clogged? Here is a quick guide on how to unclog your garbage disposal so you can get back to business as usual.
- Unplug the garbage disposal before assessing it or doing any work on it.
- The first thing you’ll want to do is identify the source of the clog. If you see any large pieces of food or other debris lodged in the blades of the disposal, use a pair of tongs, pliers or an old toothbrush to remove them. If there doesn’t appear to be anything physically blocking the blades, the clog may be further down in the drainpipe.
- Next, try using a plunger to dislodge the clog. Cover the drain with the plunger and then push and pull the plunger up and down to create suction. This may be enough to break up the clog and allow it to flow through the disposal and down the drain.
- If the plunger doesn’t do the trick, you can try using a plumbers’ snake or auger. Insert the snake into the drain and then turn the handle to spin the wire coil around and break up the clog.
- If none of these methods work, you may need to disassemble your garbage disposal unit to get to the source of the clog. Be sure to unplug the disposal unit before attempting any repairs. Once you have access to the blades, use a pair of pliers to remove any debris that may be causing the clog.
- If you’ve tried all of these methods and still can’t get your garbage disposal unclogged, it’s time to call in a professional. A plumber will be able to quickly identify the source of the clog and take the necessary steps to clear it out so you can get your sink back in working order.
What Causes A Garbage Disposal To Smell?
There are a few things that can cause your garbage disposal to start smelling bad.
- If you don’t use it often, food particles can start to build up and rot. Frequent use will reduce possible persistent particles and unpleasant odors.
- If you don’t clean it regularly, grease and other organic matter can start to decompose and stink.
- If there is something stuck in the disposal that is decomposing, it will also cause a foul odor.
- Another common cause of garbage disposal smells is a lack of ventilation. If your garbage disposal is not properly ventilated, odors can become trapped inside the unit and start to build up. To address this, make sure to clean any debris out of the venting system on a regular basis. You may also want to install a fan near your garbage disposal to help circulate the air and reduce odors.
How To Get Rid Of Garbage Disposal Odor
If you’re noticing an unpleasant smell coming from your garbage disposal, try one of these natural remedies plus the best products for getting rid of it:
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With White Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and can be used to remove bad odors from your garbage disposal. Simply pour one half cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, turn on the disposal unit and let it run for a minute or two. Rinse everything out with warm water.
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural odor absorber. Just pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, turn on the disposal unit and let it run for a minute or two. Rinse it out with hot water.
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With Baking Soda And Vinegar
If you’re dealing with a stinky garbage disposal, one of the quickest and easiest ways to freshen things up is by using baking soda and vinegar. Simply pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar.
Adding vinegar to the baking soda will create a foaming action that will help to clean the blades of the disposal.
Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes, then turn on the disposal and let it run for a few seconds. Finally, flush the drain with hot water. Repeat as needed until the smell is gone.
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is also a natural disinfectant and can be used to remove bad odors from your garbage disposal. Simply pour half a cup of lemon juice down the drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, turn on the disposal unit and let it run for a minute or two. Rinse everything out with hot water. You can do this once a week to help keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh.
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With Ice And Salt
There’s another simple way to freshen your garbage disposal using ice and salt. Just turn on the disposal and drop in a few ice cubes. Then add a handful of kosher salt, table salt, or rock salt and let the disposal run for a minute or two. The ice will clean the gunk off the blades and the salt will help to clean and deodorize the disposal.
How To Stop Garbage Disposal From Smelling With Commercial Products
There are a number of commercial products available specifically for removing garbage disposal smells. These products usually come in the form of a gel or tablet that you can drop into the unit. Follow the instructions on the packaging carefully. Some products may require you to run the disposal unit for a few minutes before the smell is completely eliminated.
If The Smell Persists, What Should You Do?
If you have tried these things and the odor persists, then you may need to call a plumber in order to have the disposal serviced.
How To Keep Garbage Disposal Smelling Fresh
If you’ve ever had a smelly garbage disposal, you know how unpleasant it can be. Not only is the smell incredibly off-putting, but it can also permeate your entire kitchen. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do as preventative care to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh.
One of the best ways to prevent your garbage disposal from smelling is to use it regularly. This may seem counterintuitive, but using your garbage disposal on a regular basis will actually help to keep it clean. Food scraps can quickly build up and start to rot, which is what causes that nasty lingering odor. By running your garbage disposal regularly, you’ll help to break down those food scraps and prevent them from rotting.
In addition to using your garbage disposal regularly, you should also be sure to clean it on a regular basis. You can do this by running some hot water and dish soap through the disposal each week. You can also clean the outside of the disposal with a damp cloth. Be sure to pay attention to the blades, as they can often become covered in slimy residue.
If you want to keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, one simple trick is to add some extra lemon. Cut a lemon in half and toss it down the disposal. Turn on the cold water and run the disposal for 30 seconds. The lemon will help to remove any odors and leave your kitchen with a fresh citrus scent. Plus, it’s a natural way to deodorize your disposal – no harsh chemicals needed!
Conclusion
These are just a few simple ways to get rid of garbage disposal smells. If the smell persists, you may need to call a professional to take a look at your unit. In the meantime, following these tips should help keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean.
