How to Clean a Garbage Disposal

Anyone with a garbage disposal knows that some pretty funky odors can lurk down in the inner depths of its jaws. However, a garbage disposal may not seem like the easiest thing to clean, as liquids pour right through and powders just can't get the greasy odors with a good scrub. If you would rather not stick your whole arm into your garbage disposal, but want to keep it clean, a few simple tricks will do the job.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to your garbage disposal and reach your hand inside, just to make sure there are no loose pieces of plastic, silverware or other foreign objects trapped in your disposal which may be growing bacteria and causing bad odors. Once you know your disposal is clear, you can reconnect the power.

2. Fill your disposal with ice cubes and pour about 1 cup of rock salt and 1/4 cup of baking soda on top. Turn on the water and run the disposal until all of the ice has been crushed and cleared through the disposal. The rock salt will help to loosen any dirt and grime stuck to the metal workings of your garbage disposal while the baking soda will neutralize odors. Repeat this cleaning method when odors have really become bad.

3. Slice a lemon, peel and all, and run it through the disposal once a week, to keep your disposal fresh and odor-free. For those who do not use their garbage disposal often, twice a month may be sufficient.

4. Clean the drain line of your garbage disposal after heavy use to prevent the build-up of fibrous debris that can cause odor problems. To clear the drain line, plug your sink and fill it up half way. Turn off the water, pull the plug and turn on your disposal. The rush of water through the garbage disposal will carry away recently processed food items preventing bacteria growth and smell.