A garbage disposal can help with kitchen clean up, but only when it works properly.
To keep it in working order, it should be cleaned occasionally. Here are the steps for cleaning a garbage disposal.
photo courtesy of andessurvivor flickr.com/photos/66163349@N05/6837843559/Daily Cleaning
To clean your garbage disposal daily, put dish soap in your garbage disposal once it is free of garbage.
Allow the garbage disposal to run with cold water for a minute or so.
Turn off the disposal but let the water continue to run for about 15 seconds.
Monthly Cleaning
To deep clean your garbage disposal, run the disposal with several pieces of ice.
The ice will scrape against the edges of the disposal to dislodge food particles and help keep the blades sharp.
Odors
If you have garbage disposal odors, you can run your disposal with citrus peels and/or baking soda.
Another deodorant option is to freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and grind the vinegar ice in your garbage disposal.
If the odors are still quite strong, put 4 tablespoons of Borax in the garbage disposal and let it sit for an hour.
After the hour is up, run the disposal for about 15 seconds with hot water.
Tips
1) When running your garbage disposal on a daily basis, use cold water. The cold water will solidify oils and grease to allow them to pass through the drain.
2) Make sure to turn on your garbage disposal at least once a week, even if you have nothing to grind, to make sure it does not rust or lock up.
3) Do not put anything down your drain that is not biodegradable food. No plastic, paper, cigarette butts, or other foreign material.
4) Avoid putting food items that expand into your garbage disposal. Such items include rice and pasta.
5) After running your garbage disposal, turn it off then wait 15 seconds before turning off the water to allow all food items to pass through the drain.
