A garbage disposal is one of the handiest things to have in your kitchen. It makes quick work of cleaning off dishes, pots, and pans. Plus, you do not have to worry about putting food in your garbage cans that might entice vermin.
Most garbage disposals work by flipping a switch above the sink. All you have to do is put small scraps of food in it and run cold water while it disposes of the waste.
Why Does My Garbage Disposal Stink?
Unfortunately, anything that handles waste is going to collect smells after a while. If you use your garbage disposal a lot, it is naturally going to get some build-up that will stink. Often, it starts as a slightly sour smell around the sink. If you let it go for a while, a dirty garbage disposal can smell up the whole kitchen.
Occasionally, the entire waste disposal may become blocked. That’s when you’ll need a professional plumber to fix it. Two of the biggest culprits of clogged and smelly garbage disposals are grease and oil.
Some people may not think about dumping a bunch of oil down their disposal. When it cools, the oil can cause a big clog in the disposal or drain pipes. Grease also can build up and cause terrible smells.
Erasing Unpleasant Smells
If your disposal smells bad, there are a few things you can do to make it clean and fresh again. You just have to be careful what you put down into the disposal. Be sure to run water in it while it is working. Avoid garbage disposal repairs by regularly cleaning it of smelly food scraps and food waste.
The best remedy for awful smells and a breakdown is prevention. If your garbage disposal smells like something died, try some of these proven remedies to make it fresh again.
1. Use Natural Remedies
- Baking Soda and White Vinegar - Pour ¼ cup of baking soda in it, then add a cup of white vinegar. The bubbling reaction naturally kills bacteria and germs that cause odor. Let it bubble for a few minutes and then run some water through the disposal. This method also cleans away mineral deposits that can be harboring smelly germs.
- Dish soap
- Hot Water
- Borax - This is a powerful mineral that cleans and destroys odor. Use a half cup of borax in your garbage disposal once a week to keep it smelling fresh.
- Salt and Ice - When used together, salt and ice clean all the gunk out of the disposal that is responsible for the awful odors. It also cleans the disposal blades well.
- Mouthwash - Many people do not know that the original mouthwash started as an antiseptic treatment to sterilize surgery tools. If mouthwash can kill germs that cause bad breath, it will work just as well in the garbage disposal.
2. The Power of Citrus
Citrus fruits are acidic and contain natural oils that are antibacterial and antifungal. Plus, they make your garbage disposal have a pleasant, citrus smell. Most of these oils are in the rinds of oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. Here’s how you can take advantage of Mother Nature’s lovely deodorizer:
- Grind a handful of peelings in your garbage disposal whenever it starts to stink.
- Some people like to cut up slices and use the whole fruit.
- Don’t forget to add water to the disposal as you’re running it. The citrus oils kill odor-causing bacteria and will whisk away stinky residue in the disposal.
3. Scouring Powder
Several brands of quality scouring powders are safe to clean your garbage disposal.
- Just sprinkle about ½ cup of your favorite brand down the disposal and add a little cold water.
- After it has sat for about 15 minutes, run the disposal with some more cold water.
- The gentle abrasion of the powder will clean the blades, and the ingredients will take away bad smells. If you do not want to use scouring powder, then plain baking soda will do the same thing.
4. Avoidable Objects
Some foods do not grind up well in a garbage disposal. They can easily cause dull blades, build-up, and clogs. Where there is a build-up, there will be a foul odor. Avoid these things in your garbage disposal:
- Oils and fats: These can cause fat clogs that would require professional plumbing help.
- Meats: Cooked or uncooked
- Stringy vegetables and fruits, such as celery, onions, rhubarb, corn husks, and banana peels. The strings get all wrapped around the blades and can burn out the motor. Plus, the build-up on the blades causes odor.
- Eggshells
5. Bottle Brush
- Use a little dishwashing liquid and a bottle brush to scrub out your disposal.
- Ensure that the disposal is switched off.
- NEVER stick your fingers in a garbage disposal to clean or dislodge anything.
If you need a professional plumber to fix your garbage disposal, call Anytime Plumbing, Inc in Las Vegas, NV at (725) 237-1727.
