I recently had a customer ask me what process could be done to deep clean a garbage disposal. I don't personally have a disposal in my home (where I've lived for almost 16 years), and I don't deep clean disposals as part of a regular cleaning. I do add vinegar to everyone's disposal when I clean, and I know that does help cut down on odors, but I decided it was time to take a closer look at what steps could be taken to deep clean a garbage disposal that really needs it. So, Janet, this one's for you!
Most disposals I've seen look like the one here on the left. No wonder we're left with stinky kitchens even after a good deep cleaning! Your disposal needs a deep clean every 1-2 months as well, or you'll end up with a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Small pieces of food can get stuck in the splash guard or grinding chamber and eventually decay. Grease and stringy vegetables can leave behind a slimy substance that the disposal can't pulverize, and this residue also encourages bacteria to grow.
GROSS!!! But have no fear - cleaning this nasty mess is much easier than it looks, and takes almost no elbow grease at all.
Natural ingredients work best and ensure that you won't corrode the disposal's metal parts with harsh chemicals. I promote using natural ingredients for cleaning as often as possible just because they're healthier to have in your home for your family and pets.
For this icky task, you'll need the following: dish detergent; an old toothbrush or small scrub brush; tongs; baking soda; vinegar; ice; table salt; lemon or other citrus peels.
Follow these easy steps to deep clean that dirty disposal that stinks up your clean kitchen:
1) DISCONNECT THE POWER.
Either pull the plug, or turn of the electricity directly at the breaker box.
Make sure to double check that you've turned off the power before you get started to prevent any possible injuries.
2) CLEAN THE SPLASH GUARD.
The rubber splash guard, with all of its grooves and crevices, likely has lots of small food particles trapped underneath it.
Most pull out of the drain completely for easier cleaning.
Thoroughly clean the splash guard using an old toothbrush or small scrub brush and lots of dish detergent.
Pay special attention to make sure you remove all debris and slime from the underside, as this side is always neglected during regular kitchen cleaning.
3) REMOVE ANY VISIBLE FOOD DEBRIS.
While the splash guard is removed, shine a flashlight in the disposal and check for food particles that may be eluding the grinder.
Use tongs or pliers to reach in and remove any particles that haven't been ground up and washed away.
Never use your fingers to reach for anything inside the disposal, whether it is turned on or off. Even when the power to the disposal is turned off, the blades are still sharp and can be dangerous to your fingers.
4) POUR IN BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR.
Measure 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour into disposal. Let sit for 30 minutes so it can deodorize.
Then pour in one cup of white vinegar, which will cause the foamy reaction shown here. Let the chemical reaction bubble for about 3-5 minutes, to zap away any gunk, and then rinse with hot tap water or a pot of boiled water.
I'm aware there's a school of thought that says baking soda and vinegar do not work together as well as everyone expects in a cleaning capacity. Please note, however, that these detractors also state that the best way to utilize this combination is during the chemical reaction itself, to clean things with places you can't reach, such as a garbage disposal, as described above.
5) GRIND UP ICE AND SALT.
To clean the blades and loosen buildup, reinstall the splash guard and turn the power back on.
Pour two cups of ice and one cup of salt into the disposal. Turn on the cold water, then turn on the disposal.
Let it run until all the ice is ground up. The combination of the salt and ice work together as a scrub.
6) GRIND UP LEMON PEELS.
Your last step is to freshen the disposal with the smell of citrus. Lemon is popular, but any citrus fruit will do.
Stuff the peel of one citrus fruit into the disposal, run cold water from the tap, and turn on the power.
The citrus peel will leave behind a pleasantly fruity scent that refreshes the whole sink.
...And there you have it, six easy steps to deep clean and freshen up your garbage disposal. As I mentioned earlier, this should be done every month or two, depending on how frequently you use your disposal. If you have any additional suggestions or other methods, please share them in the comments so I can check them out!
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