If you want to keep your kitchen smelling clean and fresh, the first place to start is with your garbage disposal. Even though modern garbage disposal systems have been designed and engineered to clean themselves, a little help and maintenance from the homeowner always helps. Here are a few tips that will help you safely keep your garbage disposal clean and smelling great.
Cleaning your Garbage Disposal Unit
The majority of garbage disposal systems consist of a metallic cylindrical center with attached rotating impellers and most of the newer models will include a sequence of grinders on the bottom or side of the cylinder. Their function is to grind the waste down and make it easier for the disposal system to work. No matter how well you treat your unit, the interior can very quickly become coated with the debris and waste. Any waste that ends up lodged in the garbage disposal can rapidly incubate bacteria causing bad odors and seriously compromising its performance. In order to keep it clean, it’s important to clean the unit.
Garbage Disposal Safety
Before cleaning your garbage disposal unit, always remember that safety is paramount. Ensure that the unit is switched off to avoid any potentially dangerous incidents. If it is safe to do so, you can attempt to remove any obvious blockages using tongs or pliers, and avoid placing your hands into the cylinder. It is always safer to call a professional if you are in doubt.
Cleaning the Garbage Disposal with Ice and Rock Salt
A well-known and proven way of cleaning the inside of your garbage disposal unit is to place two cups of ice cubes and one cup of rock salt inside the unit. Run the cold water and ignore the horrible sounding noise as it runs through for around 10 seconds. The rock salt and ice work exceptionally well together to knock away any sludge and blockages off the grinding elements to force them away down the drain.
For more information about keeping your garbage disposal unit clean, call us today at Absolute Precision Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
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