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Easy Tips for Cleaning

Your Garbage Disposal

by Maria Gracia Updated October 1, 2023 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. The leftover food we put in our garbage disposal can, sooner or later, leave a lingering odor in the kitchen. To prevent this, clean the garbage disposal regularly…once every day or two. While running cold water, place a handful of ice cubes and a few tablespoons of salt down the disposal. Ice cubes and salt cause food fragments to freeze and become easier to dislodge while the salt scrubs the sides. Run the water until all chunks of ice are broken up. If the smell is particularly bad, you can then pour one-half cup of baking soda in the disposal followed by a cup of vinegar. The combination will fizzle for approximately 10 minutes. Then, pour very hot water down the drain. For additional freshness, cut up small pieces of lemon, lime, and/ or orange, put them down the disposal, and while running cold water, turn on the disposal and keep it grinding for 20-30 seconds. Then, you can breathe. Of course, keep hands out of the garbage disposal at all times while you’re doing all this! Back to Cleaning Secrets Index