How to Clean A Garbage Disposal Effectively

Garbage disposals hide perfectly under your sink, keeping your kitchen clean without coming into visibility. You just turn on the disposal by flipping a switch, and it breaks down food waste so that it can go through the drainage system. It is certainly a great appliance to have in the kitchen, making your job easier, faster, and more convenient.

With that said, it does need some cleaning and maintenance. Yes, the garbage disposal breaks down all the food, but bits and scraps can still get stuck inside the different components. Over time, buildup can occur and clog the system, and also produce a foul smell that nobody would want in their kitchen and home. 

We have established that garbage disposal needs cleaning and maintenance. Now, let’s explore some more important facts - How to clean your garbage disposal? How to unclog a garbage disposal? How often does it need to be cleaned? How do you know it needs cleaning?

Provide a section on How a Garbage Disposal Works?

The garbage disposal has different components that work together to break down the food. The first component is the rubber guard (splash guard/baffle) at the sink opening that prevents water and food from splashing out. Then there is the upper chamber, where all food waste is collected. The collected waste then goes into the lower chamber, where everything gets ground. 

Below the chamber is a motor that powers the grinding mechanism. The disposal also has a grinding plate or flywheel that spins while the impellers push the food waste into the stationary shredder ring to break it into tiny particles, effectively ready to be disposed of into the drainage system. Finally, the waste is flushed through the discharge pipe. The running water helps everything to go down smoothly. 

The grinding mechanism of the garbage disposal breaks down the food waste into tiny enough particles that they can easily pass through the pipes without causing any clogging. Understanding the working mechanism is important to know the right ways to clean sink disposal.

Signs Your Garbage Disposal Needs Cleaning or Unclogging

A key to knowing how to unclog a garbage disposal is also knowing when. There are signs and clues that will tell you that the disposal needs to be cleaned or unclogged.

• Foul Smell: Buildup in the garbage disposal can produce a strange smell over time. If you get a foul smell around the kitchen and cannot find what’s causing it, it might be time to take a look at your garbage disposal.

• Slow or Clogged Drains: While the garbage disposal grinds the food waste finely to pass through without any issues, debris can get stuck, and if it does, it will slow down the drains. Over time, the debris can turn into a blockage, clogging the drain completely. 

• Leaking: Sometimes, the rubber seals or gaskets in the garbage disposal can be worn out. When they do, the system can start leaking. 

• Loud Noises: If any object is stuck inside the garbage disposal, there will be an obvious noise. Dull blades and misaligned parts can also cause a noise. In any case, if there is noise coming, you need to start remembering how to clean and how to unclog a garbage disposal.

How to Clean a Garbage Disposal: Step-by-Step

Here’s your guide on how to unclog a garbage disposal.

Step 1: Disconnect the Power

The very first thing you need to do is disconnect the power. Not just switching off, but completely disconnecting to avoid any mishaps. In case you are wondering how to unclog a garbage disposal with standing water, take out the water with a bucket or mug, and then proceed. 

Step 2: Clean the Splash Guard

A lot of food particles might be stuck to the splash guard. Pull it out of the sink and clean it thoroughly. Scrub it with a brush or scrubber and dish detergent. Get rid of all the debris and slime.

Step 3: Remove Any Visible Food Debris

After you pull out the splash guard, take a flashlight and see if there is any object stuck in the disposal. If there is, use a tong or plier to take the object out. Do not put your hands inside the disposal. Even if the power is disconnected, remember the blades are quite sharp and can cut.

Step 4: Pour in Baking Soda and Vinegar

Take a half cup of baking soda and pour it over the disposal slowly, making sure it covers the inside well. After it sits for half an hour, you slowly pour a cup of white vinegar. The mix will bubble up, and the chemical reaction will help break down the stuck debris. Then, pour boiled water or let the hot tap run to flush away any residue.

Step 5: Grind up Ice and Salt

Use the ice and salt hack to get rid of any remaining buildup and clean the blades. First, put the splash guard back in. Then, pour two cups of ice into the sink, a cup of salt, and run the cold water. Finally, turn the garbage disposal on. It will grind the ice, and the grounded ice and salt mixture will act like an excellent scrub.

Step 6: Grind up Lemon Peels

You got rid of the buildup. Now is the time to freshen things up a bit. For that, the citrusy freshness of lemon peel works nicely. Simply, stuff lemon peels in the garbage disposal, run the cold water, and turn the disposal on. It will leave a beautiful, fresh, fruity scent. 

What You Should Never Put in a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal is made for food waste. There are things that should not go into the garbage disposal at any cost, which include:

• Grease, Fat, and Oil: As they cool down, they will solidify and stick to the garbage disposal, clogging the system. 

• Non-Food Items: The disposal won’t be able to grind non-food items, and they will get stuck, clogging the pipes and even damaging the motor.

• A Large Amount of Vegetables or Fruit: Overloading the garbage disposal can cause it to get overwhelmed and clog the drain.

• Fibrous Vegetables: They will wrap around the blades and impellers, and jam the motor.

• Starchy Foods: Pasta, rice, bread, and such starchy foods can expand when they come in contact with water, and clog the disposal.

• Coffee Grounds: They form dense, sludgy buildup that settles in the drain line.

• Eggshells: The membrane inside the shell sticks to the different parts of disposal and dulls the blades.

• Shellfish: They are too hard for the disposal and can damage or jam the system.

• Seeds: They can be too hard for the blades and rings to grind.

How Often Should You Clean the Garbage Disposal?

How often you need to clean the garbage disposal depends on the usage. If you use the garbage disposal almost every day, it is best to clean it once every week. A monthly cleaning may be sufficient if you don’t use the garbage disposal regularly. 

That said, do visual checks and notice the signs. If you see the drains slowing down or getting clogged, if there is a bad, unexplainable smell around the sink, or if you notice a strange noise, you should clean the garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

A little care goes a long way in keeping your garbage disposal running smoothly.

• Run Plenty of Cold Water: Always turn on cold water at full pressure before, during, and after using the disposal. Let it run for about 20 seconds after switching the disposal off to wash away leftover food particles.

• Avoid Hot Water While Grinding: Hot water can melt grease and fat, which then solidify later in the pipes and create blockages. Cold water keeps everything firm, so the disposal can grind it properly.

• Clean it Regularly: Give your disposal a deep clean at least once a month. This helps prevent buildup, keeps blades functioning well, and gets rid of foul smells.

Conclusion

Garbage disposal is quite useful, and it will continue to work smoothly if maintained and cleaned properly. Be attentive to what goes into the disposal. If any object other than food waste goes into the disposal, disconnect the power, and get it out using a tong or pliers. Never put your hand inside a disposal, and always double-check if the power is off when you are trying to get any object out.

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FAQs

1. What is the best way to unclog your garbage disposal?

You can use baking soda and vinegar, followed by hot water, to unclog the garbage disposal. If any object is stuck inside it, turn off the power, and pull it out using a tong. 

2. How do you unclog a sink with standing water with a garbage disposal?

Turn off the garbage disposal. Take as much water out as possible, and then clean the garbage disposal using baking soda and vinegar. You can then use ice and salt.

3. How to unclog a garbage disposal with baking soda?

Pull out the splash guard of the garbage disposal, and pour half a cup of baking soda into the disposal. Let it sit for half an hour and then pour in the vinegar. Let the mixture bubble for a little while and then pour hot water.

4. How to remove something stuck in a garbage disposal?

If something is stuck in a garbage disposal, first of all, turn it off and disconnect the power. Then, remove the splash guard, and shine a flashlight to see where it is stuck. Then, you can use a tong or pliers to pull it out. Remember, your hand should never go into the disposal.