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How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Sarah Pyle

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jars of vinegar and baking soda on a counter with a sponge and lemon cut in half

A garbage disposal is a great way to keep your kitchen tidy, but shoving bits of food down the drain can breed lots of germs and bacteria.  This bacteria can leave a stench throughout your kitchen. Maybe you think you have cleaned it out but the smell just won’t go away. Luckily, there are lots of options to get it clean and smelling fresh.  

Store-bought cleansers certainly get the job done, but you never know what harsh chemicals you are bringing into your home. Not only does making your own household cleaners eliminate those chemicals, it is also easy on the wallet. A gallon of distilled white vinegar costs approximately $2 and will last months (and months!) as the base for your household cleaners. Add a box of baking soda to the mix and you’re pretty well set.

Before you get to work on the actual garbage disposal, ensure you have fully cleaned your sink and the surrounding area.  Scrub the area with baking soda and a wet cloth. This will loosen up any debris and get the area clean and fresh.

There are many ways to clean your garbage disposal.  Here are three different ways you can use natural household items to get your drain spic and span. I’ll bet you already have most of these in your kitchen!

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Sprinkle a half cup of baking soda into your disposal.  Add one cup of white vinegar. You will hear the mixture fizzing and bubbling.  While this is working, boil a pot of water. When you have a rapid boil, pour the water down the drain to flush out.

For even more tips about cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, check out this article from One Good Thing by Jillee

Salt and Ice

Fill your drain with two cups of ice.  Pour a cup of salt over the ice cubes. Run the cold water from the faucet and run the garbage disposal until the ice is gone.  The friction from the ice and salt will remove any caked-on grime from the blade of your disposal.

Whole Lemons

Cut a lemon in half. While the water is running, place the cut lemons in your garbage disposal.  Run the disposal until the lemons are gone. This will clean and deodorize your drain, making your entire kitchen smell like fresh lemons.

You should make it a part of your weekly routine to do a cleaning of your garbage disposal. This will keep your kitchen smelling good and your garbage disposal working in tip-top shape.  Create a routine and mix up these different methods to ensure you are fully cleaning the area.

For even more homemade cleaning and personal care recipes, check out Frugal Living page. Leave me a comment with any questions you have about making your own shampoo.

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By on June 3rd, 2019

About Sarah Pyle

Hi, I'm Sarah. The voice behind Feast for a Fraction. I've been a penny-pincher all my life, but still have a taste for nice things. I'm here to show you that you can eat (and live) well on a budget. From recipes and DIY tips to ways to make extra money, we'll be in control of our budgets together!

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