The best way to clean and deodourize your garburator
Over time, food pieces can gather in the garbage disposal’s grinding chamber and on the baffle (also known as the rubber gasket). An odour problem is usually a sign of grease or food buildup, or poor water flow during and after garburator use. Give your garbage disposal the deep-clean it deserves with the following directions.
Safety first:
Never put your hand in a garbage disposal. If you need to fish around in the garburator, always shut off the circuit breaker first and use tongs.
Keep a sink strainer basket in place when not using the garburator to stop objects like dish cloths, piping tips or spoons from falling down the drain.
Never pour bleach or other chemicals down the garburator, because they can splash back.
To keep your garburator running smoothly:
- Run cold water when using your garbage disposal to keep the motor cool.
- Run the cold water and garburator for at least five seconds after the grinding noise ends. If you stop the blades too early, food particles will be left behind. These rotting bits can be the future source of an odour problem.
- Place cooking grease and inorganic waste, like plastic, in the trash.
- Watch out for egg shells, corn husks, celery stalks, coffee grounds, potato and carrot peels. These dense, fibrous scraps can wrap around the blades and build up in the pipes, catching other waste and boosting stench.
Ways to deodourize and clean your garburator:
- Ice Cube Method:
Gently pack the garbage disposal with a big cup-full of ice cubes and about half a cup of kosher or rock salt. Run the cold water and turn on the garburator for at least 5 - 10 seconds. The ice and salt will work together to scrub the debris from the inside of your disposal.
- Citrus Method:
Grind a few citrus rinds or slices in the garburator as the cold water is running. This will leave your kitchen with a lemon or orange scent.
- Scrub your drain:
Use a bottle brush and hot soapy water to clean in and around the flaps of your drain.
- Cleaning the Baffle:
With some models, you might be able to remove the baffle (rubber gasket). If you can, scrub it with a scrub brush and soap. If your manual says it is safe to do, place the baffle in the dish washer.