Ask anyone what smells the most in their kitchen and most will tell you it’s the garbage disposal. To keep that disposal smelling like a flower, here are four eco-friendly ways you can keep it clean:
1. Water
Water is a simple way to keep your disposal free of odors. What you’re going to want to do is fill up your sink with two to three inches of warm water. Let the water sit for around 15 minutes, and once the time is up, drain the water to see if the smell disappeared.
2. Vinegar ice cubes
Grab an ice cube tray, place a teaspoon of vinegar in each slot and fill the rest with water. Place them in the freezer and let them freeze. This process can typically take up to 24 hours. Once frozen, grab a handful and throw them into the disposal. Ice cubes will remove any stuck food particles causing an odor that are on the blades. In addition to vinegar, consider placing small lemon slices in each ice cube tray to create a great citrus scent.
3. Baking soda and lemon
Just as with any environmentally-friendly cleaner, vinegar is almost always going to be involved. In this simple process, pour a pinch of vinegar down the disposal with about a one-half cup of baking soda. Turn the disposal on and let the baking soda mixture rinse away. Afterwards, throw some lemon slices down the drain and allow it to grind for at least 30 seconds. If you don’t like the idea of wasting a lemon, consider throwing down lemon scraps after a meal.
4. Microwave a peel
The next time you eat an orange, grapefruit, lime or lemon, don’t throw the peel away. Instead, take the peels and place them in a microwave safe bowl. Fill up the bowl with enough water to cover the peels. Place the water and peels in the microwave and allow it to come to a boil. Once boiling, dump the ice and peels down the disposal. This is going to help with breaking up any grease and food buildup. With this little trick, you’re not only going to be able to clean your disposal, but the steam you created in the microwave is going to loosen up any residue inside.
The next time you smell something coming from your disposal, be sure to keep these tricks in mind. As you can see, they cost next to nothing, are environmentally friendly and will make your disposal smell like new again.
Post Author: andyc.
