Garbage disposals help minimise the tasks for your kitchen-cleaning; and it also lowers the prevalence of drain clogs. Your disposal grinds and processes food wastes every single day. You may have already come across the problem of your drain and garbage disposal bearing a foul smell. Not only is the odor gross, it can also be unsanitary.
The stench is coming from food residue that gets stuck in the drain and disposal unit — and is rotting. Apart from the smell, the obstructed wastes can also become the perfect spot for drain flies to lay eggs. Get your kitchen smelling fresh again and remove stuck food debris with these pointers.
Clean the internal parts of the garbage disposal with either a wire brush or dish brush
Before you start cleaning the disposal unit and drains; be sure to turn the machine off and unplug it completely. You don’t want the tools or your hands to be stuck and minced by the disposal’s blades. After you have done this safety precaution, you can proceed with scrubbing the disposal and drains with a wire brush or dish brush. These specific brushing tools can effectively remove food scraps stuck in the drain line. It’s recommended to use these cleaning bristles before pouring drain-cleaning solutions.
Homemade mixture of baking soda and vinegar
Common cooking ingredients can actually be used for cleaning your disposal and drains. You can even substitute harsh chemical cleaning agents with a few homemade mixes. Baking soda and vinegar is a popular combination used for removing clogs in the drain and for getting rid of kitchen stenches. The measurement for this solution is just a cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar.
Pour citrus juice or grind fruits
If you used the baking soda and vinegar mixture and noticed that the odour coming from the sink is now replaced with a strong vinegar smell; then you might consider pouring citrus juices or extracts. The sweet and fruity smell will get rid of unwanted smells. If you don’t want to spend time extracting juices, you can grind the fruit pieces directly into the garbage disposal. Just ensure the fruits are cut in small pieces for easier grinding for the disposal blades.
Please keep in mind that while the fruits can remove or mask the odour; you still need to remove the source of the smell which is the rotting food debris. Generally, it’s a good idea to apply the raw fruits or its extracts after using drain-cleaning tools and solutions.
Don’t forget to diligently clean the lid
In some cases, the odour isn’t originating from within the garbage disposal but from the lid itself. Fortunately, cleaning and sanitising the lid doesn’t require too much work. Brushing the lid with soap and warm water is enough to get rid of the food particles.
Mild bleach
Using mild and fragrant bleach once in a while isn’t really a bad idea. Not only does the fragrant scent from the bleach dissipate the odour; it can also extricate the trapped leftovers in both the garbage disposal and drains. You should reserve using mild bleach for stubborn odours and clogs. Try applying solutions that have fewer chemicals as much as possible.
Guest post is brought to you by DRDRiP Plumbing. Please visit them at www.drdripplumbing.com.au to get more plumbing guides and maintenance pointers.
