Dish soap and hot water
Using some dish soap and running down with hot water is the traditional way of cleaning your garbage disposal. Pour half a liter of hot water followed by a few tablespoons of the dish soap. You can even use a brush to clean the edges. Drain down the water, and the entire unit, including the disposal drain lines, gets cleaned by this method.
Boiling water and baking soda
Boiling water has high efficiency in eliminating greasy and oil particles that are very difficult to stop. However, due to their sticky nature, they will adhere to other particles, which can cause odors when left for long. Pour some baking soda after releasing the water into the chamber and use a brush to rub the disposal. Switch on the removal after this step for the dirt to flow out of the section.
Manual removal
Remove the large particles manually. If it is too dark to see but yet to hear some unusual sounds, use a flashlight and thoroughly check the chamber. Clean the visible portion of the section, and if you can’t reach the bottom, then a piece of advice is to call the plumber to get the food particles unclogged.
Use sodium tetraborate
Sodium tetraborate, also called borax, is a natural laundry cleaner to clean many household items. Take a few tablespoons of borax into the disposal and pour chilled cold water. Then, switch on the disposal and let it run for a minute.
What not to do!
When handling the grinder, be very careful. For example, do not put your hand directly into the filters, even if the units are switched off.
Remember, the slower you take to clean your disposal, the better it will smell and the fresher it will remain for a prolonged time.
Another piece of advice is to avoid using bleach, especially if your sink is made up of steel or has steel portions in it. Also, use a milder vinegar and not a strong one because it can erode the layers of your grinder.
Always have a cross-check with the manual or the manufacturer’s guide before you dig into the chambers. If something gets out of hand, please call a certified plumber to do the job for you.
Take a home message!
The good news is you don’t have to buy expensive stuff to clean your garbage disposal. Instead, you can use whatever is available at home and do the required. Ideally, you should clean the disposal every two weeks, but depending on the flow of the food, you can clean it every week or every month.
