Your garbage disposal much like your dishwasher are two kitchen appliances we would all rather not live without. The machine makes cleaning up after meals faster and easier since you often don't need to take the extra step of scraping debris into a trash can. However, learning to keep a clean garbage disposal becomes a crucial household task once you rely on the disposal. Allowing it to gunk up inside can affect its performance as well as leave lingering odors in your kitchen.

Use this guide to learn how to clean a garbage disposal and keep the device running efficiently.

Clean the Garbage Disposal with Care

Once you unplug the power source from the garbage disposal unit, you can go an extra step and check to ensure the circuit breaker for that area is off. This ensures that you won’t be harmed even if you need to use your hand to clean the unit.

Make sure you wear thick rubber or latex gloves to clean the unit with your hands. Keep a light source like a flashlight nearby to flash down the drain. Make sure there aren’t any large items clogging up the drain.

Use Pliers and Tools

If you see some debris in the drain pipe that you think can be pulled out, you should always use pliers or tongs, etc., to clean it out. Make sure you grip them firmly but gently and don’t apply too much force.

If you use too much force, you may cause some damage to the pipes or valves. The damage may be minor, but minor faults can lead to big issues. Be sure to remove all removable parts carefully, clean them thoroughly with a mild disinfectant, and put them back in, ensuring they fit properly.

Don't Use Harsh Chemicals

You might think the chemicals would clear all residual debris away, but they can cause the drain and pipes to degrade over time. This weakens your plumbing system, and you’ll need to hire professional plumbing contractors for bigger maintenance.

• Sprinkle a half-cup of baking soda into the opening of the garbage disposal. Pour in a cup of white vinegar and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Turn on the garbage disposal and allow hot water to rinse away the baking soda mixture.

• As an alternative to baking soda and vinegar, use chopped citrus peels. Cut up a handful of peelings from a lemon, lime, orange or another citrus. Remove some of the white pith and discard it in the trash. Feed the peels through the grinder a few strips at a time while running the cold-water tap.

A garbage disposal helps us keep our kitchens tidy and clean. Being that it's right in the sink, it helps us get rid of our waste more efficiently and saves time. However, it does require maintenance every now and then. 

Water Doctor of Washington Plumbers

At Water Doctor of Washington, we treat each of our customers with respect and kindness in addition to providing the best plumbing service available. If you’re experiencing a home plumbing problem, of would like to have your garbage disposal replaced. Give us a call to help with your plumbing concerns.