Proven Ways To Disinfect The Disposal

Kitchen garbage disposals are incredible appliances that help to get rid of unwanted food scraps in an instant. Though they’re designed to be self-cleaning, food products often get trapped in the disposal and drainpipe, creating the ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow and produce unhealthy spores and unpleasant odours.

Cleaning and disinfecting the disposal at least once a week can help to prevent unsightly mold, nasty bacteria, and foul smells from developing. But how do you accomplish this?

1. Remove lodged objects physically:

   If there are large objects lodged in the garbage disposal, turn off the fuse and remove the objects before proceeding with cleaning. Always use tongs to remove stuck objects, but be careful not to touch the grinder.

 

2. Always run water while operating your disposal to keep it clear and clean:

   Flushing your disposal with water helps to remove loose dirt and grime. 

3. Flush the drain:

   Put a stopper in the garbage disposal, add hot water until it reaches a depth of about 5 – 10cm, and add some dish soap. Then remove the stopper so the water can flush through. Flushing with hot water prevents any oil or grease from solidifying in the drain, which cleans your garbage disposal better than simply running tap water.

    

4. Use baking soda and vinegar to get rid of odours:

   Pour half a cup of baking soda down the kitchen drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar on top of it, and close off the drain using the stopper. This mixture will produce a fizzing noise, so let the reaction continue for a few minutes before pouring hot water down the drain (the amount of one kettle).

5. Use water and bleach to kill germs and freshen your drain:

   Add one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach to a clean container that has one gallon of water in it. Mix it thoroughly and then pour the solution slowly down the drain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before flushing the drain with water for several minutes. Don’t use too much bleach as it could harden any oils or grease in the drains.

6. Grind ice cubes and salt in the disposal to remove tough sludge and debris attached to the grinding elements:

   Simply pour two cups of ice followed by one cup or rock salt into the garbage disposal, and then turn it on. Run some cold water as the ice and salt get crushed by the blades. 

To get rid of odours, consider using citrus fruit peels (orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit). The citric acid in the peels helps to clean garbage disposal blades and remove odours.