Garbage disposals are designed to pulverize and remove food waste. Without regular cleaning, trapped food particles can cause mold and bacteria to grow, making the air in your kitchen unhealthy – and stinky! Your drains can also become clogged with grease, adding to the problem. Here’s how to prevent grease and bacteria from building up in your disposal and drainpipe.
Don’t pour grease down your sink drain. You can pour grease into a disposable container and cover it and put it into the trash when it’s cool. If you have small amounts of grease, keep a small can in the kitchen and use it to store grease in until it’s full, and then put it into the trash. In Boston, residents can request a free grease can lid.
Wash your dishes with a detergent that breaks up grease, and use hot water.
While running your garbage disposal, always run water.
How often should the garbage disposal be cleaned?
You should clean the garbage disposal at least once a week to keep it free of bacteria and mold, using one of the following methods:
Baking Soda and Vinegar: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the kitchen drain. Carefully pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain on top of the baking soda. Place the drain stopper in the sink to close off the drain. If you have a double sink, you should do this for both of them. The mixture will fizz and make a bit of noise. After a few minutes, pour a full teakettle of boiling water into the drain.
Water and Bleach: Using a clean container, mix a gallon of water with no more than one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach. Do not use too much bleach in your solution – it will harden any grease in your drains. Carefully and slowly, pour the solution down the drain and allow it to sit for several minutes. Flush the drain thoroughly with warm water for several minutes.
Ice and Citrus Peels: Place several ice cubes in the drain and run the garbage disposal to clean the cutting blades. You can add a few citrus rinds with the ice cubes to add a pleasant scent.
Important:
Always disconnect the power to the garbage disposal before putting your hands anywhere near it. If bad odors persist, call a plumber to determine whether there is a more serious problem causing the odor. In the Boston area, McMahon Plumbing & Heating is on call 24/7 at 617-364-2200.
