Even after you rinse everything down the garbage disposal, you might still detect a funky smell emanating from the drain. Over time, small food particles build up in and around your garbage disposal, stinking up an otherwise fresh-smelling kitchen. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to clean out your garbage disposal and eliminate that unpleasant odor.
First, try flushing out the disposal with some soap and hot water. The best way to do this is by putting a stopper over the drain, then filling the sink with several inches of hot water and a squeeze of dish detergent. Then, remove the plug and turn on the disposal, letting the sudsy water flush through.
You can also try turning on the disposal and keeping it running while you toss in several ice cubes and a handful of kosher rock salt. The friction provided by these items will help scrub away rotting food particles clinging to the disposal and the sides around it. This will also help keep your disposal’s blades sharp. To add a pleasant scent, throw some lemon peels into the running disposal after the salt and ice have gone through.
If the smell persists after trying the above methods, pour a half-cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Wait about ten minutes for the fizzy mixture to do its work and then flush with boiling water.
Want to prevent future stink-ups? Make sure you always run your garbage disposal long enough so that all the larger chunks are washed completely down the drain. You can also make a habit of running ice cubes, rock salt and lemon peels through the disposal from time to time so that particles don’t get a chance to build up in the first place and your sink stays smelling fresh year-round.
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