topic Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal? in Kitchen

How do you clean a garbage disposal?

lkcwks — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:47:32 GMT

I have never had to clean my garbage disposal before and I have had one for ages. However, mine is starting to smell at times and I really don't know the best way to clean it. Any ideas for me?

Thanks.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

ID2 — Sat, 20 May 2017 09:55:39 GMT

Wow! What an ordeal! I just run ice cubes in it periodically and walla! all nice and clean!

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 20 May 2017 11:03:58 GMT

Vinegar will do it, also grind some orange and or lemons. Smell gone! I also spray mine with household cleaner once in a while. No problems.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

LonestarBabs — Sat, 20 May 2017 14:51:34 GMT

I use a product called "Plinks" that I buy at Bed Bath Beyond.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

Fressa — Sat, 20 May 2017 16:11:49 GMT

I quarter a lemon (or lime) every so often and run that thru the disposal. Once a season I will use Fuller Brush foam disposal cleaner. It works great and doesn't have a smell. I think I purchased it at BBB.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

chickenbutt — Sat, 20 May 2017 16:48:30 GMT

This is an oldie.

I do two different things - I have these packets that you put down there and run it. They are specifically for this purpose.

I do that from time to time. Between times I do the baking soda and distilled white vinegar thing.

I also have this brush, that came in a kit I got from QVC years ago, that is perfect for this. The top of the brush is round and wider than the neck of the brush. You push it through and then bring it up to just under that rubber gasket thing. Move it around and it cleans the bottom side of that rubber thing. I will put some blue Dawn on the brush part and do that, with some hot water running about halfway through, so that it foams up the soap.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

CAMOGIRL — Sun, 21 May 2017 00:16:13 GMT

I just use baking soda. I do it at night when the sink is not going to be used for awhile. Run some water thru. Sprinkle in the baking soda, I use quite a bit. Let set over night and just start using the sink in the morning. Works for me.

I also heard of people using a container of that real lemon juice. So I have also used extra lemons or limes ( I always have limes around here) just sitting around - I would chunk them up and run those though it. Also, worked.

Definitely nothing fancy needed. Try them and hopefully that will solve the issue.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

LonestarBabs — Sun, 21 May 2017 01:51:22 GMT

@CAMOGIRL OOH -- my plumber told me NEVER to use baking soda down drains. It hardens/creates a sludge as it never totally dissolves throughout the length of pipe, and gets caught in the curves and bends. Glad you haven't had any ill effects from its use.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

SarahW — Sun, 21 May 2017 02:35:28 GMT

I hope the OP got her disposal cleaned, since she asked six years ago.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

sallyann38 — Sun, 21 May 2017 13:00:06 GMT

i find it is not the disposal itself but the black gasket. i take it out every week and wash it out as it is full of gunk. that is where the smell is coming from.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

Bird mama — Sun, 21 May 2017 15:26:26 GMT

@lkcwks

Welcome to the Community.

I'm also a fan of ice cubes. Take a few trays of ice and stuff em in there and then kick on the disposal. The ice will help clear off any schmutz on the blades. You could add a little vinegar too.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

chickenbutt — Sun, 21 May 2017 17:59:53 GMT

anniebaby wrote:
i find it is not the disposal itself but the black gasket. i take it out every week and wash it out as it is full of gunk. that is where the smell is coming from.

Yes. The underside of that black gasket piece. I wish mine came out! For years I thought the cleaning lady was cleaning that. She wasn't. (yeah, I was ticked to say the least)

One time I had to stick my hand down there. Stupid me, I didn't put a glove on first. Anyway, my hand came back up with this black gunk from the underside of that and I about passed out. GROSS!

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

DiAnne — Sun, 21 May 2017 22:25:44 GMT

Everytime I use a lemon for juice I put the lemon rinds down the disposal and run it.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 22 May 2017 01:53:49 GMT

We haven't had a garbage disposal in ages, over 30 yrs. But when we did, I used ice cubes and a cut up lemon.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

jjinyancey — Mon, 22 May 2017 05:15:18 GMT

All the lemons and limes won't clean the yuk under the rubber gasket. For this, I add some dish soap to a baby bottle brush and scrub away! It works wonders. The brush I use has a rounded, stiff brush with a suction cup on the bottom of the handle. I have taken a perm. marker and clearly labeled it DISPOSAL ONLY!

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

RedTop — Tue, 23 May 2017 03:18:09 GMT

This was shown on the Home and Family show today. The process started with baking soda and white vinegar. Let that bubble away until it stops, then pour a pot of boiling water in. Cut up a lemon in small pieces, turn the garbage disposal on and throw the lemons in, while running the cold water. Next add a tray of ice cubes and rock salt, and once this is ground thru, the disposal should be clean.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 23 May 2017 11:12:54 GMT

@jjinyancey wrote:
All the lemons and limes won't clean the yuk under the rubber gasket. For this, I add some dish soap to a baby bottle brush and scrub away! It works wonders. The brush I use has a rounded, stiff brush with a suction cup on the bottom of the handle. I have taken a perm. marker and clearly labeled it DISPOSAL ONLY!

@jjinyancey. You are correct with this. Dropping things in and cleaning the blade area is easy. Stuck my hand in about two inches down under the gasket. There is a small ledge there. What I found was a bunch of black gunk. Couldn't really reach to get it clean. I should have purchased a brush like you did. I had my husband take the disposal out As the gunk was so gross. I don't need a disposal.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

cozyseeker — Tue, 23 May 2017 13:21:40 GMT

Found this tip years ago and it works so well. I have a separate round toilet brush (marked disposal only in black marker) and I cover it in dish detergent and plunge it in and around the disposal, especially under the plastic. You will be amazed and horrified at what comes out. I do it every couple of months now.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

dmod nj — Tue, 23 May 2017 13:29:48 GMT

I use this product. Works well! Glisten Foaming Garbage Disposer Care. I've seen this product at BBB and Amazon.

Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

chickenbutt — Tue, 23 May 2017 15:05:30 GMT

dmod wrote:
I use this product. Works well! Glisten Foaming Garbage Disposer Care. I've seen this product at BBB and Amazon.

That's the same one I use. I think it was the one that was originally in the kit I got at QVC years ago and then I just bought a bunch more, I believe, from Amazon.