Re: How do you clean a garbage disposal?

Bird mama · ‎03-12-2010

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.

There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

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!

DiAnne · ‎09-22-2010

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

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

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.

jjinyancey · ‎07-12-2010

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!

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

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.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

@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.

cozyseeker · ‎03-11-2017

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.

dmod nj · ‎10-04-2011

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

You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the girl. Jersey Girl living in CNY.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

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.