Having issues with your garbage disposal? It may be time to give it a good cleaning. Follow these steps.
The garbage disposal helps make your sink a cleaning beast when you’re busy in the kitchen. You can peel potatoes into the sink and you don’t have to make multiple trips to the trashcan to throw the peels away. Or you can crack open and separate a dozen eggs without worrying about the messy broken shells that are in the sink. The garbage disposal can break it all up and wash it down the drain, saving you time. But like any great tool, it needs maintenance, including a good cleaning. Here are 3 easy steps you can do (no professional needed) to get your garbage disposal clean and ready to go.
Flush It
Start this process by flushing out all the dirt and grime that’s sitting in your garbage disposal at the moment. Plug your sink with a stopper and then fill it with about 3 inches of very hot water. Add some dish soap and swish it around so you have a good, soapy slurry. Unplug the drain and let the water flush out anything sitting in the disposal. Between the soap and the hot water, this will hopefully rinse out any grease and oil that has congealed in there.
“Crunch” It
The next step will be loud, and it might seem odd, but it definitely helps the process. Add 2 cups of ice cubes and 1 cup of salt to your garbage disposal and then let it run. Run the cold tap while your doing this and let the garbage disposal eat through the ice and salt. This crunching action has two purposes. The first is to scrape away any gunk and sludge from the side walls of the disposal that the flush left behind. The second, surprisingly, is to help maintain your blades – the ice actually helps to sharpen them and keep them in good working order.
Scrub It
Safety first: DO NOT, under any circumstances, put your hand down the disposal. When we say it is time to scrub the disposal, we mean with a long handled scrub brush or an old toothbrush. Never stick your hand in there! Use the brush to scrub the inner walls of the disposal and remove any remaining grime. You can do this with just water or some dish soap and water. Either way, rinse once you’re done. If you’d like to refresh the smell a bit, you can add some citrus peels and run the warm water while the disposal grinds them up. That’s it!
Get in Touch With B&D Today!
Dealing with any plumbing concerns that require a professional to step in? Struggling with an absolute plumbing emergency that can’t wait? Let B&D Plumbing know. B&D Plumbing Inc. services the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Get in touch with us by calling (301) 595-1141 or follow us on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. As a small, family-owned business, we understand how important your home is—and we offer exceptional service that matches!