Most of us go to enormous lengths to keep our homes smelling fresh as much as possible, particularly in the kitchen, where food, both fresh and otherwise, is constantly coming and going. But, there is one area that can be tougher to freshen up than the rest, which is our garbage disposal. If you’re struggling with a smelly garbage disposal, we have some tips that can rid this area of odors with as little effort as possible.
Your Garbage Disposal: The Smelliest Part of Your Home?
How often do you smell something unpleasant in the kitchen, only to track it back to your garbage disposal? It’s no surprise that this can be the part of the home that accumulates the worst odors, considering the fact that there’s a constant flow of less-than-fresh food passing through it. Even the most efficient and effective garbage disposal can smell from time to time due to old food particles that get stuck in certain parts rather than fully making their way down the pipe.
So, what can we do to get rid of these odors once and for all?
Tip #1: Try Some Ice Cubes
The blades of your garbage disposal (if yours has blades) may be the culprit, if they’ve developed a layer of grime from the food that goes down. If this is the case, not only will your disposal smell, but the blades won’t do as good of a job breaking up what you’re putting down there. But, some ice cubes can help. Throw a cup of ice down your disposal, followed by a cup of cold water, and keep the disposal going until you no longer hear the ice cubes getting broken up. This can clean the blades very effectively.
Tip #2: Baking Soda and Vinegar Can Work Wonders
Baking soda and distilled vinegar are something of an iconic duo, being two powerful deodorizers that can also remove stains from all kinds of materials. Making a mixture of the two and then pouring it down the disposal can do wonders for getting rid of whatever is causing that funky smell.
Tip #3: A Little Lemon Can Go a Long Way
Who doesn’t love the smell of lemons? Not only do lemons smell heavenly, but they can also neutralize odors. Just slice up a couple of lemons and allow the garbage disposal to do its job, grinding them up. The lemon will (ideally) remove the odor and leave your kitchen smelling citrusy fresh. While Martha Stewart LOVES using lemons for this issue, be careful as citrus peels have been known to clog drains.
Tip #4: Clean What You Can
If your disposal has a removable flap, then make an effort to clean that flap regularly. Sometimes, the odor is coming from the flap, and that is good news since this means that it’s accessible. Obviously, we need to point out that you should never stick your hand down a garbage disposal should the odor be coming from somewhere farther down. But, you can use a toothbrush if necessary.
Tip #5: Use a Garbage Disposal Freshener
Last but not least, you can just use a garbage disposal freshener, which is a product made specifically for this type of problem. This is the most effective way to get rid of odors, and, can use any number of ingredients that leave your kitchen smelling fresh at last.
Grab Green Garbage Disposal Freshener & Cleaner Pods: Removes Odors | Loosens Grime | Helps Prevent Clogging
Grab Green Home’s Garbage Disposal Pods are made specially for garbage disposals (home or industrial) that have a tendency to develop odors. Our first-to-market, plant & mineral-based garbage disposal freshener & cleaner pods work triple-duty to clear out odors and remove build-up to prevent clogging, all without harshly caustic chemicals (NO: Phosphates, Phthalates, Chlorine, Dyes, or Masking Agents). Made with natural ingredients, since we source the finest ingredients & adjust our formulas to ensure the best cleaning products, these pods are incredibly easy to use – just throw a pod into the disposal and let the disposal do its job. Available in three fresh and glorious scent options: Thyme with Fig Leaf, Tangerine with Lemongrass, and Red Pear with Magnolia, these pods are the absolute best way to take care of this incredibly common problem.
Keep in mind, that if the problem still persists, you might need to call a plumber, or if you live in an apartment, maintenance, as it could be something else wrong with your pipes, or a part that might need to get replaced due to erosion, rust, or potential cracking.