Ever notice a…. questionable… smell coming from your sink? You clean and clean, but you just can’t seem to shake the stink? Chances are, your garbage disposal more closely resembles garbage than a disposal!
Prevent odors from taking over your kitchen by following these three quick disposal maintenance tips:
1. Run the disposal often, even if it’s empty
Did you know the blades of your garbage disposal can rust and get stuck in place? But running your disposal for a few minutes a week with a strong flow of cold water can stop this corrosion before it starts. The cold water flush also helps clear away any old debris that has collected on or around the blades— leading to that rancid, composting smell.
2. Try this easy (inexpensive!) cleaning trick
Every couple weeks, clean out your garbage disposal with ice and rock salt. Just pour a big bowl or pitcher of ice cubes down the disposal, mixing the rock salt in as you pour. Once full, run your disposal for a minute to let the ice scrape away any debris. Finally, pour in a cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda. This will kill any leftover bacteria and continue cleaning off the blades. For an extra clean, unplug or power off your disposal and give the flaps and blades a good scrub with an old toothbrush.
3. Always use cold water when running your disposal
Even if you’re rinsing your dishes off with hot water, switch to cold when you run the disposal. Hot water will cause any fat on your dishes to melt, then resolidify on your disposal blades. Over time, that’s sure to gum up your system and shorten the life of your disposal. But cold water helps fat and oils pass fully through the system without getting stuck along the way.
With proper maintenance, the average garbage disposal lasts anywhere from 8-15 years.
When it’s time for an Garbage Disposal upgrade, Just Call Burton!
Don’t trust your plumbing projects to just anyone. Enjoy your kitchen again with Burton’s 5-star customer service, industry-leading warranties, and satisfaction guarantee!
