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Have you noticed that your garbage disposal has recently started to stink? Unpleasant odors coming out of a garbage disposal are a common problem. Luckily, it’s also something you can both prevent and overcome easily as long as you know what contributes to this problem and how to avoid it.
Understanding What Causes a Garbage Disposal to Stink
Two interrelated issues can result in nasty odors wafting out of a garbage disposal. The first is fat, grease and bits of food can get stuck inside the disposal and start to rot. All the stuck food scraps then lead to odor-causing bacteria to start growing and feeding on the food, resulting in the smell getting worse.
If your garbage disposal often stinks, it means one of a few scenarios could be to blame. One is that you’re not using the disposal correctly. That means you might be overloading, which means that some of the waste materials are not getting flushed down the drain properly and the remains are decomposing in the drain. On the other hand, you might also be putting grease and meat scraps into it that should instead get tossed in the trash. The other is that you’re just not cleaning the disposal as often as you should or not cleaning it properly. This latter issue is a common mistake since many people are unaware that you need to clean a garbage disposal regularly.
Effective Options for Cleaning a Garbage Disposal
You can find products specially designed for cleaning garbage disposals in almost any grocery store. These products are usually quite effective at thoroughly cleaning a garbage disposal and eliminating unpleasant odors. Nonetheless, you can do the job just as well using things most people likely already have around the house.
One option that is usually quite effective is just pouring a mixture of vinegar and baking soda into your garbage disposal and letting it sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes. As the mixture foams, it helps to loosen up stuck food particles and get rid of grease and fat build-up. The vinegar also helps to kill much of the bacteria inside the disposal. If you turn on your water as hot as it will go and let it run for a minute or two, everything should get washed down the drain.
Another option that can work fairly well for getting rid of food stuck inside a garbage disposal is to dump in ice cubes and coarse salt and then run the disposal until all the ice is broken up. The ice and salt will scour the inside of the disposal and leave it fresh and clean.
If your garbage disposal often smells bad, you can also slice a lemon or orange and run it through. The citric acid in the fruit helps cut through fat and grease so it is easier to rinse away. The fruit also leaves the disposal with a pleasant lemon or orange scent. You can run citrus fruit through your disposal periodically or right before guests visit to ensure your sink smells fresh and ready to use.
When it comes to keeping your garbage disposal and drains clean, remember to avoid chemical drain cleaners. Drain cleaners are extremely effective at dissolving food scraps, fats, hair, and other clogs. They are so effective because they contain strong acidic or basic chemicals, which power through tough clogs. The corrosive ingredients don’t just tackle grease and hair. They can also eat right through drain pipes, weakening the materials and increasing the risk of a leak.
Crystal drain cleaners typically contain strong basic or alkaline chemicals like lye. When these chemicals come into contact with water, a chemical reaction happens that produces a large amount of heat. This heat is what makes this type of drain cleaner so effective. The lye melts anything blocking the drain so that it can wash away quickly. The reaction tends to occur so fast and create so much heat that the drain pipe can warp, resulting in loose connections and leaks.
If you’ve got a slow or clogged drain or garbage disposal, skip the over-the-counter cleaners and call the garbage disposal repair pros to tackle the problem.
How to Use Your Garbage Disposal Properly
The main mistake people make when it comes to their garbage disposal is treating it like an extra trash can. Your garbage disposal can handle small bits of food and debris that make it down the drain, but it cannot handle large volumes of food scraps. While your garbage disposal might be robust, some things are still best left to the actual garbage instead of the disposal.
As mentioned, you should never put any kind of meat in your garbage disposal. The long muscle fibers in poultry, pork, and beef are tough for the garbage disposal to grind fully. You’ll be left with small bits that are left behind in the grinding chamber, and these will be tough to wash down the drain. Meat and seafood are some of the top offenders when it comes to stinky garbage disposals, and when they start decomposing, you’ll know quickly, especially compared to vegetables and fruits.
Fats, oils, and grease are also problems when put down the garbage disposal. Not only will they cause unpleasant smells, but they can also lead to clogged drains. Fats and grease tend to solidify as they cool, and they’ll congeal along the inside of the garbage disposal. As the fat sits in the chamber, it will go rancid and stink, creating a sticky layer that attracts more smelly food bits. This can quickly lead to an unpleasant-smelling clog and a backed-up drain.
Finally, you will also want to avoid running fibrous foods down your garbage disposal. This includes banana peels, celery, squash, and other dense veggies. The fibers in these foods can clog your disposal and are tough for the blades to grind properly. Worse, they can get wrapped around the spinning disc and impellers, which force the scaps against the unit’s grinding ring, which can lead to a jam. Once the disposal is jammed, it will be unable to spin, and without prompt action, the motor can overheat, leading to failure.
For the best results, only use your garbage disposal to grind up small bits of leftover food scraps after scraping dishes into the trash or compost. Remember to avoid putting meat, fats, and fibrous foods into the disposal, and clean your disposal periodically.
If you need any plumbing, HVAC or electrical services in Greenville, WI, or any of the nearby areas in the Fox Valley, you can turn to the professionals at Black-Haak. We’ve been in business since 1956, and our team has the knowledge, skills and experience to quickly and correctly handle any of your home service needs. Whether it’s installing a new garbage disposal, repairing or maintaining your heating and air conditioning or anything else, you can trust we’ll do the job properly and for a fair, honest price.
To schedule a call and get the expert plumbing services you need, contact us today.
