Neglecting This Kitchen Task Is One Of The Grossest Things You Can Do

Taking your trash out frequently is a great way to ensure it doesn't stink up your home. But what about your garbage disposal — the other kitchen spot you dump your leftovers into? Although it's out of sight and works wonders at eliminating scraps, the garbage disposal needs regular attention as well. Neglecting to clean this helpful kitchen device is just plain gross, as it's a hidden area that can collect bacteria, mildew, mold, and food particles. Without care, it can lead to funky odors, blockages, and plumbing issues. 

Fortunately, cleaning your garbage disposal can be a breeze and is a task that should be added to your regular chore list. Many people use this kitchen tool on a daily basis. For those cases, cleaning it once a week is recommended. It can be done monthly if the disposal doesn't get as much use, but keep in mind that it's a process that will help keep those nasty odors away, so you don't want to wait too long. There are also easy ways to give it a boost in between cleanings, like by tossing in ice with rock salt and grinding it up. If you want to freshen your garbage disposal, you can do so with natural ingredients like baking soda and citrus peels.

Not everything should be dropped down the garbage disposal. Coffee grounds, eggshells, starchy and stringy foods, and grease can all cause clogs. The waste also leads to really bad smells and a buildup of germs. You could easily spread those germs around if your dishwater splashes up and you get them on your hands. Not to mention, the leftover gunk could attract bugs. Yuck.

First thing's first, turn off the garbage disposal's power by unplugging it. It's not a kitchen appliance to mess with, so this will help in regards to safety. Test it to confirm it's without power before proceeding. Next, shine a flashlight down the disposal and see if there are stuck food particles on the components. If so, carefully remove them with a set of tongs or a similar tool — never reach your hand inside the disposal, even with the power turned off. Add a bunch of ice cubes and rock salt (1/2 cup), then turn the power back on. While running the water, grind everything up for approximately one minute.

Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing mixture sit for around 10 to 15 minutes. Finish it off by pouring boiling water down the garbage disposal. You can also clean the disposal's splash guard using a brush and baking soda paste. A bleach product works well, too. Wear gloves while you scrub, as the flaps can be very germy. Then, fill the sink with soapy water and let it run through the disposal.

Give your sink a good cleaning while you're at it, and everything should be a lot fresher. Luckily, a garbage disposal isn't one of the things you need to be cleaning in your house every day. But, with all of the disgusting things we put down it, it's certainly an important task to address regularly. If you keep up with the job, you can prevent major buildup, which makes cleaning the garbage disposal easier and keeps odors at bay.