How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean and Unclogged

Few things can stink up your kitchen faster than an untended garbage disposal. And if you let your disposal go too long without proper care, you may have to battle clogs, too. And you can’t have that.
Luckily, cleaning and maintaining your disposal is easier (and cheaper!) than you might think. Start taking some cleaning notes.

By following these instructions, you can keep your drain clean and free of grease with a minimum of effort.

Tip 1 – Cleaning the Cover

In order to clean the inside of your garbage disposal effectively, you must first remove and clean the cover. Thoroughly wet a sponge or scrub brush, add dish soap, and thoroughly scrub the cover, making sure to cover the whole thing with the soap. Finally, rinse off the cover.
If the outer cover of the drain over your garbage disposal does not allow you to remove it, simply clean it as best you can. Remove any outer devices such as traps and make sure that the drain is as open and clear as possible before you move on to the next step.

Tip 2 – Cleaning the Garbage Disposal

The best way to clean out garbage disposal is with baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar can handle a wide variety of the sorts of problems that garbage disposals encounter, even tough grease clogs.
To begin, measure 1/2 cup of baking soda. Pour this baking soda down your drain, being careful not to get any stuck on the drain cover if you were unable to remove it. Next, measure 1 cup of vinegar. Bring this vinegar to your drain and add a small amount of it at a time. Once you have poured all of the vinegar, do not wait for it to finish foaming and expanding. Proceed to the next step immediately so you can have it finished by the time the baking soda and vinegar are done working.

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Tip 3 – Removing the Grease

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil on your stove. Once the water is boiling, move the pot to the sink. Because this step is tricky, and boiling water is dangerous, you may want to use a pot that is small enough for you to move easily, even when it is full of water. If this means sacrificing a small amount of hot water, this is fine.
Pour the boiling water down the drain. Hot water will cause any solidified grease to melt, and when combined with the baking soda and vinegar will thoroughly clean out your garbage disposal, rinsing away any materials collected there.