How to Clean Your Sink and Garbage Disposal – Tips for Odor and Residue Removal

Cleaning your sink and garbage disposal might not seem like the most exciting household chore, but it’s surprisingly rewarding. A sparkling, spotless sink and a fresh-smelling garbage disposal can completely transform the look and feel of your kitchen.  

While you’re unlikely to uncover hidden treasure during the process, you’ll be amazed at how much a little care and attention can improve your space. With just a few simple steps, you can clean up your sink area and keep it looking and smelling its best. By the end of this blog, you’ll have discovered all the requirements to maintain your garbage disposal functioning smoothly and smelling fresh. 

The Secret of Fresh-Smelling Sink: Start with Pantry Organization

Before we go into waste disposal, let’s take a step back and look at the value of an orderly pantry. Why? Because a well – organized kitchen cupboard is more than just a decorative piece; it’s a great tool for reducing waste and managing your kitchen more efficiently.

When everything is neatly arranged and easy to find, you’re less likely to throw out perfectly good items or dump random leftovers down the drain.

So, next time you are tempted to flush questionable leftovers, take a moment to think. Keeping unwanted debris out of the disposal is the first step towards preventing clogs and buildup. Consider this tiny effort the start of a trip – a hero’s great treasure hunt, where each choice contributes to the large goal of keeping a clean, efficient kitchen.

Pro Tip: A quick pantry check can lead to unexpected finds, like those forgotten lemons hiding in the back. Use them to naturally freshen your sink, creating a pleasant scent while minimizing odors. You can also toss a lemon rind into your garbage disposal, turn on the water and let it run for a few seconds for a natural air freshener.

Step 01: Send in the Sink Odor Cleaner!

The greatest remedy for sink odors is a natural drain cleaner. Here are some quick and simple ways to keep your kitchen fresher and cleaner while also fighting against unpleasant odors:

1. Prepare your ingredients: The best combination for natural cleaning is vinegar and baking soda. They’re like your kitchen’s Batman and Robin.
2. Sprinkle the baking soda: Fill the sink drain with a large amount of baking soda.
3. Add the vinegar: Cover the baking soda with one cup of white vinegar. See it bubble up like a potion but without the eerie side effects. The frizzing effect aids in removing any dirt.
4.  Rinse with hot water: To remove residue and bid undesirable scents farewell, flush the drain with boiling water once the fizz has subsided.

Pro Tip: Repeat this procedure every few weeks to prevent sink odors and preserve the spotless, new – like appearance. This method is a hassle free approach to have a sparkling drain that smells as wonderful as it looks without having to hire  a plumber.

Step 02: Arm yourself with Citrus

Natural cleansing properties can be found in abundance in citrus fruits. They are acidic, fragrant, and-best of all- no special preparation to do their job. They are an easy solution to keep your sink odor free and clean.

1. Slice a lemon or orange: Both oranges and lemons are excellent citrus fruits, so use whatever you have on hand. To make the fruit easier to utilize, cut it into quarters or smaller wedges. Citrus’s inherent acidity is excellent at dissolving residue and leaving a pleasant, revitalizing aroma.
2. Toss a couple of slices down the drain: Run cold water and activate the disposal. Citrus acids help clean the blades and leave your sink smelling fresh.

Caution: Only use fresh citrus. That moldy “mystery fruit” in the back of the fridge won’t do the trick—save that for compost instead.

Step 03: Dig Deeper for tough Grime

It could be time to have a close look at your garbage disposal if a strange stink persists in your kitchen despite your best attempts. Grease, residue and food particles can accumulate in disposal over time, producing unpleasant smells that may not be completely removed by standard cleaning techniques.

Get your hands dirty and investigate; a thorough examination  and focused cleaning of disposal can reveal the source of the odor. You can quickly eliminate the smell and bring back the freshness of your kitchen with a little care!

1. Turn off the power: The basic guideline of waste disposal management is safety first. Ensuring the garbage disposal is powered off  is crucial for safety to prevent accidental activation while cleaning. This can be done by unplugging the unit, switching off the breaker, or just ensuring the switch is powered off (and being really, really careful!).
2. Use a brush: Using an old toothbrush or a specialized garbage disposal cleaning brush to scrub beneath the rubber flaps (the splash guard) is effective. Food particles and grease often get stuck there, contributing to odors. A solution of baking soda and water is safe and works well to clean and deodorize.
3. Rinse and Repeat: Flushing the disposal with hot water after scrubbing removes loosened grime and ensures the drain is clear. Repeating this process as needed is common practice for a thorough clean.

The result? A spotless, fresh-smelling disposal that gives you a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Step 04: The weekly Rinse Ritual

Preventing accumulation at your disposal is a continuous chore. Consider it like maintaining a legendary sword: it requires regular cleaning. A weekly rinse can help keep things in good shape.

1. Ice cubes and Salt: Once a week, toss a handful of ice cubes and a tablespoon of coarse salt into the disposal. Turn on cold water and run the disposal. The ice helps knock loose debris, and the salt scrubs away buildup.

Alternative Additives

• For a deeper clean, consider adding a few drops of dish soap with the ice and salt to cut through grease more effectively.
• White vinegar can be frozen into ice cubes and used for this process to add a natural disinfecting property.

2. The citrus Followup: Toss a few citrus peels, like lemon, lime, or orange, into the disposal. Add a drop of citrus essential oil for extra freshness, then run the disposal with cold water. For a deeper clean, pair the peels with a teaspoon of baking soda or freeze citrus juice into ice cubes to use in your weekly routine. Finish by flushing with hot water to leave your kitchen smelling bright and clean!

Pro Tip : After cleaning, keep odors at bay by sprinkling a small amount of baking soda into the disposal once a week. Let it sit for a few minutes before running cold water and the disposal. Baking soda neutralizes lingering smells and freshens up the space.

Final Touch: How Vella Helps Keep it Clean

Now that you have learned the abilities required to operate your sink and garbage disposal like a seasoned pro, there’s only one question; who will be there to support you when life gets busy?

That’s when Vella steps in. Our skilled housekeepers do more than just clean kitchen cabinets and remove odors from the sink; we provide high-quality professional care to every room in your home, ensuring that each space shines with special attention to detail.

So, whether you want a gleaming sink or a garbage disposal that emits the fresh aroma of citrus (rather than…well anything else), Vella has the knowledge to make it happen.

With Vella by your side, you can have a house that feels as amazing as it looks, without all of the work.