Steps and Tips from a Seattle Plumber
Garbage disposals are one of the most used appliances in the kitchen. The average person uses their disposal two to three times a day, and many people dispose up to a half pound of food scraps each time they use it. Even though we may not think about cleaning a garbage disposal, it gets dirty too. Read on for tips from a Seattle drain cleaning company on how to clean your garbage disposal so that it continues running smoothly and doesn’t smell like garbage.
- Never put your fingers near the blades while cleaning the garbage disposal. Even when sticking a brush or spoon in the disposal to clean it, always turn off the power to prevent the disposal from accidentally starting while you are cleaning.
- Clean the baffle with dish soap and a sponge. Generally, the baffle is located under where the sink flange sits, right below the drain hole in the kitchen sink basin. It also may be behind an access panel or tucked away somewhere else. After locating the baffle, scrub it with a sponge and soapy water. Use kitchen tongs to hang onto the sponge.
- Use an old toothbrush or another small brush to clean out any remaining food scraps in other parts of grinder. Do not be tempted to use your fingers.
- To clean the grinding chamber, pour a cup of ice cubes and then some dish soap into the disposal and then run cold water through the disposal. If there are still any stubborn bits of food, use a wooden spoon to help break them up.
- Next, add baking soda and vinegar. Pour a half of a cup of baking soda into the disposal. Do not use baking powder as it creates gooey clumps. Add some white vinegar. Let that sit.
- Cover the drain opening with a rag or stopper for about 10 minutes. Turn on the cold water and let it run for about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Lastly, run hot water through the disposal for a minute or two.
- If you notice any strange sounds or other abnormalities with your garbage disposal throughout this process, call a local plumber for help.
- Know that garbage disposals were not designed to grind great quantities of food. They are intended to grind up small amounts of food scraps. Put any large amounts of food into your compost or garbage.
- Taking care of your disposal means it will consistently run smoothly, smell fresh, and last a long time.
Raymark Plumbing & Sewer is a full-service residential plumbing and sewer company. Raymark is located in Seattle, WA, and has been a family-owned business for 45 years. Raymark offers honest, upfront pricing, a 100 percent workmanship guarantee, and 24-hour emergency services. They are known for finding solutions to problems when other plumbing companies could not. As a result, Raymark is the plumber that other plumbers and long-time customers recommend.
Raymark Plumbing & Sewer
10710 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 440-9077
Raymark Plumbing and Sewer 