Spring Clean your Kitchen Sink & Garbage Disposal


3 simple things you need to know about your garbage disposal to properly care and maintain it. Recommended products and procedures

I had quite the mishap some years back with the garbage disposal which came in the kitchen when we bought our house. It was what is commonly referred to as a “builder’s special.”  At the time, I had what is commonly referred to as “mommy brain.”  

These two – the “builder’s special” garbage disposal and my “mommy brain” – met in an unfortunate accident which necessitated the installation of a new disposal for our kitchen sink!  

How much of a blessing in disguise this was became clear when my husband’s plumber came over to install the new one. I found out my mommy brain wasn’t the only thing negatively affecting my disposal. And I learned quite a bit of important information about the monster under my kitchen sink.

This post may include affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase based on my recommendation, I get a small remuneration at no extra expense to you. I only recommend things I use and believe to be a blessing.

Since this information was new to me, I thought it would be good to share with you the proper care and maintenance of your disposal, as well as a great recommendation for getting your kitchen sink spring clean and fresh.

That way, we can all lay aside the sins we have been committing to our kitchen sinks and disposals.

Are you ready?

Here’s the awful truth:

You probably need a better garbage disposal.

My plumber let me know that the “builder’s special” we had in our kitchen was a substandard product.  Yes, it could get the job done – sort of- but it was too loud and it rattled the entire counter when we used it.  He told me the new disposal is the kind he installs in the homes my husband builds (crazy insane custom homes). He assured me it would work much more efficiently and quietly.

Can I tell you?  The difference is amazing!  It is so quiet I sometimes can’t figure out if it is on or not. I end up having to push the button a couple of times to “hear” the difference between off and on.  I never knew it could be like this!  And this baby can grind up anything!

But wait there’s more!

You’re Doing it Wrong

You know that trick everybody does of putting citrus peels down their disposal in order to freshen it up?

um….

Yup.  That’s not the way to do it either.  My plumber told me the way to clean the disposal. Here’s the complicated process he shared with me:

  • put some ice cubes in the drain
  • turn on a slow stream of cold water
  • turn on the disposal until the ice is gone.

Yeah. That’s it.  Just ice and water.

But, ice and water doesn’t really make your disposal smell good. So, I’ve got something for that, too! It is all natural – and doesn’t violate the no citrus peel rule!

And it smells SO good – citrusy, even!

Check out this Grab Green Garbage Disposal Freshener and Cleaner! The scent I like is Tangerine and Lemongrass!  Usually household products (especially for the kitchen) don’t smell this good and fresh!  

Quick Tip: To get a stream of water slow enough to make this process count.  Turn the faucet on a low stream and move the faucet to the side of the drain (so it the water is not going directly into the drain).

Here’s me putting these wonder refreshers in my disposal.

» By the way, the disposal fresheners both are free of phosphates, chlorines, and dyes.  They really WORK without all the gunk!

The Right Way to Use your Disposal

OK, now let’s talk about how to properly use a garbage disposal.

While I don’t agree with all the dos in this article, I do agree with all of the don’ts.  

Realistically proper disposing in your sink is based on two factors: size and texture.   Big hunks of things don’t do well in a disposal.  Fibrous things don’t do well either.  Those are best saved for the scrap heap, not the sink.

There is one other thing that mightily affects the performance of your disposal: when you put the food waste into the drain.

You should follow these simple steps:

  • have the water running at a good steady stream
  • turn the disposal on
  • then put the food you want to disappear into the drain (a little at a time).
3 simple things you need to know about your garbage disposal to properly care and maintain it. Recommended products and procedures

This Post Has 28 Comments

  1. MaryBeth

    I have had trouble with the disposal before, so it is good to know what I was doing wrong. I have tried baking soda and vinegar for funky smells and clogs…but it only takes away the smell, not leave something pleasant!

  2. Stacie

    I like those scents. Sound different and fresh. I will definitely give these products a try. Now we need to figure out what’s wrong with your dishwashe. Maybe the pipes arent draining properly?

  3. Dana

    I make my own, so they’re typically not scented at all!

  4. Debbie Yoder

    ive been making my own cleaners, vinegar, baking soda and castile soap, I then use essential olis, lemon and orange are my facorite!

  5. Ally

    I tend to make my own, so they’re usually vinegar scented (or a little eucalyptus or some other essential oil if I have guests coming)!

  6. Holly Mitkowski

    I use green products as much as I can!

  7. Missy Marie

    I use white vinegar and baking soda.

  8. Alexandra Oller

    I use green cleaners as often as possible. I like the lemon fresh scent best.

  9. Audra

    I love the smell of thyme

  10. Annamarie V

    I try to use green products as much as possible. I like clean smelling scents not too flowery except for lavender.

  11. Naomie

    I try to use all green cleaners. Lavender is my favorite scent.

  12. charlene

    I try to use green products as much as possible. I like lemon scent the best

  13. Emily Benzing

    I use green products to clean if I find them – it’s kind of hard to. I enjoy fresh, beachy, clean scents!

  14. Elena

    I use green cleaners most of the time.
    I like the basil scent

  15. Melissa R

    I sometimes use green cleaners at home. I don’t like very strong scents, especially ones that smell artificial.

  16. Tamsyn Spackman

    I like green cleaners. Honestly I wasn’t very good about cleaning house before we started using them because they would make me feel nauseous. We have used tea tree oil simply because it’s effective and it has grown on me, but I really love the citrus smells. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to try something new!

  17. Marija

    I typically do a lot with vinegar and baking soda. I add in essential oils, too. Rosemary is nice, as is lavender.

  18. LEAH MILLER

    MY FAVORITE GREEN CLEANER IS METHOD BRAND.

  19. Gabrielly

    I use white vinegar and baking soda!

  20. Jessica To

    I haven’t used many green cleaners but I like the light, clean scents.

  21. Katherine Oliveira

    I try to use green products. I like fresh smells, and fruity smells.

  22. sunnie

    I do make my own cleaners, so I’m pretty green about some stuff

  23. Cindy Loo

    I do make my own laundry detergent, and I scent it with orange essential oils!

  24. hannah

    Ive been using either vinegar and baking soda, or some green cleaners that are unscented. I add essential oils for scent.

  25. Michelle Ward

    I use store brand cleaners but I am learning about healthier alternatives and plan to switch.

  26. Jennifer Reed

    I have not used green products in my home yet but I tend to like herbal or citrus scents for my cleaners.

  27. Elisabeth Weaver

    We love the fig and thyme room freshener! Also Seventh Generation makes some cedar scented bathroom cleaner that works pretty well for us.

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