Garbage disposal may be one of the wonders of modern life, but it’s also a source of bad smells. Once the smells are there, getting rid of them completely – rather than just covering them up – can be a challenge. But a few lemons and limes (plus vinegar) can go a long way – if you keep them handy and easily accessible.
Combating odors from waste disposal
If you haven’t already, try keeping a stash of chopped lemons and limes in your refrigerator. So you can throw a few pieces for disposal every few uses. The citrus scent provides a temporary solution to softening the odor, while the frequency helps keep it fresh.
Then, for a more permanent solution, use a strong acid to completely remove the odor. To do this, pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain once a month, leave it on for half an hour, and then rinse it off. Don’t be fooled by the harsh smell of the vinegar: the acidity of the vinegar will help kill any odor-causing bacteria.
Combating strong garbage disposal smells
When you get to the point where you are desperate to ever get rid of the foul smell emanating from your garbage disposal, a stronger solution is: Freeze citrus pieces such as lemons or limes in vinegar ice cubes. To mix things up a bit, you can add too Rosemary or other citrus peel, like orange, with the vinegar ice cubes. Then throw a few ice cubes in the trash can after each use.
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As the grinding ring pulverizes the ice cubes into tiny pieces, the scent of the citrus fruits freshen up the smell, while the pungent acidity of the vinegar kills anything that grows in it. Depending on how bad the smell is, you may need to do this regularly, at least until it’s completely decontaminated.
Other solutions to get rid of the odors in your garbage disposal are the use of Ice and salt, or Baking soda and vinegar. Another trick is to Pour a little boiling water in the trashalthough you need to be careful to let the water cool for a few minutes, as water that is too hot can damage household drains (and pour in a small amount, not the value of a whole pot). It’s also a good idea to make sure you do cleaned the splash guard of the sinkas this can be an overlooked source of mysterious smells.
