A simple and effective household tip on how to naturally deodorize your garbage disposal while sharpening the blades at the same time.
That smell, where is it coming from? You use your sniffer to track it down when you discover it’s your garbage disposal.
Garbage disposals are a breeding ground for bacteria and it’s that bacteria that cause those awful odors. If you don’t take care of it on a regular basis your disposal begins to smell more like your trash can than a kitchen sink.The key to getting rid of that smell is to kill the bacteria and while bleach does a great job at doing this, it’s not good for your pipes or for the environment.
To keep the smells away I deodorize my disposal every week and sometimes more depending on what I’ve flushed down it. I used to use citrus peels, like oranges, lemons and limes until my husband the plumber told me to stop. Apparently the rinds are really hard on the blades of the garbage disposal and they don’t break down well, which eventually causes stoppages.
This is what he suggested, which not only deodorizes the garbage disposal but also sharpens the blades. The best part is that it doesn’t require any harsh chemicals or or a plumber.
How to Deodorize and Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades
All you need is an ice cube tray, some vinegar and water. Fill the ice cube tray half way with vinegar, top it off with some water and freeze.
When the ice is completely frozen run the cubes through your garbage disposal with the cold water running. Turn off the garbage disposal once the ice is gone but allow the cold water to continue running for 2-3 minutes.
When you’re done you’ll have the freshest smelling garbage disposal in town and the blades will be sharp enough to cut through all of the waste.
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Ryan Adler says
Vinegar will definitely freshen up your disposal, but does grinding up ice cubes really sharpen the blades? That seems so unlikely…
Robin says
Food naturally gets stuck on the blades, which causes them to dull. Running ice through the garbage disposal removes the stuck on debris which helps to retain the sharpness of the blades.