How To Safely Clean a Garbage Disposal

For routine cleaning, pour the ice down the drain and then the rock salt. If you don’t have rock salt, use vinegar.

Run the cold water and the disposal for five to 10 seconds. The ice and salt or vinegar will clear the grinding elements of any built-up gunk and bits of food.

If your disposal is clogged, disconnect it or remove its fuse before you try to remove anything. Use tongs or pliers to remove any objects that can’t be ground, such as rubber, glass, or fibrous foods like artichokes.

Fill your sink with three or four inches of cold water. Remove the drain plug and run the disposal to clear the drain line of debris.

Throw lemon peels down the drain (be sure to remove any seeds first), run warm water, and turn on the disposal.

Keep your disposal working at its best and your kitchen smelling fresh by cleaning your disposal every couple of weeks.