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Few things are as off-putting as a smelly garbage disposal. While many homeowners reach for the can of bleach to get rid of unwanted odors coming from their sink, any worthy plumber will strongly advise against this. Bleach can do major damage to your sink and can also be detrimental to your family’s health if it’s used too often for cleaning purposes. Instead, your local plumber will suggest getting to know the ways your garbage disposal becomes dirty and informing yourself about the safest, most effective ways to clean it out. 

What Your Plumber Wants You to Know About Tending to Garbage Disposal Odors

Where Is the Root of the Problem?

plumberBefore you can get down and dirty with cleaning your disposal, you’ll need to identify the source of the odor. In most cases, it’s a piece of food that has gotten lodged inside and has begun to rot or mold. Before you stick your hand down the sink to pull out the foreign object, take a few minutes to turn off the disposal’s motor.

This is a high-powered motor that can sever your hand if something goes wrong, so it’s in your best interest to turn it off before you begin. Reach down with the long end of a wooden spoon, or if you’re extremely careful, your hand, and jostle the contents around to see if you can feel any blockages. If so, remove them, and discard them in the trash, so you can move on to dealing with the residual odor.

How Can I Fix it?

Rather than grabbing an industrial-sized can of bleach, take a more natural approach to ridding your sink of foul smells. Citrus, like lemons or grapefruits, are soft enough for your disposal to tear apart, but their acidic nature will break down odor-causing particles. If you’re not partial to the idea of adding large items to your disposal, try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Start with a cup of dry baking soda and pour it down the disposal, followed by a distilled white vinegar. If the smell remains, call your local plumber to take a closer look, as this may be an indication of a larger problem. 

 

Are you dealing with a plumbing, heating, or cooling problem in Wisconsin Rapids, WI? If so, don’t hesitate to call Steve’s Plumbing & Heating. Unwaveringly loyal to their customer’s needs and rights, this group of talented HVAC and plumbing experts are ready to take action to address any home improvement obstacle. Whether you need a new appliance installed or are just looking to give one of your existing systems some TLC, you can trust that you’re in capable hands. For more help, reach out online or at (715) 421-1800.

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