Your garbage disposal is a handy kitchen appliance you likely use every day. However, when you send something down the disposal, you don’t want to smell it later. If you’re dealing with stubborn odors wafting from your sink, here are a few drain cleaning tricks to keep your kitchen smelling fresh.

Garbage Disposal Drain Cleaning Strategies

1. Vinegar & Baking Soda

Vinegar has an acidic pH, which balances out the basic pH of the odors. As a result, it’s an effective drain cleaning neutralizer. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, then follow it with half a cup of distilled white vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes; you’ll hear it sizzling as the two react together. Turn on the disposal and flush it out with hot water for 30 seconds. The odors should disappear down the drain, along with the soda and vinegar.

2. Citrus Fruit

The acidic pH of citrus serves as a deodorizer for rancid odors, just as vinegar does. It leaves a more enjoyable smell behind than vinegar, so this method can be used on its own or after the vinegar and baking soda combination. Cut lemons, oranges, or limes into small sections, then grind them up in the disposal. If you use peels, cut them into half-inch strips first to prevent the fibers from clogging the impellers.

3. Antibacterial Soap

Stop up the drain and fill the sink halfway with hot water. Add two to three squirts of liquid dish soap and mix them together. Remove the stopper and run the disposal as it drains. This will wash away any debris built up inside the drain, as the hot water loosens it up and the soap kills the germs. If the top of the disposal (the part you see inside the sink) has visible grime, use a sponge with soap to clean it off.

If you’ve tried these methods and your disposal is still emitting an unpleasant smell, there may be a more serious clog. This is when it’s best to hire a drain cleaning professional. Latour Plumbing LLC is the trusted locally owned and operated plumber serving homes and businesses throughout Lafayette, LA. They’ll find the source of the odors and neutralize them, then handle any plumbing repairs to prevent them from coming back. See their full range of services on their website, or call (337) 291-0964 to schedule low-cost maintenance today.