Can a Garbage Disposal Be Cleaned Out?

Cold Water

• Running cold water down your garbage disposal when using it is effective in keeping the disposer clean. Leave it on for 30 seconds after the disposal finishes grinding to clear the drain of any lingering food debris that may corrode the appliance or cause an odor. Cold water solidifies grease, therefore allowing the disposal to clear the debris and flush the particles. Never stick your hands into a garbage disposal. To remove large objects from the unit, turn it off and use a pair of kitchen tongs to remove the item.

Peach Pits or Chicken Bones

• If the disposal takes longer than usual to grind the food debris, the grinding lungs may be coated with soft food particles that it can't grind correctly. Put soft chicken bones or peach pits down the drain to help loosen the soft particles from the blades. Never grind any other type of bones in your disposal.

Citrus Peels

• Dump any lemon or orange peels down your garbage disposal to help clean the blades. This helps clear any fatty or greasy residue and soft food particles. The citrus peels also leaves the appliance smelling fresh. Any time you have leftover peels, make use of the cleaning action by grinding them up instead of throwing them into the trash.

Ice Cubes

• Dump about a cup of ice cubes into your garbage disposal as routine maintenance to keep it cleaned out. Run cold water through the unit while you are grinding the ice. The temperature of the ice also helps solidify any greasy or fatty materials present in the unit so that it can be ground up.