The Garbage Disposal Cleaning Hack You Should Definitely Avoid

Garbage disposals in most homes are notorious for harboring unpleasant smells that cause the entire kitchen to stink. This is so because this appliance is often hard to clean properly and also harbors a lot of garbage that does not make it down the drain successfully. For this reason, it is quite common for some people to lean towards cleaning hacks that not only promise to cut down on the cleaning time but also eliminate the odor entirely.

However, it is important to mention that just because a cleaning hack is trending on social media, it doesn't mean it will work for you or anyone, for that matter. One viral trend that has since gotten a lot of attention is using a rather unorthodox combo of ice cubes and hot water. Although a lot of people online seem to have bought the idea, the big question is, does it really work? Well, experts seem not to agree with this viral cleaning hack, and here is why!

Although ice is often used for cleaning garbage disposals, experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing do not like the idea of shoving excessive amounts of ice down the kitchen drain. Mark Dawson, the COO at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, mentions that jamming the sink drain with too many ice cubes might give you the opposite of what you want to achieve (via Better Homes & Gardens). Instead of removing the stuck food particles, you are likely to end up clogging the appliance even further, causing gross black water to buck up into the sink.

Another reason why this cleaning hack is not recommended is because of the use of hot water when running the garbage disposal. While hot water is ideal for cleaning the surface and also killing germs, The Pink Plumber advises against using it to clean your garbage disposal. This is because the grease and oils will liquefy only momentarily when the hot water is running, only to solidify again later and clog your pipes. Keep in mind that grease and oils are not meant for the garbage disposal. However, if for some reason they end up down the drain, cold water should help them solidify and make it easy to break down.

There are different approaches to cleaning your garbage disposal but using plain ice cubes and water is by far the easiest. Usually, you don't need new hacks to improve the efficiency of this method because it works well most of the time. To begin, it is worth pointing out that running the garbage disposal with a few pieces of ice cubes not only removes the stuck gunk, but also helps to clean the appliance's blades in the process, per The Rooter Works. As the cubes grind, be sure to run cold water down the drain to flush the debris. 

It is also good practice to have a deodorizer when cleaning your garbage disposal to help eliminate any unwanted smells. Drop a couple of lemon or citrus peels to add a fresh scent to your sink and entire kitchen. Similar to other appliances in your home, regular cleaning is essential if you want to keep your garbage disposal in tip-top shape and working properly for longer. Consider cleaning your garbage disposal at least once every week if you use it regularly, notes WebMD.