How to Clean a Garbage Disposal with Baking Soda and Vinegar | Branch Basics

A garbage disposal is a useful, mysterious, black dark hole in the kitchen that magically makes kitchen scraps disappear.

But because of all the food, grease, and grime that pass through, some doesn’t always make its way out. Instead, food particles, fats, and liquids can get stuck on the walls and blades causing undesirable odors.

To keep this from happening, it’s important to clean your garbage disposal on a regular basis.

In this article, we’ll show you how to clean your garbage disposal with just two natural pantry products - baking soda and vinegar.

Things You’ll Need

It doesn’t take much to clean your garbage disposal. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Water
• Sink stopper or plug

Cleaning a Garbage Disposal with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Cleaning your garbage disposal is surprisingly easy – and fun! Combine baking soda and vinegar for a science project-like chemical reaction that fizzes, foams, and bubbles to naturally clear away grease, grime, and stuck-on food particles.

Here’s how to clean a garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar:

1. Remove dishes and debris from the sink.
   
   
2. Carefully check the garbage disposal for any large chunks of food waste or other items such as utensils, toothpicks, etc, that can get stuck in the disposal.
   
   Before removing anything, make sure the disposal is turned off. Use tongs and a flashlight (not your fingers!!) to remove any obstructions.
   
   
3. Pour ½ cup baking soda into the garbage disposal, followed by ½ cup distilled white vinegar. Insert the plug or stopper and let fizz and foam for about 5 to 10 minutes.
   
   Note: Have a double sink? Add the solution to both drains.
   
   
4. Run hot water down the drain. Let the disposal run until the baking soda and vinegar mixture, and all food particles, wash down the drain.
   
   
5. Flush with cold water.

We also recommend cleaning the rubber baffle around the drain. This is a prime location for old, slimy grime and food particles to get stuck, causing that  old food odor.

To clean, spray All Purpose onto the rubber baffle. Let dwell for a few minutes, then use a microfiber cloth or non-abrasive natural scrub brush to clean. Rinse well.

For more ways to use baking soda and vinegar throughout the home, check out Cleaning with Baking Soda: 12 Surprising Uses and 12 Ways to Use Vinegar in Your Home.

A quick note about vinegar: Although vinegar is safe and non-toxic when used correctly, it is highly acidic and contains acetic acid which is a lung irritant and should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. It’s best to not make vinegar or vinegar solutions airborne by spraying. Instead, fill a measuring cup and pour the vinegar into the garbage disposal. And, keep the windows open and fans running while you clean.

General Maintenance Tips 

Now that you know how to clean your garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar, let’s answer some general maintenance FAQs.

How Often Should I Clean My Garbage Disposal?

This depends, of course, on how often you use your garbage disposal. 

But, for those of us that use it regularly, there are three answers to this question:

After each use, run cold water for an extra 20 to 30 seconds to flush away any extra debris left behind in the disposal.

Every week, plan to give your garbage disposal a quick clean to freshen up. There are a few ways you can go about this:

1. Hot water flush - turn the faucet on to its hottest setting. Turn the disposal on and let the hot water run for about 30 seconds.
   
   
2. Ice cube method - add a cup or two of ice to the garbage disposal. Spray All Purpose directly into the drain opening. Then, add a tablespoon or two of rock salt. Turn the garbage disposal on until the ice and salt are completely crushed up. Flush with hot water.
   
   An added benefit - grinding ice in the garbage disposal sharpens the blades!
   
   
3. Citrus peel method - flush the garbage disposal with hot water for about 30 seconds. Add a handful of fresh citrus peels to the garbage disposal. Run for a few seconds to freshen.

Every one to three months, perform a deep clean of your garbage disposal, following the baking soda and vinegar cleaning directions above. But, use caution as overuse of baking soda and vinegar can become problematic (more on that next).

Can You Put Too Much Baking Soda and Vinegar Down the Drain?

Yes, you can!

Although baking soda and vinegar are excellent natural cleaning products, excessive use can cause unwanted damage to the disposal and water pipes. 

For example, due to its acidity, overuse of vinegar can wear down water pipes (especially if they are older) and the disposal’s components, such as the blades and inner walls.

Also, combining vinegar and baking soda creates a foaming and fizzy chemical reaction. Add too much, and you’ll be left with quite the mess! Only use the suggested amount above to avoid unwanted overflow from the drain.

Healthier Cleaning with Branch Basics

Now you know how easy it is to clean a garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar. It’s a safer, more sustainable, healthier way of cleaning!

Speaking of healthier cleaning, we love using natural, healthy products in our home, which is why we created Branch Basics. Branch Basics is an all-in-one, human-safe, biodegradable, plant- and mineral-based cleaning line designed to replace every cleaner and laundry product with harmful ingredients in your home. This includes in the kitchen, bathroom, glass cleaners, dish soap, and much more!

Just like baking soda and vinegar, Branch Basics is natural, human-safe, and multi-purpose. It’s made using only the safest ingredients for people, pets, and the planet.

All of our products are:

• Formulated using Made Safe ingredients,
• Rated 1-2 on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database,
• Third-party tested as non-skin and eye irritants.

To learn more, and to shop our Branch Basics Premium Starter Kits, click here! Our Starter Kits are available in refillable plastic or glass spray bottles, and come with a full bottle of our all-in-one Concentrate, enough to make All-Purpose, Bathroom, Laundry, Streak-Free, and Foaming Wash. We’ll also send you a full bag of our popular human-safe Oxygen Boost!

For more tips on natural cleaning to create a healthy home, check out our Wellness Center, and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!