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I adore my garbage disposal. Until about three years ago, I was putting raw garbage into old shopping bags, tying the handles and taking it out to the garage to put in our large waste bin. I couldn't stand having it in the garbage in the kitchen. Raw garbage stinks within hours (sometimes minutes), causing you to have to change garbage bags over and over.
When we got our disposal, everything changed. Everything became so much easier. I actually enjoyed peeling carrots and potatoes. Clean-up was a breeze. Then, a couple months later, I smelled something. I could actually smell this horrible odor when I opened up the doors under the sink. I could smell it through the pipes. That was the day I learned you needed to clean a disposal, too. I know, I know. Dumb, right? Growing up we never had a disposal. This was my first one. How was I to know?
Thankfully, I've learned a thing or two since then, and now, I actually make my own freshener tablets to keep the stench away for good.
All you need to do is grab a muffin or brownie pan. If you don't have either of those, just use an ice cube tray. Slice up some lemons and limes and place a few in each of the cups.
Now, get some distilled white vinegar.
Fill each cup up almost to the top. Are you having fun yet? I sure am. These tablets are so easy to make, and I love the smell of lemons and limes. You could even use orange peels if you'd prefer. Heck, along with the fruit put in a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil for each of the tablets!
Take your tin and carefully place it into the freezer. Leave it in the freezer for at least 24 hours to ensure the vinegar freezes completely.
Garbage Disposal Tablets
Materials
- muffin or brownie pan
- lemons
- limes
- distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- All you need to do is grab a muffin or brownie pan. If you don't have either of those, just use an ice cube tray.
- Slice up some lemons and limes and place a few in each of the cups.
- Now, get some distilled white vinegar. Fill each cup up almost to the top.
- Take your tin and carefully place it into the freezer. Leave it in the freezer for at least 24 hours to ensure the vinegar freezes completely.
Notes
- Use Citrus for Freshness: Incorporating slices of lemons and limes not only adds a pleasant scent but also helps to neutralize odors in your garbage disposal.
- Freeze Completely for Effectiveness: Ensure the distilled white vinegar freezes completely by leaving the muffin or brownie pan in the freezer for at least 24 hours. This ensures the tablets solidify properly for effective use.
- Alternative Mold Options: If you don't have a muffin or brownie pan, an ice cube tray can serve as a suitable alternative for molding the garbage disposal tablets. Just adjust the quantity of ingredients accordingly to fit the smaller compartments.
Tanya
Thank you!
Rebecca Payne
I love this idea. I use the baking soda and vinegar but, will try this. Thank you for sharing.
Kelly
I truly appreciate you sharing this. The only problem for me was reading the recipe. It's too many ads getting in the middle of the article it's almost impossible to read.
Pinterest or whoever's responsible for this ads should stop this. It's so annoying, makes you as almost give up on reading the articles!
Sara
Hi Kelly,
I'm sorry you had trouble reading the article. I'm able to offer the information for free because of the ads. They are what keep the blog up and running. It's kind of like TV and commercials. I really appreciate the visit to the site. It helps support bloggers who are the ones producing free content for others to learn from and enjoy!
Carolyn Dennis
So disappointed. I thought you had a tab for a garbage compacter. My mistake BUT maybe you do or could come up with one. The story was almost the same. My husband has the household tie up any garbage that might smell and it goes out to the garage because the compacter really packs it down and you use the same bag for up to three weeks because clean paper trash we put in the recycle box (mail junk for instance). So how nice would it be to have a tablet for the compacter and not have to keep running out to the garage. We do not have weekly garbage pick up. We take it to the dump ourselves. Just trying to give you the whole idea. Thanks. I'll be watching.
Sara
Hi Carolyn! I don't have a trash compactor but I would think that the more frequently you'd empty the trash compactor, the less "stinky" it would be. I know some trash compactors come with air freshening discs or charcoal filters that help keep the smell "at bay." Every now and then you may want to unplug the compactor and give it a good cleaning by removing any loose debris from inside the cabinet and then washing out thoroughly with warm water and a mild detergent. Sorry I couldn't be of more help here with a magic tablet!
Kristen
Wow, so creative and neture friendly at the same time! I would never think of using this, it's just brilliant!
Carrie
The ice and citrus for freshening your drain is always a good idea (don't forget to pull out the rubber flange, turn it over and give it a good scrub and rinse - yucky sludge under there). But using the vinegar and baking soda combination will damage your disposal over time. It will eat away at the "pot" metal parts and ruin the bearings.
Save the vinegar and baking soda for a good cleansing in all your other household drains a couple times a year. Put 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour a full gallon of vinegar steadily in and watch the bubbling clean it out. Give it a good rinse after. This advice was given to me by a plumber - he said twice a year and I'd never have to call him again.
Sara
Thanks so much for the tips, Carrie. I don't the tabs are concentrated enough to do damage, but I agree you need to be careful. I love your tip about cleaning out the household drains!
Clare
This is an awesome tip - I've been putting orange peel, baking soda and ice cubes down my disposal all on separate occasions - I never thought to combine them all!
Sara
I love grinding up those citrus peels in the disposal. Nothing like fresh smelling lemon instead of all of the grossness we put down them every day!
Kate
Just as a heads up...
My brother's roommate used citrus peels in the garbage disposal at my old house (where they currently lived)... and the citrus peels ended up causing a deep down blockage that required hiring a plumber to snake out. Over time, the oils from the peels build up in the pipes.