We Asked Pro Cleaners How to Clear a Drain Fast, and They All Use This DIY Trick

If you’re fortunate enough to have a sink with a garbage disposal, you know how beneficial this can be during your day-to-day cleanup. However, if your garbage disposal is in rough shape and needs to be cleaned and revived, you might be wondering what to do next. That said, don’t be so quick to run to the store in search of a solution.

“Garbage disposals are often overlooked when it comes to routine cleaning, but with the right DIY approach, they’re actually very easy to maintain,” says Jared Sarbit, the CEO of Picture Perfecting Cleaning.

It’s more than likely you have all of the materials you need to fix this problem tucked away in your pantry. Here, cleaning experts outline the process involved in cleaning your garbage disposal using basic essentials and also share what to avoid in order to ensure that your drain remains clear in the future.

Materials

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Hot water
• Citrus peels and ice (optional)
• Measuring cups

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How to Use the DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Below is a five-step process based on tips from the cleaning pros we interviewed, which outlines the best way to use your DIY garbage disposal cleaner to ensure a successful outcome.

1. Prepare your baking soda. Fill a measuring cup with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour that into your disposal.
2. Prepare your vinegar. Fill a measuring cup with one cup of vinegar and pour that over the baking soda, which will result in a fizzing noise, explains Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare. “This chemical reaction is breaking up grease and grime,” he says.
3. Allow the mixture to react. This process will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Wait for the fizzing to stop. When the fizzing subsides, pour three cups of hot water down the drain slowly.
5. Consider adding ice cubes and citrus peels. After you have completed this process, you can run some ice cubes along with lemon or orange peels through the garbage disposal; Schrader notes that this is an effective way to remove residue from the blades while also getting rid of any unpleasant smells left from the procedure.

Tips for Clearing Drains

The cleaning experts with whom we spoke offer a few tried and true tips for keeping drains clear at all times. Making an effort to treat your drains with care day in and day out will prevent you from having to deal with difficult clogs down the road.

• DIY when you can. Not only is it easy to shop your pantry, but it’s better for your drain. Schrader recommends using the DIY mixture outlined above as opposed to pouring harsh store-bought chemicals down the drain, as those can ultimately damage your sink’s piping.
• Run cold water. To prevent damage in the future, Schrader suggests running cold water during and after using the disposal, as this will help fully get rid of food particles.
• Use salt if needed. If you’re dealing with a major buildup in your garbage disposal, salt can help. Schrader advises mixing half a cup of salt with your half cup of baking soda and then adding the vinegar and hot water as instructed above.
• Try a snake to help with tough situations. You can also try using a small plunger or snake in the sink to assist with tougher clogs, Sarbit adds. He recommends doing this following your baking soda and vinegar reaction and finds it to be an effective alternative to using harsh chemicals.
• Don’t pour certain liquids down. Your garbage disposal is not equipped to handle all types of liquids. For example, you should not pour grease or oils down there; this is often a major source of buildup, explains Sarbit.