Yeah, potato peels are no joke—I spent a solid hour wrestling with mine after Thanksgiving dinner last year. Lemon wedges occasionally help too, btw...quick fix for swampy smells between deeper...
Yep, learned the hard way about potato peels myself. Last summer I thought I'd be eco-friendly and compost them down the disposal—big mistake. Lemon wedges help a bit, but honestly, baking soda and vinegar do a better job long-term.
Potato peels are definitely a headache, but baking soda and vinegar haven't been that effective long-term for me. I've found grinding up ice cubes with coarse salt every now and then sharpens the blades and clears out buildup better...might be worth trying.
I've tried ice cubes and salt too, and it definitely helps sharpen things up a bit. But honestly, for the smell itself, tossing in some citrus peels—like lemon or orange—after grinding the ice has worked wonders for me. I used to dread peeling potatoes because of that swampy smell lingering around afterward, but now it's way more manageable. Might not solve everything forever, but it's a decent quick fix between deeper cleans.
Citrus peels definitely help mask odors temporarily, but have you considered that they might actually be contributing to the buildup over time? I've read that citrus rinds can sometimes leave behind fibers or residue that stick to the blades or sides of the disposal. Have you ever tried using baking soda and vinegar instead? It creates a fizzing reaction that can loosen up grime deeper inside...might tackle the root cause a bit better than just covering it up.
"Have you ever tried using baking soda and vinegar instead? It creates a fizzing reaction that can loosen up grime deeper inside...might tackle the root cause a bit better than just covering it up."
Good call on the baking soda and vinegar combo—it's usually my go-to recommendation. Citrus peels smell great at first, but you're right, they can leave behind fibers that build up over time. I've seen disposals jammed up pretty good from orange and lemon rinds getting stuck around the blades.
If the smell is really stubborn, you might want to try tossing in a handful of ice cubes along with some coarse salt. Run the disposal for about 30 seconds with cold water. The ice helps knock loose any gunk stuck to the blades, and the salt acts as a mild abrasive to scrub away residue. It's a simple trick that's worked wonders for me in the past.
Also, don't forget to check the rubber splash guard—that thing can get pretty nasty underneath. Sometimes odors linger there even after cleaning the disposal itself. A quick scrub with an old toothbrush and some dish soap usually does the trick.
Hope this helps clear out your swamp monster situation...good luck!
