"Also, one thing people often overlook is the rubber splash guard at the top."
Glad someone mentioned this—I ignored mine for months until curiosity got the better of me...yikes. Cleaning that plus hot water and soap really does wonders, way better than vinegar fizz alone.
Good points on the rubber splash guard, but honestly, vinegar fizz alone isn't as ineffective as you're suggesting. A lot depends on how you're applying it. A few things I've noticed from experience:
- Vinegar fizz (vinegar + baking soda) actually does a decent job breaking down mild buildup and neutralizing odors, especially if you let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with hot water.
- The rubber splash guard definitely traps gunk, but if you're regularly using citrus peels (lemon or orange), they can help keep buildup minimal between deeper cleans. They also freshen up the disposal nicely.
- Soap and hot water are great, don't get me wrong, but if you're dealing with persistent odors, you might want to consider a specialized enzyme-based cleaner. These products actively break down organic matter causing the smell, rather than just masking it temporarily.
- Also, don't underestimate the importance of running the disposal longer than you think you need to after cleaning. Sometimes people rinse too briefly, leaving residues behind that quickly start to smell again.
I had a client once who swore by ice cubes and rock salt—claimed it sharpened blades and cleaned everything out. Personally, I'm skeptical about the sharpening part (most disposals don't have blades that need sharpening anyway), but the ice does help dislodge stuck-on debris that might be contributing to odors.
Bottom line: vinegar fizz isn't useless, just limited in certain scenarios. Combining methods usually gives the best results.
Vinegar fizz is decent, sure, but honestly I've found boiling water poured slowly down the disposal every week or two works wonders. Simple, eco-friendly, and surprisingly effective—especially if odors keep creeping back. Worth a shot before buying specialized cleaners.
Boiling water's handy, but honestly, citrus peels are my go-to. Toss a few lemon or orange peels down there, run it briefly, and voilà—fresh scent without the swampy undertones. Plus, bonus points for repurposing kitchen scraps instead of composting them immediately.
Citrus peels are awesome, definitely a solid trick. But if the swamp monster smell keeps creeping back, you might wanna check under the rubber splash guard thingy—sometimes gunk builds up there and it's pretty gross. I once pulled mine off and found stuff that looked like it belonged in a horror movie... not my finest moment, lol.
Also, every now and then, tossing in a handful of ice cubes with some coarse salt can really help scrub the blades and sides clean. Makes an awful racket for a few seconds, but it's oddly satisfying knowing you're giving that disposal a good deep clean. Between citrus peels and ice cubes, your swamp monster should be packing its bags in no time.
