Like virtually every other part of your apartment, your garbage disposal can get dirty. And when it does, you’ll likely know right away thanks to the unpleasant odor it produces. Thankfully, this smell is not permanent; your garbage disposal just needs to be cleaned – a fairly quick, easy, and painless chore.
If you’ve noticed your garbage disposal is smelling a little stale these days, here’s how you can freshen it up:

• Clean the visible parts of the disposal with dish soap and a scrub brush, paying particular attention to where the disposal and the sink connect.
• To clean the disposal’s housing, plug the sink and fill it halfway with water. Next, add a little bit of vinegar and dish soap to the water. Finally, unplug the drain and run your garbage disposal at the same time so send the soapy water through the disposal.
• Get rid of the slimy residue in your disposal by pouring a large cup of ice cubes into it. As you turn on the disposal, add half a cup of kosher salt.
• Leave your disposal smelling fresh by running a few lemon, orange, or lime peels through your disposal. The rough peels will help clean the blades and the disposal wall while the citrus oils will leave a pleasant smell behind.

If you think your garbage disposal is acting strangely, it might need a repair rather than a cleaning. In this case, be sure to contact our leasing office so that we can schedule you for a repair with our maintenance staff.

The kitchens in our Alachua, FL, apartments are not just equipped with garbage disposals. They also feature updated appliances, including large 18-cubic-foot refrigerators and glass-top stoves, which make cooking a breeze. If you are not currently a resident of One 51 Place but would like to learn more about all that our apartments have to offer, call or stop by our leasing office today for more information.