DIY DRAIN and DISPOSAL CLEANING

DIY DRAIN and DISPOSAL CLEANING – Aired LIVE on 3TV/Phoenix (Good Morning AZ) – 8:20am

DRAIN CLEANER #1

1 cup of salt

1 cup of baking soda

1 large kettle of boiling water

Pour the salt and baking soda over the drain opening. It doesn’t need to all go in.

Pour the kettle of boiling water down the drain starting at the outside and working toward the drain in a circle to rinse the baking soda and salt down.

If it is a grease clog it will clear almost at once. Leave drain for several hours and then flush with cold water.

DRAIN CLEANER #2

1 quart hot water

2 Tablespoons washing soda – This is not baking soda. Find in the laundry aisle.

Pour slowly into the drain. Let sit and then flush with hot water after 10 minutes.

CLEANING YOUR GARGAGE DISPOSAL

Keep the garbage disposal clean, free-flowing and smell-free by filling the sink with 3 inches of warm water and mixing in 1 cup of baking soda. Turn the disposal on and immediately pull the drain plug out. The vacuum created will clean out the holes in the garbage disposal and freshen the smell

DIY Garbage Disposal Bombs

1- 1/2 cups baking soda

1 tsp dish washing liquid

2 tsp salt

20-50 drops of essential oils

¼ to ½ cup water

Mix the baking soda, dish washing liquid and sea salt together in a mixing bowl. Add the essential oils as desired. Then slowly add water until the mixture sticks together without being too wet. You may not need all the water. The more essential oils you use, the less water you will need. If you add too much water by mistake, just add more baking soda until you get the desired texture. Using your hands, form the mixture into balls {approximately 1 – 1.5 inch in size} or use a small scoop and place on a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Allow to dry overnight until firm. This recipe makes approximately 20 balls {depending on size}. Place in a labeled airtight container and store indefinitely.

DIY CITRUS BOMBS

Place 5-6 small pieces of citrus peels {lemons, oranges, limes, etc.} into an ice cube tray and fill up with white vinegar. If there are extra pieces of lemon or orange around, I will squeeze the left over juice into the trays as well.

Freeze until solid. You can store them in a plastic bag in the freezer once they are solid too save space.

General Maintenance Tips

Do not put anything into the garbage disposal that is not biodegradable food waste.

Run your garbage disposal frequently to prevent rust and corrosion and to ensure that there are no obstructions and always remember to run your garbage disposal prior to running your dishwasher to ensure that the drains are cleared.

Remember that all garbage disposals are not created equal. Large, higher horse power disposals will be able to handle items that the smaller, apartment sized models can’t.

WHAT NOT TO PUT IN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Expandable foods such as pasta and rice

Large amounts of potato peels and carrot peels

Large animal bones {smaller chicken bones may be used in more powerful garbage disposals}

Fibrous material such as corn husks, asparagus, banana peels, or celery stalks and onion skins

Fruit pits

Artichokes

Grease

Large amounts of coffee grinds. They will not damage the garbage disposal itself, but they can combine with grease to form a clog in pipes.