The Dirtiest Items in Your Kitchen & How to Clean Them

It’s pretty obvious when your bathroom needs cleaning or your furniture needs dusting, but did you know it is just as important to clean some of the hardest working parts of your kitchen—your garbage disposal, dishwasher, and drains?

Tips to Clean Your Dishwasher

Your high-efficiency dishwasher saves you money by reducing the water used and energy needed to heat it. It deserves a little TLC to make sure it runs at its best.

Check out these three easy steps to clean your dishwasher so it can return the favor:

1. Give the outside of your dishwasher a thorough cleaning: Soap and water will do for dishwashers with plastic fronts. Most manufacturers suggest specialty cleaning products for stainless steel dishwashers.
2. Clean the dishwasher filter: Scraps of food get caught up in the dishwasher filter instead of pushing them through the drain for quieter performance. The filter is usually located on the bed of the dishwasher and can be unscrewed easily and then rinsed using the spray nozzle of your faucet and brushed with a sponge.
3. Run a dish rinse aid or dishwasher cleaning agent: This simple step will remove the odors and discolorations that can build up in your dishwasher over time. Experts recommend doing this monthly.

How to Sanitize the Sink Spray Nozzle

You likely clean your sink basin and faucet handle but neglect your sink sprayer. Over time hard water and the minerals in it can build up on your spraying affecting its ability to work.

You can easily clean your sink sprayer by filling a bowl with white vinegar and warm water. Dip clean micro cloths into the mix and wipe down the nozzle hose. Then, using a clean cloth, dry off the vinegar from the hose and repeat the steps, this time scrubbing the nozzle.

Use a toothbrush to best clean stubborn spots and clogged spray holes. Consider allowing the spray nozzle to soak overnight in a water and vinegar mixture.

Wipe down the components with a clean cloth to finish the job.

How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

You put food waste down the disposal, and it’s out of sight, out of mind, but odors and germs can linger on the blades and other parts of your disposal.

To clean your disposal:

1. Turn off the power to the unit and unplug it if possible.
2. Clean the rubber splash guard using an old toothbrush and dish detergent.
3. Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the disposal. After waiting 30 minutes, pour in 1 cup of vinegar and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Rinse with hot water or a pot of boiling water. Restore power to the unit.
4. Run the disposal with cold water to flush through

How to Get Rid of Stinky Smell in Your Kitchen Drain

You’ve finished doing the dishes and run the garbage disposal, but there’s a stink lingering in your kitchen drain. Here’s what you can do:

Combine sliced lemon, a couple of tablespoons of salt, and 2 cups of ice. Dump the mix into the garbage disposal and turn it on until it runs freely. The combination will cut the smell and scrub away any food stuck in the unit.

Turn to Russo Bros. & Co. for Your Appliance Service Needs

Your kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in your house and can sometimes be the dirtiest. Broken garbage disposals and clogged kitchen drains can bring your home to a grinding halt.

The experts at Russo Bros. & Co. for all your Northern New Jersey plumbing service needs, including:

• Drain cleaning
• Garbage disposal repair
• Appliance hookups and repairs of your refrigerator, dishwasher, and ice maker

Request service online or call (973) 887-1334 now to schedule an appointment for your Northern NJ home.