cleaning the garbage disposal & fruit flies

busybodyk · August 2010

Do you know of an organic way to clean the garbage disposal? Right now, ours smells awful. I tried dumping some baking soda and vinegar down there but it didn't help for long. Plus, we have fruit flies that have been around for a few weeks and even though we keep our fruit in the fridge they won't go away. They seem to congregate around the garbage disposal. Any suggestions on how I can eliminate this problem?

Wingit · August 2010

After the baking soda & vinegar did you cover up the drain? That really helps it work! Then follow with hot water.

Another good cleaning trick is some ice and some limes or lemons. Run it for a bit and that really helps freshen things up.

Temp6313048411121614 · August 2010

If the fruit flies are around your disposal, I'd think you have something that got stuck down there. Reach your hand down in there (always freaks me out to have my hand in there) and feel around. I found an old piece of orange peel once (GROSS) that had gotten pushed to the side and the blade couldn't reach it so it just sat there. As far as getting rid of the fruit flies, put a piece of produce (they seem to love tomatoes, cut it in 1/2 or so) in the oven on a cookie sheet over night, in the morning, close the oven door and turn the oven on. They should be all over the tomato and will die cooking. Just an idea.

navybaby1113 · August 2010

I'm not sure how to clean your disposal (I also buy a chemical to clean mine because natural remedies never work), but I can help you get rid of the fruit flies.

Fill a container with some vinegar and then cover it in saran wrap. Poke some holes in the top and leave it for a day or two. The bugs will get in there to get to the vinegar and then they won't be able to get back out. Works every time for me.

YouandMe912 · August 2010

I know you said no chemicals so I don't have a cleaning solution for you BC I use bleach. But, I had an issue with my disposal stinking and I read online that most people turn It on with water but forget to continue letting the water run for 30 seconds or so after you've turned the blades off. The debris continued flying around so if You don't have the water still going, it gets stuck to the sides and stinks. I read that baking soda and vinegar should help this. Even dawn dish soap. It needs to soak though to loosen the existing debris. I did the soap first then bleach and I've had no more issues.

busybodyk · August 2010

Very helpful responses! Thank you all!

hollerjeepgirl · August 2010

Put an orange peel in there and turn the disposal on. Same thing for citrus peels. I used hairspray and a lighter to kill fruit flies but I don't suggest it for everyone

velocitygrl · August 2010

Once you've made sure there is no chunky stuff left in the disposal, put some ice in there, and grind it up. It helps loosen any stuck-on gunk. Follow up by pouring a big pot full of boiling water down the disposal, while the disposal is running. Boiling water will kill bacteria, and I think it would kill fruit flies inside the drain, or their eggs.

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