There have been a handful of times when I’ve deep-cleaned my entire kitchen and there was still a lingering smell. It surprises me every time to find out the culprit is always my garbage disposal! I do my best to clean it a few times per week, whether that means sprinkling some baking soda or squeezing the last drops of a lemon and using it to scrub around the drain. I’ve even tried some deodorizing products, but haven’t found anything that has been strong enough to thoroughly clean this unseen-yet-smelly space in my kitchen. Fortunately, I finally found the magical cleaner my sink desperately needed!
Enter: CLR Garbage Disposal Weekly Foaming Cleanser Pods. When I first opened the bag, I was a bit skeptical of the size of each pod. I was worried that they might be too big or damaging for my garbage disposal — especially considering the tiny size of the cleaning pods I was using before. However, I liked that the label described them as foaming, which I knew would give my garbage disposal a deep clean.
What Happened When I Tried CLR’s Garbage Disposal Cleanser Pods
Although the instructions specified first running a pencil stream of hot water from the faucet away from the drain for about a minute, I opted for hot water from a kettle to control the direction of the water and maximize coverage. I then dropped in a pod and turned on the garbage disposal as I continued gently pouring hot water.
Immediately the foam started coming out from both drains of my double sink, and I felt relieved that this cleaner was actually working. I also got a whiff of a combination of the “fresh scent” cleaning agent and whatever grime was living in my garbage disposal — another sign the pod was working its magic. I was also pleased that the size of the pod had no negative effect on the disposal. The instructions recommend waiting 5 minutes after the foam retreats before rinsing, so I took this time to scrub both sinks with baking soda and dish soap for an extra refresh.
Once I rinsed both sinks and turned on the garbage disposal one last time, I could see and smell the difference (so fresh and so clean!). Despite the label claiming a week of freshness, I didn’t have to use another pod for about nine days. At under $6 per bag, the cost of one pod comes out to around a dollar, which makes this an excellent value for a truly effective cleaner that’ll keep your garbage disposal fresh for more than a week at a time.
Buy: Fresh & Clean Garbage Disposal Pods All Purpose Cleaner, $5.42