The kitchen sink’s garbage disposal chops up food and washes away crumbs, but it can also collect bits of debris that linger, harboring bacteria and producing a foul scent.

For this reason, it’s important to give your sink a clean-out often, whether you have a garbage disposal or not. Follow these easy steps (the first two work on all drains, not just disposals), and your nose will thank you.

  1. (All drains) Pour one cup baking soda and one cup white vinegar down the disposal. Let the mixture bubble for up to 10 minutes.
  2. (All drains) Boil a kettle or pot of hot water. Pour water down the drain to flush out the baking soda and vinegar mixture.
  3. For the garbage disposal, fill the drain with two cups of ice and one cup salt. Turn on cold water, and run the disposal until the ice is gone. This will get gunk off the blades.
  4. For extra deodorizing power, peel an orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit, and drop the rinds down the disposal one piece at a time. Unplug nostrils, and allow pleasant, kitchen-y scent to fill your mind with glee.

TIP: To minimize smells, always run cold water when grinding items in the garbage disposal.