Horrified, you turn on the garbage disposal to grind the spoiled chicken to smithereens. But chances are, there’s a buildup of sticky, smelly residue on the walls of the upper chamber — which means it’s time to give your garbage disposal a much-needed deep clean.

Goodbye, Garbage Disposal Smell

You don’t have to buy a special cleaning product to freshen up the garbage disposal. Your kitchen is probably already equipped with all of the supplies you need. Try one — or all — of these proven cleaning methods to banish bad odors.

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Add a quarter cup of baking soda to the disposal, followed by a cup of distilled white vinegar. Leave it for five to 10 minutes and rinse with cold water. Together, these pantry staples kill odor-causing bacteria and clean mineral deposits in the drain.

Salt and Ice

Place a few ice cubes and a handful of salt into the disposal. Turn it on to grind the ice and salt together. The salt neutralizes odors as the ice removes stuck food particles.

Citrus Peels

Peel the citrus of your choice and run the peels through the disposal. The citrus oils kill bacteria and fungi and neutralize odors, leaving a refreshing citrus scent. Note: Use this cleaning method in moderation as too much citric acid can corrode pipes. Afterward, thoroughly rinse the disposal with cold water.

The How-To

First, grab the dish with the scuff marks and wet it with water. Then, take an abrasive powder, such as Bar Keepers Friend, and sprinkle it on the dish. Add enough powder so it creates a paste on the dish. Take a cloth and start rubbing it into the marks; continue scrubbing the surface until the marks disappear. Then you can clean off the dish and admire your work.

From Scratched To Sparkling

The hack works by creating a gentle abrasive cleaning solution that removes marks without scratching your dishes. Once you’ve restored one dish, you’ll be inspired to tackle the entire dinnerware set. Make your way through any other plates or bowls with scuffs from knives, forks, or spoons to restore your dishes to their former glory.

Some scuff marks may be hard to remove, so be prepared to use some elbow grease. At the end of the day, the results will be well worth it.

1. Remove Wall Stains

Sometimes there’s no stopping a little one from scribbling all over the wall with their favorite crayon. But don’t panic when this happens — just head to your medicine cabinet and grab some toothpaste. The mild abrasives, such as baking soda, will help remove those pesky crayon, marker, colored pencil, or highlighter stains. Simply apply some toothpaste to a dampened rag and wipe the marks away. Alternatively, apply toothpaste directly to the wall and gently remove the stains using a scrub brush.

2. Clean Washing Machines

For this, you’ll need a tube of toothpaste and a whole lemon. Slice the lemon in half, squeeze a generous helping of toothpaste on both exposed halves of the citrus, and then place the lemon halves inside the washing machine drum. (Tip: Try to remove as many lemon seeds as possible before applying the toothpaste.) This hack works for both top-load and front-load washers, but if yours is the latter, add a bit of toothpaste to the interior of the tempered glass window as well — it could probably use a little TLC. Run the machine on a hot cycle until complete. Finally, remove the lemon rind and the washing machine should be clean, fresh, and ready for your next load of laundry.

3. Polish Silverware

If you’re turned off by unsightly tarnished silverware, apply some toothpaste directly to a microfiber cloth or a soft bristle toothbrush and begin scrubbing. You can also squeeze the toothpaste directly onto the silverware, and then use a wet scrub brush to spread the product around. Once the tarnish has faded, wash the toothpaste off the silverware, which should be sparkling like new.

We’re talking about baking soda, of course. This cheap pantry staple is known for cleaning all sorts of stubborn grime, including coffee and tea stains.

How To Remove Coffee Stains From Cups

1. Wash the Coffee Mug

To remove coffee stains from your mugs, start by giving each vessel a good cleaning with dish soap and hot water or adding them to the dishwasher if you have one. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the mugs so all of the suds disappear. You can dry the mugs, but it’s not necessary since the next step involves adding a splash of water to the mix.

2. Add Baking Soda and Water to the Mug

Once your mugs are clean, reach for a box of baking soda and scoop one or two spoonfuls of the kitchen staple into each cup. Then, add enough water to create a thick paste. Use an old toothbrush or rag to coat the stained areas with the mixture, and let the mugs sit for 10 minutes.

3. Scrub If Needed

If you’re dealing with especially stubborn stains, you might also want to try using a nonabrasive sponge or scour pad to scrub the problem area with the baking soda paste. This step isn’t necessary, but it’s worth trying on older stains that might take longer to lift.

4. Rinse and Repeat

Rinse out your mugs and repeat these steps until the mugs look shiny and new.