A couple of fannish items plus householdy questions

[magnetic_pole]

Fannish announcements:

* lgbtq_recs started posting yesterday with a rec by schemingreader, the graphic novel Marbles by Ellen Fourney. Follow the community for a queer- or trans-themed rec every weekday throughout June!

* minerva_fest is running again this year, hurrah! This fest starts with a period of anonymous prompting (from now until June 13) and then allows claiming throughout the summer (until September 1). Stories are then due September 15. Check out the prompting procedures here and the first two days of prompts here and here.

This is a bit random but I have a couple of householdy questions:

* Does anyone else have a garbage disposal in their kitchen sink? Do you have any suggestions on cleaning it? I'm embarrassed to ask because I really do try to keep things clean in the kitchen, but I'm not sure what to do to eliminate or reduce the lingering smell of food here.

* What's the deal with these new pods for the dishwasher? For years (well, the years we've had a dishwasher, at least) I've used power that comes in boxes or a gel, and suddenly last week when I had to restock the store had only these odd blister-packs that advertised "enzymes." I've never been particularly happy with the powder or gel options--I have a hard time finding options that don't contain bleach--but this sudden change of options is strange.

Comments

[torino10154]

For the garbage disposal, I pour baking soda (usually an old box from the fridge ready to move on to the next phase of its life) followed by vinegar. It bubbles up nicely LOL and does seem to help. They also sell little scented balls--look kinda like bath oils--though I am not sure how well they work.

I've never used the dishwasher pod pack things either. I like being able to measure how much soap I want. Sorry I can't help there.

[velvetmouse]

for making the garbage disposal not stinky, a) make sure you use a lot of warm/hot water when you run it - and keep the water running for a few moments after you turn off the motor. that helps wash down all the bits and b) i tend to scrub my whole sink out with baking soda every couple months and just rinse it all down the drain. baking soda is glorious for eating up smells.

I use the little packets for our dishwasher all the time! I love them, so much easier than powder or gel. the ones we get are all one sealed packet, but seem to have two "sides" - a grey/white side and a green & blue side. i just make sure i put it in the little door with the grey side down and it seems to do a great job.

[princessofgeeks]

You can put lemon peel down the garbage disposal to freshen it up. Make sure you run a lot of water during and after.

They also sell gel capsules about the size of a dime to put down it and clean it.

[venturous]

citrus peel does a great job cleaning the disposer. the baking soda/vinegar method is fun!

I've just switched to DW pods, and they wre nice, no slopping stuff around. dishwasher soap is terrifically caustic, and I'm already sensitive to soaps, so I appreciate not having any contact with it.

I'm eyeing those Minerva prompts!

[kelly_chambliss]

I use the dishwasher pods; love them. No muss or fuss. I can't recall offhand which brand I use, though.

For garbage disposals, I often grind up citrus peel or other things I like the scent of; I also spray Lysol in there every few weeks (after having put all the dishes away). The Lysol does seem to take care of the odor problem.

Thanks for the Minerva_Fest shout-out!

[magnetic_pole]

I'm all for giving baking soda a try! Some folks over on LJ recommended it, too. As well as lemon and lime peels and...ice cubes. Never thought my disposal could handle ice cubes. Actually, I'm starting to wonder if my disposal is as much of a 98-pound weakling as the dishwasher... Thanks, T! Hope you're enjoying the gorgeous weather today. M.

[magnetic_pole]

Lots of votes for baking soda, which I'll definitely try. And you saw the ice cube suggestion over at LJ. Ours will sweet-smelling before the weekend's out, I swear! :)

I think I've got the right side down, but our dishwasher may just be on the fritz, because we've been having soapy film problems with the pods just as much as we did with the powder or the liquid. I wonder if should just give up and go back to washing things by hand. Funny how it wasn't such a burden until I discovered I didn't have to do it. Thanks, V. M.

[magnetic_pole]

I'm going to give the citrus a try, as well as the baking soda, the other solution folks seem to be recommending a lot. Thanks, P! M.

[magnetic_pole]

dishwasher soap is terrifically caustic, and I'm already sensitive to soaps, so I appreciate not having any contact with it.

*nods* I didn't write about this in the post itself, because you're already being good to listen to my household trivia, but the real problem with the dishwasher is that the soap never really seems to rinse away adequately, and suddenly the issue of what's in the soap becomes worrisome. I should probably just be washing things the old fashioned way.

I'd completely forgotten this is how minerva_fest did prompts. Fun to peruse them! M.

[magnetic_pole]

Everyone seems to use and love those pods! I feel like such a curmudgeon.

Excited to see minerva_fest back again! And did you notice I got the comm name right this time, with the underscore? First time ever, I think! I sign that the muse my be smiling on me this year. M.