Garbage disposals are lifesavers, there’s no doubt in that. We are all guilty of throwing just about anything down the disposal without thinking twice. In the end, we are often faced with clogging problem, bad odors, and unwanted noises and so on. But just a little care can go a long way in increasing the life span of the garbage disposal and saving you a lot of money behind expensive plumbing.
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The DOs and DON’TS of Garbage Disposal
First of all cover the do’s
Only put bio degradable items in the disposal
Bio degradable foods easily dissolve and get washed away with water. They don’t get stuck in the disposal unit and cause clogging.
Use dish soap
Using dish soap is a great way to clean your garbage disposal. It is necessary to keep the disposal neat and clean. Anti grease dish soap will stop the grease from piling inside the disposal system. Just pour some into the grinder and let the water flow for a while.
Use plenty of water
Water is the most important thing for your garbage disposal system. Not only it helps the disposal work perfectly but also makes sure no food particle is stuck inside the grinder.
Grind ice cubes for increasing sharpness
Grinding ice cubes is a popular way of increasing sharpness of the grinders. What else it does is, it washes off any debris that still might be there.
Use vinegar for removing clogs and disinfecting
Vinegar is a common way of removing clogs. You can also freeze vinegar into ice cubes and grind them to kill two birds with a single stone. Vinegar is also a common disinfectant and can be a handy thing to use in your hard to reach disposal.
Use lemon or oranges to remove odors
If you want to prevent the odors coming from your garbage disposal, the easiest way to do it is to grind some orange or lemon peel or slices into the grinder. Or squeezing some lemon or orange into the disposal will do the trick.
Always use cold water
Warm water liquefies the grease or oil and making the get stuck into the grinders even more. Cold water is the best thing for your disposal because it solidifies the grease and grinds them and washes them away.
Follow the instruction manual
This should go without saying that the manual is the key. It says everything you can or can not do to your garbage deposal clearly. Follow this and you will be good to go.
Cut items in smaller pieces if necessary
Depending on how much load your herbage disposal can take you should operate the machine. If the food chunks are very large they might get stuck. It is better to cut them in small sizes to avoid clogging.
Keep the disposal unit clean
A dirty disposal unit can be the cause of many plumbing problems. Hose it down regularly and keep it clean. Use water , ice cubes whatever necessary.
Let water run even after the disposing is done
This will ensure your garbage disposal is clean and nothing is stuck to the grinders. After the grinding is done leave the water running for a while and everything will wash away.
Don’ts:
- Don’t put fibrous items like celery, egg shells, onion peels, and artichokes in the disposal. They are most likely to cause jamming.
- Don’t grind anything other than food items. For instance, any kind of metals, woods, glass or sponges.
- Don’t pour bleach into the disposal unit, it can damage plumbing.
- Don’t put out cigarette butts in the garbage disposal.
- Don’t throw potato peel, rice, pasta or any starchy food or even coffee grounds. They are very harmful to your plumbing. The starchy foods expand and cause clogging and jamming of the pipes by piling up. The coffee grounds do not directly affect the disposal but will accumulate the pipes causing clogs and jamming.
- Don’t pour grease or oil down the disposal.
- Don’t grind anything combustible.
- Don’t use warm water in the grinding chamber as it tends to liquefy the grease or oil.
- Don’t turn the motor or water off unless the grinding is completed.
- Don’t put fruit pits or large bones into the disposal.
- And most importantly don’t overload your garbage disposal. Add few items at a time. Make sure not to overflow the grinder. Add water if necessary.
Conclusion
So basically, what we are saying is don’t use your garbage disposal as a trash can. There are certain things that even the strongest motor or blades cannot grind. And if by accident you drop anything that isn’t suppose to go there, don’t put your hands into the disposal. Make sure to turn the disposal off first, then use a pair of tweezers to retrieve it. Just remember, safety first. Keep in mind that the garbage disposal can last way longer if a few simple rules are followed.
References: http://www.safebee.com/
