How to Care For Your Garbage Disposal

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Garbage disposal is one of the essential appliances in the house. However, more often, people take the disposal unit for granted until they experience clogging or it stops operating. Knowing how to take care of your garbage disposal is very critical. To help you, read through this article to learn how to take care of your garbage disposal.

Tips for proper use and care of garbage disposal

Purchase High-Quality Disposal Garbage

The first thing to do is to ensure that you get a quality disposal unity. However, this can be a challenge since there are many garbage disposal models available in the market. Before you purchase a disposal unit, carry in-depth research to ensure that you get the best.

However, to make it easy, companies such as DisposalXT have researched for you. You can visit their website to learn about the best garbage disposals that you can get. They have written an honest review of various waste receptacles such as trash cans, garbage disposals, and compactors. Make sure that you visit their website to make your search process easier.

Run Disposal Regularly

Ensure that you run your garbage disposal more often. Even when there is nothing to grind up, make sure you turn on the water and run the disposal regularly to move parts around. Failure to do so can lead to freezing or rusting of the appliance, and if there are some food leftovers inside, it can make the unit smell. By doing this, you keep your disposal unit in good shape.

Avoid Disposing Starchy, Fibrous or Hard Leftovers on It

Ensure you avoid any substance that can cause damage to the appliance. Garbage disposal is for softer foods, and you should also cut them into small pieces before you dispose of them. Avoid placing anything that is not biodegradable since it can damage the blades and the motor. Things such as plastics, metal, glasses should never be disposed of on the unit.

The garbage disposal was invented in 1927 and first sold to consumers in 1938.

Power It Off During Maintenance

Before you start doing some repair on your unit, switch it off. You can unplug the unit or switch off power to the kitchen at the main circuit. This is to ensure your safety and avoid any accidents from happening.

Run Cold Water

When using your disposal unit, ensure that you run cold water. Although hot water can work well in cleaning most of the things, avoid using it to clean your disposal. Why? Well, hot water can cause the food that your unit is trying to grind up to melt. Moreover, this allows the waste to cling to the sides of disposal. However, cold water hardens the food making it easier for your unit to grind it up and push it to the drainpipe.

Grind Citrus Fruit

In addition to using soap and cold water to clean your unit, once in a while, place the peel of a lemon or orange inside. The peel will assist in getting rid of any unpleasant odors and help clear excess water in the garbage disposal.

Following these tips will help you take care of your garbage disposal and make it fully functional. However, if you experience some clogging in your unit, before you open, ensure that you read the user manual.

Hand-crank the disposal to break up jams

One of the best ways to fix disposal jams is to stick an allen wrench in the slot at the bottom of your unit and manually crank the blades to free it up.

What can you put in garbage disposal?

Good Practices Today Can Prevent Major Plumbing and Drain Problems Tomorrow!

One of the most common garbage disposal questions is what you can run through the disposal. Although this will vary depending on how much horsepower your unit has, there are a few basic guidelines everyone should follow

Do’sDon’ts
COLD WATER (NOT HOT)

Water should be running the whole time the garbage disposal is on. Cold water is best because it solidifies grease and fatty foods.

HOT WATER CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING
BONES, FRUIT PITS, SMALL PEBBLES

Generally speaking if it is something that you can not chew up yourself then it should probably not go into your garbage disposal.

CAUSES: BLADE DAMAGE AND CLOGS
SMALL BITS OF FOOD

Small scraps of food left over on your plate after a meal is what a garbage disposal is intended for. Grind Away!

AVOID LARGE AMOUNTS OR BIG CHUNKS
GREASE, OIL, GREASY FOODS

Grease and oil do not mix well with water. It hardens when cooled and it is very bad for septic system.

CAUSES: CLOGS AND GUMS UP BLADES
BREADS

Breads breakup easily and dissolve quickly in water. Use plenty of water to avoid turning to paste.

AVOID USING THE WHOLE LOAF
PASTA OR RICE

Large quantity of pasta and rice will soak up water and expand in your sink pipes.

CAUSES: CLOGS IN THE PIPES
COOKED VEGETABLES AND MEAT

Most cooked vegetables and meats are soft enough to grind up in the disposal with ease.

AVOID BONES AND STRINGY VEGGIES
STRINGY VEGETABLES

Things like celery or asparagus can wrap around the blades and stop them from spinning.

CAUSES: IMPEDE FUNCTIONALITY
EGG SHELLS

This is a controversial subject, but they break up easily and are not heavy so they won’t sit in your drain and build up.

THE CARTON THEY COME IN IS NOT OK
VEGETABLE AND FRUIT PEELS

The exteriors of most fruits and vegetables are harder than you think. A little at a time would be okay but avoid a whole fruit salad.

CAUSES: BLADE DAMAGE AND CLOGS
ICE CUBES AND/OR ROCK SALT

Yes, it makes a horrible noise but ice will beat the rock salt around the blades and will help scrape things off and keep things clean.

THIS WILL NOT SHARPEN THE BLADES
OTHER ITEMS TO AVOID

Stems, Shrimps, Cigarette Butts, Glass, Plastic, Banana Peels, Onion Skins, Nut Shells, Artichokes, Silverware, Rock, Jewelry, Wood.

NEVER PUT YOUR HAND IN THE DISPOSAL
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