How much do you know about garbage disposal maintenance? Follow the dos and don’ts listed below to keep your garbage disposal unit in tip top shape.
Do Use Your Garbage Disposal Regularly
Running your garbage disposal on a regular basis helps keep the mechanism working by preventing rust and corrosion. It is good practice to run your garbage disposal with a little dish soap at least once a week to keep it in good condition.
Don’t Use Your Garbage Disposal for Large Food Scraps
Many people use their garbage disposals to get rid of all of their kitchen scraps, but this is harmful to the mechanism and our local wastewater treatment centers. Garbage disposals are designed to grind up the small food bits that inevitably wash down the drain, not large kitchen scraps like corn husks, coffee grounds, and chicken bones. Toss large food scraps in the compost and only use your garbage disposal on small kitchen scraps. This keeps the mechanism sharp and clear of blockages.
Do Always Check Your Garbage Disposal Before Running It
One of the most common causes of a broken garbage disposal is someone running it without realizing there was a piece of cutlery or other hard object in there. Always check your garbage disposal before turning it on to make sure a stray bottle cap or spoon hasn’t made its way in there. Once you’ve confirmed that the disposal is clear, turn it on with running water. Note: do not retrieve items from the garbage disposal using your hands. If an object fell in, use tongs or needle-nose pliers to remove it safely.
Don’t Pour Oil, Fats, or Grease Down Your Drain
It may seem convenient to simply pour fats, oils, and grease down the drain after you finish cooking, but this is not a good idea. These substances harden as they cool and will clog up the disposal mechanism, even though they are liquid when you initially pour them down the drain. Instead, pour cooking oils, fats, and grease into a can or jar, wait for it to cool, then toss the entire container in the garbage. This will go a long way in maintaining both your garbage disposal and your pipes.
Need a little help with garbage disposal maintenance, installation, or replacement? Contact Pink Plumbing Group today!