Dos and Don’ts for Garbage Disposal From Plumbing Experts Magnolia, Texas

What Dos and Don’ts Put Down in the Garbage Disposal

Do Keep the Water or Faucet Running When Your Garbage Disposal Is On

Imagine trying to swallow a large bite of dry food without taking a sip of water. Keeping the water running while using your waste to grind food will help flush it all out. Running water reduces the overall stress on your device, prevents jams and keeps the inside of the device free of large, sticky clumps.

Do Freshen Your Garbage Disposal up All the Time

Without your intervention, your garbage disposal can develop unpleasant and ubiquitous odors. Odors in waste disposal are usually caused by trapped and rotting food. You can add equal amounts of baking soda and white vinegar to your garbage disposal to freshen it up. The foaming response of this mixture is great for dissolving sticky, sticky, or starchy deposits.

Running the machine with hot water for a full minute to rinse out your homemade cleaner should get the job done. Another great way to freshen up your garbage disposal is to add several ice cubes and a pinch of salt, or several ice cubes and a drop or two of dish soap. Run your grinder under cold water until the ice cubes have crumbled. The sharp edges of the breaking ice can cause scraps of food to fall off the garbage disposal knives.

Don’t Use Your Garbage Disposal to Get Rid of Grease or Oils

Garbage disposal does not change the ground rules for using drains. Bacon fat, cooking oil, and other solid, semi-solid, or liquid fats should always be discarded. It is not only the best choice for your device, but also important for protecting your kitchen water system.

Don’t Put Fruit or Vegetable Peelings in the Garbage Disposal

A sure way to create a garbage backlog or a complete drain clog is to force this device to shred potato peels, citrus peels, or fibrous vegetables like celery. These things should always go in the compost bin or garbage can instead. If you have potato skins loaded on your device and it is turned off, turn off the device and remove the interfering objects before pressing the reset button.

Don’t Empty Your Coffee Grounds Into the Garbage Disposal

Coffee grounds can be the death knell for your waste disposal. These seemingly innocuous little messes can be shredded into a tightly packed ball that glues everything inside the device together. Worse still, if coffee grounds get into your pipes, it can cause a clog. Instead, use them to enrich your compost heap or nourish your garden soil, or toss them in the trash. You should also avoid placing eggshells, bones, nuts and dried beans in this appliance.

Don’t Feed Gooey, Starchy Foods Into Your Garbage Disposal

Surprisingly, even an excess of starch can be harmful when disposing of large amounts of waste. Instead, old rice, pasta, and beans should be discarded. Large amounts of starch can create a gummy, sticky mass in your garbage disposal, slowing the process and clogging your drains. Used products are also often responsible for a smelly garbage disposal.

Don’t Use Your Garbage Disposal to Clean Out Your Fridge

Whether it’s throwing away starch or food that can be easily shredded when disposed of, for disposing of large amounts of waste, it’s always best to use the garbage disposal. Despite what the name might suggest, your garbage disposal is not an alternative to the garbage disposal. As such, emptying entire containers of food into this appliance is not the best way to clean your refrigerator. Instead, only use this device to shred food residue left on plates or in pans after you’ve already scraped them off.

Do Have Your Garbage Disposal Serviced By a Plumbing Professional

Many garbage disposal problems can be resolved by first turning off the device and then removing the offending items. If necessary, an owner can press the red reset button, which is usually located under this device. However, if cleaning and resetting the disposal doesn’t fix the problem, then it’s time to call a plumber.

See: How a Garbage Disposal Works and Troubleshoot Guide

At Heartland Plumbing, we offer quality plumbing services Magnolia, Texas and the surrounding areas. If your garbage disposal is making strange noises, emitting foul smells, or refusing to turn on, we can help. Call today to schedule an appointment so we can get started!