The garbage disposal can help get rid of many of the household items you’d rather not put in the trash. But it is not a dumping ground for any and all extra food or household items. Chucking things indiscriminately down the disposal can result in dull blades, slow operation and failure of the garbage disposal’s motor. Using a little caution and performing occasional maintenance on your garbage disposal will help keep it working for years without any issue. We have created a guide on your garbage disposal dos and don’ts, be sure to check them out below.
Garbage Disposal Dos and Don’ts
Here are some guidelines you should follow when it comes to putting food items and household scraps down the garbage disposal. Check out the garbage disposal dos and don’ts:
Top 3 Garbage Disposal Dos
- Do use the garbage disposal regularly to keep it functional and stay abreast of any issues that may occur within the unit. If the unit sits for too long, the blades can develop rust and break when you try to use the disposal.
- Do use ice to keep the blades in your disposal sharp enough to cut up any food scraps you put down there. Over time and use, the blades can become dull and less effective. Putting some ice down the drain and running the garbage disposal will help to keep them sharp.
- Do stop using the garbage disposal if it seems to be stuck. If you keep trying to run the disposal, the blades can end up jammed. If you observe that the blades seem to be stuck, turn the disposal off and inspect the drain to see if there is any obvious reason. Silverware, animal bones, or reusable plastic straws can all end up jammed in the disposal easily. If there is no obvious source of a jam, you may want to call a professional to find the source.
Top 3 Garbage Disposal Don’ts
- Don’t use hot water to flush out the garbage disposal as you run it. Hot water will make some elements, like syrups, grease or oil stick to the disposal blades. Cold water will force these substances to solidify, making it easier for the blades to destroy them.
- Don’t put fruit or vegetable peels down the garbage disposal. The blades can cut these items up, but the result is a sludge that clogs the pipes. Remember, everything you put in the disposal has to be shredded into small enough pieces to make it down your regular pipes, or you can end up with a clog.
- Don’t run the disposal without running water at the same time. Adding water to the food scraps makes it easier for them to move through the disposal and down the pipes. Dry running of the disposal not only increases the chances of a clog, it also harms the blades and makes them duller.
What is bad to put down the drain
It can be hard to keep the list of items that aren’t suitable for the garbage disposal, as there are many misconceptions out there. Some items that you should not throw down there on a regular basis include:
- Potato and banana peels can create the same issue within the drain and attached piping due to their texture. When cut up by the disposal’s blades, the material turns into a paste like texture that slows the blades from moving around.
- Glass, aluminum foil or metal shards are sometimes rumored to help sharpen the blades of the garbage disposal, but they actually do more harm than good. Not only can they cause dents on the blades, small shards can come flying back up, creating a hazard if you are standing nearby.
- Bones and cartilage are hard for the blades to cut through and can end up being crushed into small, sharp fragments that damage the disposal.
- Grease, oil, lard or any cooking elements that can turn solid and create a clog inside the drain. If you do put these items down the drain, use cold water to help turn the solution into a solid. The blades will better be able to cut apart the solid and clear them out of the drain.
- Rice and pasta can expand when they sit in water and create a sort of sludge that gets caught on the blades.
- Paper, plastic or any type of non-food trash, including the packaging the food came in.
What is safe to put down the drain
The garbage disposal is designed to help get rid of food scraps, so you can feel comfortable putting most things down the drain. Smaller pieces will be easier for the disposal blades to chop up than large, uneaten portions. Citrus fruits can actually help freshen the drain. The pulp inside is easy for the blades to cut through, unlike the dense texture of a banana. You can use a lime, orange, lemon or portions of a grapefruit monthly to freshen the drain and get rid of any smells that may be coming from the drain. Cut the fruit in half or quarters, but don’t worry about peeling it, as these peels are thin enough for the blades to get through.
What to do if your disposal goes on the Fritz
If your garbage disposal is no longer working at full power, or stops working altogether, there are a few things you can try:
- Ensure that the disposal is off before you begin troubleshooting.
- Clear any dishes and silverware from the drain. If the sink is filled with water, make sure to scoop it out to avoid it splashing back on you as you work.
- Open the kitchen cabinets so you can see the bottom of the garbage disposal. Locate the red reset button and press it to reset the unit.
- Try using the garbage disposal to see if the reset worked.
If the simple reset process doesn’t work, you may want to call a professional to troubleshoot the unit.
