Your garbage disposal is one of the most convenient, yet frequently overlooked, kitchen appliances. When working in optimum condition, garbage disposal units make your kitchen cleanup hassle free. Nonetheless, if not well maintained, they can become a kitchen nightmare. Luckily, you can easily keep your garbage disposal in tip-top condition if you know what to do and what to avoid. Here are some do's and don'ts to bear in mind if you would like to avoid potential problems with your garbage disposal
Do run the garbage disposal on a regular basis
One of the ways to keep your garbage disposal in working order is to ensure it is used on a frequent basis. A misconception some people have is that not using their garbage disposal for extended periods will decrease the risk of wear and tear. In reality, not using the garbage disposal could lead to the blades becoming blunt and could also pose the possibility of corrosion.
Do ensure the blades are sharpened
Keeping your garbage disposal's blades sharpened does not mean you have to take it apart and manually access the blades. Instead, you should have the garbage disposal grind some food substances once in a while, as this will sharpen the blades. Some of the items that you could throw into your garbage disposal without the risk of damage include ice cubes and slices of lemon, including the rind. These items will not only sharpen the blades, but they will also scour off any grease that may have coagulated on the blades.
Do cut up food items to smaller sizes
When throwing away food waste into your garbage disposal, bear in mind that the size matters. A misconception some people have is that large food particles will still be ground up. In reality, if the items are too big, they may not be chopped up efficiently, and this could eventually lead to clogs in your garbage disposal. Manually chopping up the waste would be best to avoid any potential problems with clogging and will also ensure that the disposed waste is ground properly.
Do not throw inorganic items into the garbage disposal
It is not uncommon to find some homeowners who treat their garbage disposal as their primary waste bin in the kitchen. This approach may seem convenient, but the truth is that you are causing harm to your appliance. Inorganic items such as glass, metals and plastic should never be disposed of in the unit, as they pose the risk of causing irrevocable damage to the inner workings of your garbage disposal system.
If you do run into any problems with your garbage disposal, contact a plumber at a company like Sam's Local Plumbing for assistance.
Share