Proper maintenance of your home’s garbage disposal is essential if you want it to work as long as possible. When you maintain a disposal well and keep it clean, you won’t have issues with foul odors, clogs, or mechanical failures. From proper operating techniques to regular cleaning, learn a few practices to make your garbage disposal operate smoother and avoid expensive repairs.
1. Run Cold Water
Running cold water before and after using your garbage disposal is essential for its proper function and longevity. The cold water helps solidify any grease or fat, allowing the disposal to chop it up more effectively so that it travels down the drain to the municipal sewer or your septic tank without causing clogs. If you use warm or hot water, grease can remain in a liquid state, which increases the chance of it coating the inside of your pipes and causing buildup over time.
To optimize performance, let the cold water run for at least 30 seconds before turning on the disposal and for another 30 seconds after grinding your food. This practice ensures that the disposal operates smoothly by fully flushing out ground particles, preventing blockages and unpleasant odors. The cold water also helps clean the disposal’s blades, maintaining sharpness and allowing them to cut through food debris efficiently.
2. Use Ice Cubes
One of the continuing maintenance steps to keep your garbage disposer clean and sharp involves the addition of ice cubes. Just put three to five ice cubes in the disposal and turn it on. Grinding ice cubes will work like scrubbers to remove crud and grime on the blades. Also, the ice sharpens the blades, making them more effective at dicing food. Keep ice on hand so you can throw a few in your garbage disposal regularly to keep it working well.
3. Add Baking Soda and Vinegar
One of the best ways to keep your garbage disposal clean and deodorized is to use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Start by pouring about half of a cup of baking soda down the disposal followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it sit and fizz for about 10 minutes. The natural reaction breaks down food particles and works to neutralize odors. After the fizzing stops, run a little hot water through the disposal to rinse out any food residue and loose particles. This way, it will stay fresh and clean without the need to use harsh chemicals.
4. Grind Citrus Peels
Adding citrus peels to the garbage disposal helps keep it smelling good and clean. The acidic oils break up residues that stick to the blades and walls of your garbage disposal. Not only will your disposal smell great, but your whole kitchen will smell like lemons, limes, or oranges for the day.
5. Avoid Grinding Problem Foods
Certain foods can cause significant issues when put in a garbage disposal, leading to clogs and potential damage. Fibrous materials, such as celery, asparagus, and corn husks, should be avoided as they can wrap around the disposal’s blades or create a paste that clogs both the disposal and your home’s plumbing. Additionally, starchy foods like potato peels, rice, and pasta can expand and form a thick mass.
Alternatively, hard substances, such as chicken bones, fruit pits, and coffee grounds, can dull the blades and lead to jams or damage. Similarly, eggshells might seem harmless but can create a sand-like grit that accumulates and causes blockages.
Instead of disposing of these problem foods in the garbage disposal, it is better to put them in the trash or compost them if possible. By avoiding these problematic items, you help ensure that your garbage disposal remains efficient and reduce the risk of plumbing issues.
6. Run the Disposal Regularly
It is important to run the garbage disposal regularly, even if you don’t have anything you need to grind up. This practice helps to get the blades moving to prevent rusting or other forms of corrosion that may happen because the disposal is not used daily. Running a disposal every once in a while also allows residue to run out of the system instead of letting it accumulate. You could make it a habit to run the disposal with some cold water as part of your daily kitchen clean-up routine.
7. Clean with a Brush
Occasionally, you should clean the inside of the disposal using a long-handle scrub brush or an old toothbrush. Use warm water to wet the brush head and add dish soap to the bristles. Then, you can move the brush back and forth around the garbage disposal to get the inside fully clean. Before you attempt to clean a garbage disposal like this, ensure that it is turned off. Once you finish, you can run the disposal with water to ensure that everything inside runs down the drain.
8. Avoid Overloading
It is essential to slowly add food waste to the garbage disposal. You shouldn’t overload it as this will eventually strain the motor, and it will start to develop blockages and jams. By feeding food into it progressively, you allow it to effectively break down each portion of added food, decreasing the chances of mechanical strain.
9. Dispose of Grease and Other Materials Properly
After cooking a meal, it is always important to properly dispose of the excess cooking oil and grease to protect your plumbing and garbage disposal. It can be collected in a used plastic container or aluminum can, allowed to cool, and disposed of in your garbage.
If you have a lot of used cooking oil from frying food, local recycling facilities will often accept it. Alternatively, you can buy solidifier power. It will quickly solidify the mess and make it practical to throw away.
10. Check for Foreign Objects
You should watch out for objects that might accidentally fall into your garbage disposal, such as silverware and other small kitchen items. A stray fork or steel wool sponge will damage the disposal’s blades and be hard on the device’s motor. Make it a habit to take a look down the disposal before flipping the on switch. Consider keeping a flashlight in the kitchen to double-check for foreign objects.
11. Have Your Garbage Disposal Professionally Repaired
If you feel like your garbage disposal isn’t working well, it is vital to contact a professional sooner rather than later. A small issue could easily develop into a costly repair or the need for a replacement if you do not promptly take care of it.
Contact the Professionals
At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical, we have been serving the residents of Glendale, AZ, and the surrounding areas since 1976. We focus on being a one-stop shop for all your home care needs, including installing, maintaining, and repairing residential heating and cooling systems. Additionally, our crew can help with all your home plumbing needs, including bathroom and kitchen plumbing, and are expert electricians. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members.
