The garbage disposal has become one of the most important appliances in the modern day kitchen. Making sure it’s operating in good, working order is important. A malfunctioning disposal can mean unpleasant odors, clogs and even expensive repairs.

Today, we’re going to share some tips with you to help make sure that your disposal keeps working in the way and manner in which it was meant to. Let’s jump right in!

Be careful about what you put in the disposal

Don’t get us wrong – garbage disposals can help reduce a lot of waste that you generate – but they won’t solve all of your life’s problems and they can’t chum and churn everything you throw into them. Our general rule of thumb is that anything that’s hard shouldn’t be tossed into your disposal. That means bones, pits, and super large scraps. Also be wary of fibrous foods like corn stalks and the like. These items can dull blades, get tangles, clog drains, etc. 

Use cold water

Cold water does a good job of hardening up oils and grease – making it easier to move them along through your plumbing system. In addition – they flow will help to carry away particles and other debris left behind by food. Also  – it keeps these bits from accumulating over time and producing foul and otherwise unpleasant odors. We recommend that you let cold water run 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after using your disposal.

Make sure you clean it regularly

Garbage disposals take on a lot of wear and tear over time and can be relatively easier appliances to damage. Cleaning them is important as it keeps the odors to a minimum and can clear out any remaining food that seemingly has no interest in going down the drain. Best course of action? Sprinkle some baking soda into the disposal and pour in a cup of vinegar. A few minutes later flush everything with hot water and you’ll be good to go. The combination of the acidity and baking soda will both clean and deodorize the disposal. Cleaning your disposal also helps avoid clogs. 

At the end of the day – it’s important to remember that your disposal is like any other appliance. Basic maintenance and care can go a long way. However keep in mind – your disposal works hard to keep your kitchen clean and in the instances where you do encounter issues shouldn’t be taken likely. Get out ahead of any issues before they become costly problems. 

We hope you found today’s blog helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a shout today and we’ll be happy to help you however we can. Until then – good luck!