Tips for Keeping Your Garbage Disposal in Good Shape

Garbage disposals are a valuable tool in anybody’s kitchen, but you may not realize it still requires a little maintenance. Below we have given you four tips to increase the longevity of your garbage disposal.

4 Tips to Keep Your Garbage Disposal in Working Order

1. Avoid Sending Fibrous, Starchy, or Hard Leftovers Down the Drain

Fibrous, starchy, or hard leftovers can gum up or even break your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals should only be used for ice cubes and softer foods, which should be cut up into smaller pieces before being sent down.

2. Don’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

It’s best to avoid using chemical-based cleaners to remove clogs. Chemical drain cleaners may break apart whatever is clogging your drain, but it also damages your pipes simultaneously. The chemicals also put you at risk of getting some splashback in your eyes the next time you turn on your appliance.

3. Run the Disposal Every Few Days

Keeping your blades rust-free is vital to having a healthy garbage disposal. The best way to prevent rusting is by running the appliance every few days with cold water; even if you don’t have scraps you need to grind up. This is also an excellent way to dislodge any food that might be clinging to the sides.

4. Clean Your Disposal Weekly

Cleaning your garbage disposal weekly is essential to keeping it running well. To clean the disposal, you only need to fill it with ice cubes and a cup of rock salt, then let it run for about a minute. This process allows the natural abrasives to scrape away any debris stuck to the lining of your disposal. You should also empty a cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda into the disposal to eliminate any bacteria, then turn the power off and scrub its flaps.

Plumbers You Can Trust

Call (262) 320-4822 to have the professional team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing take care of all your plumbing problems.