It doesn’t matter whether you have been using a garbage disposal for a long time now or you have just recently bought your first one. You should know how to take care of your appliance if you want to be able to benefit from its full potential for a really long time.
As you know, garbage disposals are valuable and truly useful household tools – given that they are used properly.
Here are some helpful tips for you:
Clean Your Disposal Regularly
Purchase a bottle brush and take time to scrub inside the disposal. Make sure that you do this at least once or twice a week. Even a small maintenance step like this can help ensure that your disposal stays fresh and works as it should.
Grind Properly
You should allow adequate time for the garbage disposal to grind everything down and flush it with water. You have to make sure that there are no leftover particles in your appliance as those can cause foul odours.
Use Citrus to Freshen Up
Using fresh lemon, lime, or orange can aid in cutting grease as well as eliminating odours. All you have to do is grind some small pieces of any of these fruits in the disposal and rinse after. Remember not to include their peels!
Use Vinegar Ice Cubes
You should never use commercial drain cleaners or bleach to clean and unclog your disposal. Instead, have some ice cubes ready for weekly use. Simply fill your garbage disposal with vinegar ice cubes and a cup of rock salt and run it.
Keep the Disposal Running
Perhaps the most important part of owning a garbage disposal and properly using it is keeping water running before you use it, while you are using it, and after you use it. Why is this necessary? For one, it is water that keeps the system lubricated and working as it should. When you do not run water, you might overload the system or even burn out the motor.
Don’t Put These Items Down Your Disposal
Don’t get confused by its name. Garbage disposals are not meant to handle all your garbage, have a trash bin for your paper napkins, cigarette butts, and wrappers. Keep eggshells, fats, rice, pasta, fruit peels, and bones out of your garbage disposal, too. These items can cause blockage and eventually break your appliance down.
When you notice that your disposal is not working as it should, make it a point to call a reputable plumbing service like Hayes Plumbing to have a look. Remember that disposals use both water and electricity and could be potentially dangerous if you try to fix it without the right tools and the knowledge required for these repairs.
