You likely take your garbage disposal for granted. You press the button, and it gets to work – grinding up food bits and making your sink drain to your satisfaction. But do you need to do anything to maintain it? Many people don’t realize that garbage disposals actually require maintenance in order to keep them in good working order. Without regular cleaning, you are likely to experience a clog or slow drain at some point. But how do you clean and maintain your garbage disposal? Here we outline some helpful tips and practices for maintaining your garbage disposal. Need some help? Plumbers911 has experienced plumbers throughout the Central Valley – just click here to locate the Plumbers911 plumber nearest you!
Helpful Tips to Maintain Your Garbage Disposal
Hard & Fibrous Foods Can Damage the Garbage Disposal
To keep your garbage disposal in good working order, it’s best to avoid putting hard and/or fibrous foods down the sink. Some items that disposals usually cannot process include hard seeds, popcorn kernels, peach stones, apple seeds and bones. The smaller pieces can get wedged underneath the blades causing them to jam. Fibrous foods should also be avoided because the fibers can wrap themselves around the blades and cause them to jam. Other items to avoid putting down the garbage disposal include: onion skins, egg shells, celery stalks, and corn husks. When in doubt, it’s better to put questionable items in the garbage bin, rather than risking damage to your garbage disposal.
Remember to Clean the Garbage Disposal
Cleaning your garbage disposal regularly can keep it working well. Regular cleaning will also help minimize any unpleasant odors. Disposals can be effectively cleaned with a few common household items: tongs, ice, lemon, and dish soap.
Here’s a simple way to clean your garbage disposal: Using tongs, place two peeled lemon halves in the garbage disposal. Then, add ice cubes, and turn on the disposal. Pour in the cup of liquid dish soap, and run cold water for 30 seconds before turning off the disposal.
Maintain Your Garbage Disposal to Keep it in Good Working Order!
Garbage disposals require regular cleaning to avoid clogs and unpleasant odors because food can easily build up in certain areas inside the disposal. You can prevent most issues with your garbage disposal by avoiding putting hard and fibrous food waste down into your garbage disposal, and cleaning it regularly. Still, issues can occur, even with proper maintenance. If they do, call the local plumbing experts at Plumbers911! The licensed, experienced professional plumbers at Plumbers911 serve customers throughout Central California. Call one of our Clovis, Fresno, Modesto,or Tracy plumbers today, or visit our location page to find a plumber in your town!
