Garbage disposal is one of the routine chores that you have to do every other day. Garbage is produced in many areas in the home. Most of the garbage is thrown out in trash bags for collection by the garbage trucks. But some of the garbage is shredded and disposed in a special device called a garbage disposal unit or simply a garbage disposal. A garbage disposal is a mechanical device that is usually installed below the sink. This device is used to shred and dispose of those solid food remains to avoid clogging. The disposal shreds these food pieces into very tiny bits that can easily pass through the drainage and sewer system without clogging. The ironic thing about the whole process is that sometimes the garbage disposal unit gets clogged while preventing clogging. It all depends on how you use it and the kinds of food remains that you dispose with it. A garbage disposal can function for a long time without clogging if you use it and maintain it properly. Today you are going to learn how to prevent clogging in your garbage disposal unit, avoiding that last minute call to your local plumber.
Use Cold Water
You should always run cold water in your garbage disposal unit before, when, and after turning it on. The cold water will carry the food particles down the drain and leave the disposal clean and unclogged. The cold water will also solidify any oils, fats, and greases thereby ensuring that they do not coat the blades that are used for shredding.
Avoid Fibrous Foods
You should not dispose fibrous foods in your garbage disposal unit. Foods with tough fibers like asparagus and celery should not be fed into the garbage disposal unit because they can entangle the blades and prevent the unit from working.
Avoid Overloading
You should buy a right-sized garbage disposal that will save you money and energy at home. You should upgrade to an Energy Star certified model during your DC kitchen remodeling. After acquiring this high efficiency model, make sure that you use it properly. Never overload the garbage disposal to avoid “choking” it.
Avoid Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds should not be disposed down the drain. The coffee grounds will not damage the garbage disposal but they will accumulate inside your drain pipes and cause a drain clog.
Avoid Large Bones
Large bones should not be fed into the garbage disposal unit because they can damage the shredding blades. The blades are not strong enough to crush large bones. But you can put small bones, like fish bones, in the garbage disposal for shredding and crushing.
Avoid Potato Peels
Potato peels should not be put in a garbage disposal unit. The disposal will smash and shred these peels into mush and paste. The starch in the peels will become paste and this can cling and accumulate on the blades, causing them to stop working.
Dispose Small Pieces
You should not feed large chunks of food in the garbage disposal unit. Try to chop up large pieces of food remains before throwing it into the garbage disposal.
Clean The Disposal Regularly And Properly
You should clean and use the garbage disposal units regularly and properly. You should only clean the disposal with cold water. You can throw a few ice cubes in first. To deodorize the disposal, use vinegar ice cubes or grind up orange or lemon rinds.