The Best Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

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Garbage disposal systems are an essential part of a modern kitchen and help to keep it neat and clean. But, like all appliances, your garbage disposal needs regular maintenance if you want it running correctly. If you don’t take the time to do garbage disposal maintenance, it could lead to problems down the road, so invest some effort now into keeping it in great shape! In this blog post, we’ll provide tips on how to do garbage disposal maintenance at home properly. We’ll cover cleaning techniques and preventive measures to give optimal performance over time. After reading through our advice below, you should have no trouble keeping your unit performing its best for years!

Our Best Tips For Garbage Disposal Maintenance

Whether you are dealing with smelly kitchen scraps or are looking to prevent their buildup, proper garbage disposal maintenance is critical. The only way to tackle a messy situation is by being proactive and taking the necessary steps to keep your garbage disposal clean and in peak condition. Thankfully, we have assembled some of our best tips for garbage disposal maintenance so that you can be confident in the state of your disposal with minimal effort. We will show you how easy it is to keep your garbage disposal running like a well-oiled machine!

Clean the Blades Regularly

Cleaning the blades is one of the most essential garbage disposal maintenance tips. The blades of a garbage disposal unit are responsible for chopping up food scraps so they can be flushed down the drain easily. As such, these blades will accumulate grease and grime over time, reducing their effectiveness in chopping up food scraps. To ensure your garbage disposal is working as efficiently as possible, you should clean the blades regularly with a brush or an old toothbrush. This will help remove any excess gunk that has built up on them, allowing them to chop more effectively.

Run Cold Water When Flushing Food Waste Down the Drain

This garbage disposal maintenance tip is easy to do as it is relatively passive. Always run cold water simultaneously when flushing food waste down the garbage disposal drain. Hot water can cause particles to congeal together, which can build up inside the pipes and create clogs later on. Running cold water helps keep these particles dispersed in the water so they don’t stick together as quickly. It also helps cool down any hot oils that might have been flushed down previously, helping prevent future clogs from forming.

Be Careful What You Put Down The Drain

You should never flush certain items down the drain—even if your garbage disposal is installed correctly! Avoiding putting these items down the drain is perhaps the most crucial garbage disposal maintenance tip! Never put these items down the drain:

Bones

Garbage disposals can be convenient tools for getting rid of food, but not all types of food should go down the disposal. Bones are a culprit in particular – not only is it unsafe for them to get chopped up by the blades in the disposal but putting them down there can also lead to serious plumbing issues or even damage to the machine itself. Therefore, when it comes to bones and food waste, it’s better to be safe than sorry and put them in a garbage bag instead.

chicken bones
garbage disposal maintenance

Fibrous Vegetables

Putting fibrous vegetables like celery and onion skins in a garbage disposal can create problems for your home’s plumbing. Fibers from these vegetables can get caught up in the blades, jamming them and requiring extensive repairs to remove the objects. Additionally, the fibrous pieces of vegetables will become wet and slimy, allowing them to stick together in clumps that can build up over time and form a blockage or disrupt the clean flow of water through your plumbing system. As such, it is generally recommended never to put fibrous vegetables down your disposal – no matter how small they may be!

Coffee Grounds

If you love the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning, you’ve probably been tempted to throw your used coffee grounds down the garbage disposal. Unfortunately, this isn’t a great idea! Coffee grounds cause more damage to your garbage disposal because they can clog pipes and accumulate in the grinding components. As such, throwing them in an outdoor compost pile or trash bag rather than the sink is usually better.

measured coffee
garbage disposal maintenance

Eggshells

Eggshells should never be put in a garbage disposal, as they can cause serious problems. It may seem harmless enough to throw them down the drain, but once there, they can accumulate and end up clogging pipes and creating blockages. This can lead to serious plumbing bills, not to mention added stress and inconvenience. Instead of relying on your garbage disposal to grind up eggshells, throwing them away in the trash is always best.

Fruit Pits or Seeds

The internal mechanics of garbage disposal make it ill-equipped to grind up hard food items, like fruit pits and seeds. While seemingly small and harmless, these items can cause real problems in a disposal; they have the potential to jam up the machine, leaving you with a costly repair bill and inevitable downtime while your sink is being fixed. If you’re like most people who use the disposal as an extension of their trash can, here’s the reminder you need that fruit pits and seeds should never go in there.

garbage disposal maintenance
miscellaneous oils

Grease or Oil

Everyone knows how pesky greasy, or oily messes in the kitchen can be. But, to prevent jams and noise from your garbage disposal, it is essential to avoid pouring grease or oil down the sink. This practice should be avoided as much as possible since these substances can cause significant long-term damage to a garbage disposal and the plumbing system itself. Luckily, there are plenty of easy and convenient ways to dispose of grease and oil without compromising safety.

These are just a few things you should never put down your drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. They can cause significant damage to your garbage disposal and plumbing. If you find yourself with something stuck in your disposal system too large to handle safely, call a professional plumber immediately!

Does Your Garbage Disposal Need Repair?

If you are having issues with your garbage disposal, don’t let yourself get in over your head. It can be easy for garbage disposal maintenance to slip one’s mind – don’t feel bad. Call the professionals at Workhouse Plumbing. They will bring the right tools and experience to quickly diagnose and repair any garbage disposal-related issue you may have! Whether it’s a clog or a leak, Workhouse Plumbing can help. With their extensive knowledge of all plumbing systems and products, your problem will be solved in no time. Don’t wait to get the help you need – experience the excellent service from Workhouse Plumbing today!

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